Fully Enclosed Chain Case
For bikes that are used on a daily basis a fully enclosed chain case can be a good way to extend the life of the chain and simplify its maintenance. The standard POTSDAM comes with a fully enclosed chain case, and this feature is also available as an optional accessory for other models.
In this chain case the chain moves freely without coming in contact with the housing. When changing the wheel only one segment must be removed, e.g. with a coin; then the wheel can be slid downward and out of the frame after loosening the axle. To tension the chain you only have to adjust the dropouts.
Two requirements for use:
1. Hub gears (SRAM, Shimano or Rohloff)
2. The frame must have the required rear triangle length of 465 mm. Some higher frames also come with longer rear triangles that are too large for the chain case. The rear triangle lengths are shown in the Measurement Chart.
Chainglider
The Chainglider has the same job as the enclosed chain case but functions differently: The Chainglider is not attached to the frame. Instead it centres itself on the front chainring and is held in place by the chain itself, which glides through the housing with minimal friction. It is therefore considerably smaller than a chain case and has an elegant fit.
The frictional force of the chain is negligibly small. The sound made by the chain gliding through the housing is barely audible and usually indiscernible against other background noises. However, if you are especially sensitive to bicycle sounds you should first test ride a bike with the Chainglider before adding this feature.
One advantage of the Chainglider is that it is available for various chainring sizes, while the enclosed chain case can only be used on bikes with a 38-tooth chainring in front.