Byron Anderson Archives

Do you know the history of the Half-Link BMX Chain? The first half-link chain was the Interlock chain from The Shadow Conspiracy thanks to Byron Anderson and Ronnie Bonner. Here’s a video where Ronnie sits down to talk about how the half-link came to be, the challenges it had to get past and more. If you’re a product nerd, you’re going to be into this one for sure!

“The Shadow Conspiracy broke new ground when they released the first half link chain back in 2004, but it was no easy feat. From countless trips to Asia to meet with factory owners, to having to physically re-tool the pre-existing machines in order for them to produce these weird new half link style chains… it was a long road for Shadow. They truly innovated a product that changed the face of chains forever, even for bicycling inductors outside of BMX! This is the story of how the Shadow Half Link Chain came to be, told be the none other than the company’s founder/owner, Ron Bonner.” – Ride BMX

Intro by Kurt Hohberger – Interview by Dave Paterson

Over the years, there have been a handful of products that really stood out and have become “that product” that everyone knows as the perfect example that was eventually reproduced by a handful of other brands with minor tweaks and branding changes. For example, we could look at products like S&M’s Slam Bars, Odyssey’s Twisted PC pedals and Profile’s cranks. There’s one product that I think fits into this category that you without a doubt have either ran on your bike, or know a few people who do. That would be the Shadow Conspiracy‘s Interlock half-link chain. Since its release, it has been duplicated and replicated fairly unsuccessfully by a handful of brands and Shadow have stayed on top with making beneficial tweaks to make it stronger and better than before. Dave figured it was time to catch up with owner Ronnie Bonner to find out more about what exactly makes this chain one of the legendary products of BMX. So let’s take a look and what he had to say…
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History of The Shadow Conspiracy’s Half-Link Chain

Drawing Board: Shadow Conspiracy Interlock Chain