Irulan wrote "no one has really discussed operator error as a cause for chain suck. As much as I HATE to admit it, I'm convinced that maybe 50% of my chain problems were/are due to shifting under load..."

Irulan, you're right, you're always right, you're never wrong ;-)

...just back from a 30 mile group ride that I've had chain problems on in the past. Cleaned my bike the night before so it's not that. (forgot to pump air into the tires..doh! One of the Velo Girls had a floor pump, note to myself put one in the car) Today's goal "I'm NOT going to throw the chain."

Someone wrote "good cyclists shift with their eyes", funny thing is I hardly ever have problems on the big hill up to Pulgas Water Temple, it's after that. This time as I approached my nemisis hill I picked a gear that "I can live with this to the top". Like Dubya says I "missunderestimated myself" but rather than change under load just figured when I get to the top if I have anything left I'll drill accelerating over the crest. Which I did, so I did.