Chain - To Change or Not to Change...

[tantrumbean]

After another closer look, a lot of the sprockets had developed that sideways wave profile, so it was time for it to go.

Bike went into shop number 2, came out 24hrs later, serviced, with new cassette and chain and a couple of new cables for the grand total of £50 - which is basically the price of the parts! How good is that?

[PscyclePath]

A cheap way to check your chain is to get a ruler, and lay it with the zero mark centered on one of the pins in your chain. The 12" mark should also be centered on a pin if the chain is new, or in good condition. If the 12" mark is 1/8" or more past the center mark, then it's time for a new chain -- Now. If you keep an eye on your chain wear, you can avoid replacing cassette cogs and chainrings for some time. A worn, stretched chain will cause your cogs to wear unevenly, and if you leave the worn chain on there long enough for that to happen, a new chain won't fit well on your worn cogs. Sheldon Brown has some good examples (and better advice) on this at http://sheldonbrown.com/chains.html .

The Park chain checker is a good little gauge, but I tend to use the ruler method (my spoke length ruler does the job well) to keep an eye on things down there...

Tom

[indigoiis]

I put a bunch of miles on my new / used bike in the past few months and the chain started skipping and dropping. I brought it in and had the same convesation with lbs... I decided to do both. Why not? It's cheaper than car repair and I ride the darn thing near every day!

My dh thought it was excessive, though. Oh well. Worth it to me. I'm doing a century next weekend and I want that bike in ship shape.

[tantrumbean]

That's what I thought - doing 250miles next week I just didn't want to take the risk (plus the cassette did look pretty worn). Bike running smooth as a baby's bottom now!

[madscot13]

I finally changed my chain last night. It was pretty easy with a sram chain. I took her on a whopping 14 mile ride today- I just wanted to be close to home if my work undid itself.