How often do you replace your chain?
Posted 5 months ago by sequentialI replaced my chain for the first time at about the thousand mile mark on the bike a little more than a month ago. I went with a Shimano Ultegra 10 Speed chain (CN-6600) and matching cassette (CS-6600).
Last Thursday I dropped the chain tool in and, wouldn't you know it, I need a new chain again. It's been another thousand miles. Does this jibe with your experience? Are there better options for 10 speed chains?
Furthermore, do you always change your cassette at the same time? On close inspection, my two cassettes (the one I replaced and the one I replaced it with) look like they could last another 1,000 miles, if not more.
Replies
It's largely a function of maintenance. I use a 9-speed chain on a bike that gets its drivetrain cleaned every weekend and that lasted me about 6000 miles before I felt a need to replace it (and replacement defined as persistent gear skipping that can't be fixed by derailleur cable adjustments)
Normally, at that case, I will also replace my cassette.
Prior to this, I replaced my chain every 2000 miles for bikes that only had their drivetrains cleaned up about once every four months or more.
On the other hand, I know some folks who do replace their chain at any sign of stretch just to preserve having to change the cassette. Their viewpoint is that it's cheaper to replace a 9 speed chain once every two or three months, than to have to replace a chain and cassette (and possibly one of the rings on your crankset) every 9 to 12 months.
I have similar maintenance habits. Once a week the bike gets a fabulous day in the spa, but it also gets daily cleaning and tuning as needed.
My (limited) understanding is that the 9 speed chain is wider and thus more durable. Despite weekly cleanings and derailleur adjustments, I can't get anything to stick longer than 50 or so miles. If this is reasonably true, I guess I may benefit from going to a 9-speed given the troubles and time I've spent adjusting things the last couple hundred miles.
For what it's worth, it's not the cost that I'm concerned about. Replacing the chain every month and a half just gets a bit silly. From the time it takes for maintenance and adjustments to the impact on the time I spend on the bike, it's simply frustrating. I feel like *I just replaced my chain*! Namely because I did.
Wow, um, like wow. I guess I never rode so often to warrant regular chain or cassette changes. My chain, at very nearly 2000 miles, gets a shot of lube when I think about it on the way out the door to ride, and a quick spray of orange cleaner/wipe with rag/fresh lube when it looks grungy. The derailers get a shot of cleaner about the same frequency. The rest of the bike gets drilube uh, when I think about it.
That said, I just noticed that the headset and the shifter on my mountain bike are *really* chunky.
It's a bike, not a nuclear submarine!
Just got back from Wheelworks. Apparently my cage was bent and my hub was very loose. Both things they should have probably noticed when I was sold the new chain and cassette. Using a different chain tool, it turns out my chain has plenty of life left. With the two issues fixed, I shift (under load and without load) very easily.
Very happy I went back and talked to a different tech, but not very happy that it took me this long to figure it all out.
Chain life is all about conditions on the road. Cassette life is all about how careful you are with your chain. That's how I understand it anyway...
I killed my winter chain in about 800km this year, to the point where the cassette was useless too. I had no idea it would go _that_ fast.. It didn't get much maintenance though.
There was I time when I would swap back and fourth between two chains every week or two, to have time for thorough cleanings and care. I might have to make that my winter habit again.
I do care about the money. A lot :) Note that 6/7 speed chains are long enough for almost any 8 speed drive train, so spending the extra money on an 8 speed chain is just insanity!