Basic Bike Maintenance: Chain Wear
Welcome to the first post in our series of Basic Bike Maintenance! Whether we started riding at 5 or 45, we were all beginners at one point. This series is chocked full of information we wish we knew from the start, and is focused on empowering new riders to feel confident in maintaining their equipment. Many of us have learned these lessons the hard or expensive way, but you shouldn't have to.
This brings us to our first topic, chain wear! Bike chains are made of up to 116 individual links, and have the most moving parts of any component on your bike. They're constantly under stress while we pedal, and are usually covered in dust, mud or anything else you might encounter on a ride. Knowing this, it makes sense that your chain will wear with normal use. So what does normal chain wear look like, and when is replacement appropriate?
Luckily for us, chain wear is quantifiable using a chain checker tool, which indicates wear on a scale from 0 to 1. Our favorite tool is the Park Tool Chain Checker CC-2, but any chain checker tool that you use regularly is a good one. A brand new chain should measure exactly 12 inches between two metal pins, which is our "zero" measurement with any chain checker tool. On a road bike, a measurement of .75 is the highest tolerance for chain replacement before the chainring and cassette must be replaced simultaneously. For mountain bikes that tolerance is lower, at .5, due to the drive train being used under more stressful riding conditions.
As Gregg mentions in our video tutorial, the cost of replacing a chain ranges from $20-50, whereas replacing the chainring and cassette can cost between $300-600. Ideally, your chainring and cassette should last through 3 chains before needing replacement. If cost isn't enough of a motivator, the effect on performance is also significant, causing skipping and sluggish shifting.
Our two cents? Get a chain checker tool, and check your chain monthly to get a baseline understanding of how quickly it is wearing. Always clean and lubricate your chain AFTER each ride so the lube has time to dry before hitting another dusty trail. Opt for a high quality (more expensive) chain that will last longer and wear slower. Use a quality lubricant, such as Dumonde Tech Original. And, if you're having trouble, bring your bike to Start Haus to get checked by a pro!