How many chains, O Lord? How many?

[Tom]

Seriously, how many chains do you folks go through before you start changing out rings and cassettes?

[Bruce K]

Tom;

I am no expert here, but I have always been told by my LBS (a guy who I trust) that cassettes go with chains and rings go as needed.

I am thinking that may change with the compact gearing (50/34) that I am using now as there will be more rotations of the system to cover the mileage.

I'll be curious to hear other people's opinions.

BK

[e-RICHIE]

i replace chains at least every 3 months.

[Richard]

I replace chains every 3,000 miles or so (9 speed Shimano) and I rarely replace cassettes. I've got a couple that have over 12,000 miles on them and, while they don't shift like new, work very well. Chain rings get replaced about every third year or so, mileage notwithstanding.

[Tom]

That seems like a lot.

[LowCel]

Wow, if I had to replace my cassette every time I replace a chain I couldn't afford to ride. From my experience as long as you replace a chain before it is worn out you shouldn't have to replace anything else.

Keep in mind, eventually the cassette and chainrings will wear out, but they shouldn't for a long time.

[Bruce K]

Tom;

The one time I didn't listen to him and do it I started getting skipping pretty soon thereafter.

On the other hand, with the cost of the new stuff it would certainly be worth trying to go longer.

BK

[LowCel]

Bruce, if that was the case you most likely waited too long to replace the chain. With a chain costing $35 and a cassette costing $150 it is much more cost efficient to replace the chain well before it is time to.

[Tom]

Before your cassette or rings get replaced?

[Too Tall]

I change chains when Mr. Rolhoff says it's time and cassettes when they skip. An exception is my commuter...she gets a new cassette every yr. just cause.

[max_powers]

Replaced my shimano chain w/ a SRAM (9 spd) and got a nice rub on the front deraileur for the trouble. Overall width must be different, by a good amount. not so w/ a new Shimano.

[Kevan]

you sure you're not talking car motor oil here? Send them on to me for a few more miles. :D :D :D

[bostondrunk]

i replace chains at least every 3 months.

not fair, you get wholesale!

[Dekonick]

Well - I used to change chains when I changed cassette's but now that I have gone Italian... I am not sure I can afford that... so any advice? I was thinking about every 2k miles or so and a casette once a year. Sound about right?

I am really good about keeping my drivetrain clean and lubed -

[TmcDet]

I tried going 3 thousand miles on a 10 speed chain and that didn't work out too well....I ended up having to get a new cassette and a new small chainring. From what I have heard from the LBS guys you have to change the chains on the 10 speed stuff around 1,000 to 1,500 miles. I talked to Campy and they said you should check the wear using a tool and replace the chain when it showed about 75% wear so I am intending to do that this time

[JohnS]

I find it funny that many of the same people who expound on the greatness of their superlube (Boeshield, etc) are the same ones complaining of low chain mileage. I get 3000 miles on my C10 chains, but then I use old, boring Pedro's Ice Wax.

[Sandy]

My Dura-Ace 10 chain had 4,000 miles, so Idecided to check the wear. It appeared, by the 12 inch rule, that it was badly stretched. I took my bike to the shop, and using a chain measuring tool, the mechanic said that it was not very bad at all, but still recommended me changing it, which i thought was very advisable, since it did have 4,000 miles. The 24 cog on my 12/27 cassette had a little more wear than the other cogs (I use them all), but it was not too bad. The chain rings 53 and 39 were not showing excessive wear.

The mechanic said that a lot of the racers come in and change their chains every 1,000 miles. Given the cost of 10 speed cassettes and chain rings, I thought that the prudent thing to do was to change the chain. I am very satisfied changing a chain with 4,000 miles.

Always chained to Kevan's heart,

Serotta Somebody

[Bill Bove]

Campy 10 chain, Pedro's Road Rage lube. Change chain when the Park tool says 75-80%, two chains per cassette, usually about 3000 or so miles.

[csb]

3.25 months

i have 2 chains, one is clean and ready to go and
two is on the bike, sometimes one becomes two,
and then two becomes one, this goes on til three
and four cut in, then one and two go to a store
in chelsea...

[Dekonick]

1000 miles!?! thats only 2 months of regular use for someone like me!!!

[bpm]

I change my chain about every 2,500 miles (Dura-Ace 9speed). I only change the cassette if it starts shifting poorly and isn't remedied by the new chain. Chainrings are the last thing to be changed.

[Matt Barkley]

Using Rock n' Roll Gold I have changed Shimano 9sp and Campy 10 approx every 2-3,000 miles. Usually wear out the 14 in a year on a cassette. Note: just broke my first Campy 10speed chain 2 days ago...

[tch]

My experience and mechanic says this: change chains fairly aggressively (evey 2500 miles or so) and cassettes every 3rd chain or ride it all into the ground and change both at about 6,000-8,000 miles. I missed the window of opportunity early last year and just finished swapping out both chain and cassette at 6500 miles. I was just starting to get shifting issues. I probably could have gotten another 1,000 miles out of the stuff but it was a good time since I was going to be gone and off the bike for two weeks.

Rings are a ride-them-til-there's-a-problem item.

This is probably all a little easier to take since I don't ride really expensive specialty stuff -- just standard Ultegra.