The best bicycle chain

[Dave]

Originally Posted by Robot870

Hey Skep - I live in Manhattan and ride 6 days usually all year - I really only burn about 1 cassette a year......Even a 1090 lasted for 12 months once.........But I've also had the same IF SEC for 10 so I guess things just last with me.........PB is a cheap penetrating oil....it works! Almost forgot your question - I go 1 for 1 so when the chain goes so does the cassette. Cheap because I use a 105 CS-R7000!

Your technique would work, riding on relatively flat terrain and using cheap throwaway parts. Using a chain that long should trash a cassette. Many would say that shifting precision should suffer at some point. Using a chain that long is also detrimental to the chainrings. If you also have to replace chainrings more often, then you could spend less by changing chains more often.

If you have a $350 cassettes, and $50 chains, better care would be wise. With campy 12 speed I notice that you don't get much for the high price of a super record cassette. It's all steel and only weighs 44 grams less than a chorus model that's about half the price. Even the chorus 12 cassette costs more than 3 chains. If you alternate the use of several chains, the cassette should last for the life of those chains.

[Robot870]

Hi Dave! Here's a pic of my bike!

[Robot870]

Here's a better photo - Just learned how to post them....sry!

[Slmo]

Originally Posted by Elefantino

CyclingTips' Dave Rome takes a deep dive into chain efficiency and wear.

It's an interesting read.

Great article. Thanks for posting.

[martl]

Originally Posted by Dave

Call me skeptical - short time member with few posts.

How many chains get used before the cassette is replaced?

I once used a campy 10 chain for 6000 miles. Elongation waa was low, roller wear and side clearance wear were huge. Also got new-chain skip when a new chain was installed.

With 12 speed there are no cheap chains or cassettes. I wouldn't recommend your procedure to anyone.

I do have similar experiences to Mr. Robot here. I'm an acolyte of the Jobst Brandt school of chain maintenance - wipe down with an oily rag if needed..
My chains usually got swapped once per season/10k km and that was, according to the Roloff chain meter, way befor their due date. My cassettes last forever, too...

[Robot870]

I used to play the obsessive clean chain game and I swear it wore out faster - Set it and forget it is my policy now!

[rowebr]

Originally Posted by Robot870

I used to play the obsessive clean chain game and I swear it wore out faster - Set it and forget it is my policy now!

I've also moved towards benign neglect. When I do notice the chain needs lube, I just wipe it clean and lube very sparingly. Chains seem to last decently long and its less work for me!

[Robot870]

Originally Posted by rowebr

I've also moved towards benign neglect. When I do notice the chain needs lube, I just wipe it clean and lube very sparingly. Chains seem to last decently long and its less work for me!

I have my bike set up good now - I really don't do a thing other than hang it on the rack and ride the s**t out of it!