Replace Chain Regularly or Not?

[MacB]

I've been reading up on this on here, other forums, Sheldon Brown etc and there seems to be two main schools of thought re lube/oil/replace time etc. Bear in mind this is road commuting only, all weathers, but no off road, excessive mud etc:-

1. The Super Duper Careful Approach - treat the chain like a baby, bathe, cleanse and re-oil/lube regularly. Replace often to enhance life of cassette and chain rings, estimates are from every 500 to 1000 miles.

2. The What the Heck, or I'm Getting My Moneys Worth Approach - never do more than wipe it with a rag and add a bit of oil, max once a week. Run the chain, rings and cassette into the ground, once gear changes become a problem then replace the whole lot. Don't buy high end stuff as the additional expense is primarily to save weight only. Life expectancy estimates vary from 5k to 15k miles.


I'm tempted by option 2, but that may just be the lazy person in me. If I go with option 1 then I could be looking at one to two chains per month and opinions seem to vary on just how much life enhancement this gives to the other bits. It would also seem to work out a whole lot more expensive than option 2. I'm also wary regarding the proponents of the regular change/cleanse chain approach. Seems to be a lot of them involved in the manufacturing or selling of chains/lubes.

 

[bonj2]

when the roads aren't grimy/wet once a week IS regular.
in winter/wet, i tend to wipe and re-oil after a ride -only takes a minute at most, and clean/degrease if it looks really grimy/dirty, which tends to only apply to the mtb.

 

[magnatom]

I'm doing number 2 at the moment. The chain and cassette are worn, but they are functioning fine. So there is no point replacing it until at least after the winter. If it doesn't skip and still looks in reasonable condition, why change it?

(Of course someone might point out that it will be more likely to snap...)

 

[fossyant]

I replace chain and cassette - I get mid range stuff for my commuter - get about 2000 miles (replace every 6 months or so) - in reality it's shorter in winter.

Lube chain after wet rides, and keep it wiped clean.

For an everyday bike this is OK. If you have some bling, then look after it more....

 

[tyred]

Option 2 for me but I'm not using high end components so not worth the hassle of option 1.

 

[magnatom]

I have a question (it could go in know how, but fits here). If you do 2, i.e. what I am doing are you usually ok to keep the chainrings? Do they tend to last better? If so in the spring I'd only have to replace the cassette, chain and probably the jocky wheels if that is possible on deore.

 

[bonj2]

I'm doing number 2 at the moment.

do we NEED to know?

 

[Eat MY Dust]

do we NEED to know?

Just let's hope he doesn't post the video!!

 

[magnatom]

do we NEED to know?

I did consider putting in an 'a', but I though this would be too obvious!

 

[magnatom]

It's up to you with regards to the cassette and chain if you think it needs replacing, the jocket wheels though you might be better just giving them a good clean and applying some grease.

Hmm. My jockey wheels have got to the point that I could take them off and use them as ninja stars though!

 

[BADGER.BRAD]

I tend to go for option 2 for the road/commuter bikes I have and just keep an eye on wear and have a quick look at the chain (one full rotation) each time I lube it (onceish a week) just to make sure it's not falling apart. The hack/recycled bikes I've had tend to get used for off/on road (which ever route is shortest) When the chain starts to jump under pressure I get a new one. I can normally do this two or three times before needing a new freewheel or chain wheels Cheep and cheerful is the way to go ! I find spending two/ three times as much doesn't mean you get two three times the use ! I suppose it also depends on the bike/bikes you have as to which class of parts you buy !

 

[yello]

wipe it with a rag and add a bit of oil, max once a week.

That often?

I'm definitely a number 2... er, no, what I meant was... ah sod it, that's true as well.

I treat chains as consumables and don't molly coddle them. They get periodic maintenance but I'm no fanatic about it. They're cheap enough to replace so I'm not going to get too fussy about it. Cassettes and chainrings get judged in their own right, none of this changing with every 2nd chain routine.

 

[beanzontoast]

2 here as well. To my non-expert thinking, might as well let the components wear together so that they 'bed in' as a set rather than change individual elements. I commute daily year-round, so when it's time to change the whole lot together, it may cost more in one go but will be a money well spent.

 

[PBancroft]

2.

I don't have a high end bike, and I'm atrocious at cleaning/lubing the chain and gears... but somehow they just seem to go on. Last week my chainring bent, and a mate helped me replace it - he was appalled at how I treated my chain, leaving it in the wrong gear, everything you are not supposed to do.

But the truth is, it lives on. I replace the chainrings maybe once a year, the chain about the same time. Mileage is probably around about the 2500 mark.

 

[HLaB]

I tend to do something in between (I'm confused that way) I run a chain till its 0.75% worn (according to the Park chain guage) and get a couple of chains to a cassette. I could probably get more but I'm too lazy