This will end up costing you a lot of money to fix, so it’s better to just buy a new chain every once in a while if you want to prolong the life of your drivetrain and save money in the long run. The drivetrain of your bike consists of all the components which are linked to making your bike move and are connected to the chain so you can probably see why replacing the chain can benefit these parts.īasically what can happen when you don’t replace your chain is that the slow stretching of it, along with all the collected gunk from old lubricant and dirt that is stuck in hard to reach places, can wear out your chainring and cassette much earlier. Replacing your chain every now and then not only helps you to have a smooth ride but can improve the lifespan of your drivetrain. If you are wanting something more durable for rough riding, your chain drives are better as they are usually made from carbon or alloy steel. These are usually made from carbon fiber and nylon and look kind of like the treads on a tank. If you are looking for something which works well for a smooth ride and requires a little less maintenance, take a look at something called a belt drive. Finding the right one for you can be a difficult task, but there are many options out there that will work well. Chain Type Makes a DifferenceĪs with many things in life, there are a variety of types of chains, which come at different qualities and different prices and also suit different riding styles. So next time you think you might want to slack off a little on your ride and pedal-less, think about how cadence and gears affect your chain life. Higher gears stretch the chain out and put more stress on it, shortening its lifespan. Riding at a high cadence, or in a lower gear, puts less stress on the chain than if you were riding at a low cadence, typically a high gear. Cadence is basically the number of times the crank (the part of the bike which drives the chain and is connected to the pedals) rotates per minute. road biking), but to the cadence which you ride at. This not only applies to the type of riding you do ( mountain biking vs. Riding StyleĪs mentioned before, the way that you ride has a big part to play in a chain’s lifespan. Besides, it’ll look much nicer freshly lubricated anyway. If you want your chain to really last, clean all of the old lubrication off once, or even twice a month. The problem with the lubrication is that it can become a bit thick and sticky after a while, meaning that it is harder to pedal the bike and more pressure is put on your chain. Prolonging the life of your Bicycle Chain But some riders may find that their riding style causes them to need to change to a new chain every 500 miles. Generally speaking, with good maintenance, you should only need to replace your chain every 2000-3000 miles. In contrast, if you are someone who is a more aggressive and active rider, an avid mountain biker for example, and you don’t look after your chain, it will have a much shorter lifespan. If you are someone who doesn’t ride your bike that often but does good maintenance on the chain, it will more than likely last for a good number of years before it finally gives in. The lifespan of bicycle chains varies depending on a variety of factors including how often you ride, what type of riding you are doing, and how well you look after your chain. If you plan on prolonging the life of your chain in the future, or you simply want to learn a little more general knowledge about chains so you can whip it out at your next social gathering, thus attaining the nickname “chain guy”, keep on reading. If you simply came to find out if a chain lasts forever, you can stop reading now and go on with your daily life.
The short answer – no, your chain isn’t immortal, nor does it last as long as the bike itself. What’s up with that? Isn’t a bike chain supposed to last pretty much until the bike falls to pieces from being so old? You were just riding it and BAM! Your chain breaks out of nowhere. So you’ve had your bicycle for quite a while now.
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