UKC

How often do you replace your bike chain. Colleague in work recommends every 500 miles or so. His reasoning is so the worn chain doesn't increase wear on the bikes' gears etc.
I'm more than happy to replace the chain around that mileage, I was just wondering what the general consensus was.

In reply to Tonybhoy:

If you do it that frequently does it mean you don't have to renew the cassette?
I tend to leave all well alone until the teeth resemble hooks. It all seems to work fine until then. So years. Mind you my bike is not exactly racing standard.

In reply to Tonybhoy:

Buy yourself a chain measuring tool (http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lifeline-essential-chain-wear-tool/) and check the stretch every couple of weeks.

On my commute bike I've managed four of five chain changes without having to replace the rear cassette.

I know some folks will say just run the chain into the ground and then replace the whole drive train, but I reckon that my method gives me smoother riding for longer at less cost

In reply to Tonybhoy:

MTB - every 2-3months more in winter

In reply to Tonybhoy:

Closer to every 2000 miles I suspect, except the CX bike due to sand., Get a chain wear tool and use that. Replace it when it hits the first mark and you can reuse a cassette for 2 or 3 chains without question

The weather you ride in, gear changes (especially under load) and the care/cleaning will make more difference than just simple miles.

In reply to Tonybhoy:

Cross-chaining will wear your chain quicker than anything else; each link is forced to work at a very slight angle to the next meaning the side plates wear and the pins wear at their ends. A chain wear measuring device that shows the percentage worn is a good idea.

In reply to Tonybhoy:
Annually, 3000-4000 miles. Get chain wear tool or a steel ruler.

In reply to Tonybhoy:

I'm afraid I replace it when it breaks!

In reply to Tonybhoy:

I'd suggest it's quite a bit more than 500 miles, I've done just over 3000 km on my new bike and the chain (11 speed ultegra) is nowhere near the stretch indicated on a chain wear tool as time to change. Like others I'd get one of them to measure, provided you change by 0.75% stretch you should only need to change the chain.

It's not a good test but I think weather may play a big deal in this, my commuter bike has done less distance, but in all weathers, and needs the chain changing, however, I'm going to do the whole drive train (want different gearing so I can use it for long tours) so have just kept it running to the point where everything is knackered.

In reply to Tonybhoy:

All depends on the type of cycling you do, but get a chain checker and use it regularly.

With my MTBs I try to run 3 chains per cassette, swapping then round every 200 miles and cleaning them regularly. That way, by the time they get stretched and start wearing the cassette, it's pretty knackered anyway.

Get much longer life from my road chain, but rarely ride it in bad weather (or snow, or deep mud, or through those deep gritty puddles the Peak specialises in !)