All parts of your bike need regular maintaining. This means that they need to be replaced when they wear out.
Unfortunately, there are still many cyclists who fail to notice that their bike chain needs to be changed. This is understandable as it can be hard to tell a worn out chain apart from a well-maintained one.
However, a worn out chain can really affect your shifting efficiency and also the overall condition of all components. That is because, when a chain is used, the internal rollers and rivets become worn out, resulting in a stretched chain.
Due to this misalignment between components, it can cause the teeth on your cassette and chainring to wear out.
When the problem goes unnoticed for too long, you may potentially have to replace both your chain and half your drivetrain, wasting more of your time and energy. If you are looking up for more information online, most of the resources that you find will give you a generic rule of thumb.
Many online results will say that two thousand miles are the threshold for all chains. However, this is simply not true, as not all chains require replacement at exactly the same mileage. In fact, your chain’s lifespan varies by many factors, including the brands of chains, riding styles, and outside environments. It’s something we get asked about time and time again.
The best thing that you can do to maximize your bike chain’s lifespan is to regularly clean and lubricate it. It goes without saying that well-maintained chains will last longer than those that are coated with dirt and debris. If you want to know whether your bike needs a new chain, here are a few ways to determine that:
Use a Chain Checker
The first step is to accurately measure the length of your chain using a chain checker. A device from Park Tool can be used to indicate when a chain reaches 0.5 percent and 0.75 percent so that you will know whether it needs to be changed. If you don’t want to buy one, you can go to a local bike shop and ask them if they have a chain checker for you to use. They can also give you some recommendations on a replacement chain as well.
Use a Standard Ruler
Another way to see if your chain is worn out is to use a ruler. As a road bike chain has rivets every half-inch, you can use a simple ruler to measure the distance between a set number of links. It is advised that you use twelve inches worth of links for the most accurate results. If it is more than one-sixteenth of an inch past the middle of the rivet at the twelve-inch mark, then it is time to replace your chain.
Do a Pull Test
This may not be such an accurate way of determining whether you need a new chain, but it is the easiest. To do a pull test, simply tug on the chain where it is positioned at the front of the chainring on the side that is nearest to the front wheel. If your chain lifts off the chainring, then it may well mean that you need a new chain.
Perhaps the most obvious indicator is when the chain slips under load of this is the case it’s very likely that you’ll need to change at least the rear cogs (called the cassette or freewheel),the chain and/or the cogs at the front (the crankset cogs).
If you’re looking for help with your bicycle chain repair in Bristol, BoIng Bicycles is a great option. Get in touch with us any time we’re always happy to help and advise. With the experience we have we can comfim how much your chain and hearing is worn and we can help you by replacing whichever components actually need replacing -all in the comfort of your own home or workplace. We literally bring the workshop to you.