Re: Broke A Chain! - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

02-06-2007, 07:19 AM

On Mon, 05 Feb 2007 23:48:23 -0500, "David L. Johnson"
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>Stephen Harding wrote:
>
>> It's a SRAM PC48 chain of perhaps four years vintage.
>
>4 years!
>
>
>> Wondered if a broken chain was anything the group found to
>> be a common or rare event? Can you buy just replacement
>> masterlinks from SRAM? Didn't see any on the Performance
>> or Nashbar web pages.
>
>Breaking a chain is indeed a rare event--- but so is riding with the
>same chain for 4 years; unless you don't ride that bike much at all.
>Chains on geared bikes rarely last more than 2000 miles or so, and even
>that requires regular cleaning. Replace a chain when the measurement of

I rarely ever could get 2000 miles on an SRAM chain. I switched
over to Shimano chains with the sram quick link connector (Jenson
bikes online sells them for about 4 bucks each) and I have logged
over 3000 miles with only about a 1/32 of inch of stretch noted so
far.

When you switch out that chain with a new one be prepared to change
the rear cogs too. 4 years! Wow.

02-06-2007, 08:38 AM

Fritz wrote:
>
> I rarely ever could get 2000 miles on an SRAM chain. I switched
> over to Shimano chains with the sram quick link connector (Jenson
> bikes online sells them for about 4 bucks each) and I have logged
> over 3000 miles with only about a 1/32 of inch of stretch noted so
> far.
>
> When you switch out that chain with a new one be prepared to change
> the rear cogs too. 4 years! Wow.

I have over 4000 miles and 5 years on an original Shimano 9sp chain.
I take my share of hills, but then again, I'm only 130#.

02-06-2007, 08:57 AM

Fritz wrote:

> When you switch out that chain with a new one be prepared to change
> the rear cogs too. 4 years! Wow.

Yes, that's very possible [likely].

Because the chain and cogs wear together, I never fully know
if a replacement chain will bring gearing back to spec.

The cogs will tell you they need replacing when the new
chain comes on and you still get lots of noise and some
shifting roughness.

If the rings are skipping teeth, they're telling you they
need replacement as well!

[Keep in mind these bikes are 6 speed freewheel or cassette
or 7 speed cassette drivetrains. A big ring (usually from
RaceFace) will set you back $25 all by itself, but not
frequently while chains are $15 and a cogset/freewheel less
than $25. I'm more attentive of my Trek 2000 with a 9 speed.]

SMH

02-06-2007, 07:27 PM

"Road Dog" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:z23yh.19750$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].pas.eart hlink.net...
> Fritz wrote:
>>
>> I rarely ever could get 2000 miles on an SRAM chain. I switched
>> over to Shimano chains with the sram quick link connector (Jenson
>> bikes online sells them for about 4 bucks each) and I have logged
>> over 3000 miles with only about a 1/32 of inch of stretch noted so
>> far.
>>
>> When you switch out that chain with a new one be prepared to change
>> the rear cogs too. 4 years! Wow.
>
> I have over 4000 miles and 5 years on an original Shimano 9sp chain.
> I take my share of hills, but then again, I'm only 130#.

Same here on an 8 speed cassette - (apart from the 130 bit)