Bicycle Mechanics - Chain and pain?

Hey,
My middle chainring on my bike(Chainring is a 5 bolt, 36 teeth, 110mm- running with a shimano xtr set up)is worn out so I'm replacing it. This proved harder than imagined my local bike shop despite a few calls over the space of a month and a half by myself hasn't got my replacement chainring. So I've just sourced one cheaper on the net and hopefully it will be delivered tomorrow.

I understand I will also need to replace my chain. I'm not completetly clueless, but I'm also not a mechanic. How difficult is it to do all this work myself? what should I specificaly be looking for when buying a chain? what tools would I need? am I likely to damage my bike? how much pain is involved?

All contributions appreciated.

Garvo

www.parktool.com has the drill on chain and chainring replacement, and tools required...This is easy stuff but if you don't have the tools and know how it often makes sense to have LBS do it, but I duno about one that can't manage sourcing a 110 36 ring. Buy the chain to match the # or rear cogs, like an 8 or 9 'speed'. Sram chains come with a master link that makes removing easier.

Sram chains are the best value. They come with plenty of excess length; use the parktools chainlength guide.
Practice using your chaintool on the excess links so you can guage when the pin has been pushed out to the sideplate and no further.
Use the powerlink to join the chian and practice using the powerlink with a clean chain, off the bike.
Specialities-TA chainrings are highly recomended and very long lasting.

I can't add much to Sydney's and MichaelW's spot-on responses, but here's a great source for your 36T 110BCD ring:

http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/chainrings/110.html

Sram chains are the best value. They come with plenty of excess length; use the parktools chainlength guide.
Practice using your chaintool on the excess links so you can guage when the pin has been pushed out to the sideplate and no further.
Use the powerlink to join the chian and practice using the powerlink with a clean chain, off the bike.
Specialities-TA chainrings are highly recomended and very long lasting.

When you size an SRAM chain, you don't need to leave the pin stuck in the sideplate. You can discard the pin along with the excess links since the PowerLink is used to join the chain.

Sram chains are the best value. ... use the parktools chainlength guide.
.


I've been running SRAM chains for 6+ years with no problems- I highly recommend their chains with Powerlink feature. The Powerlink allows you to assemble.disassemble the chain only using your fingers in seconds!

If you are satisfied with the current length of your chain, shorten the new chain to match this length. If you use a SRAM, remember to include the Powerlink in determining the length.