Bicycle Mechanics - Chain stretch after 1000 miles on a road bike?

My road bike's odo shows 1082 miles. After thoroughly cleaning the chain, I decided to measure it for kicks. Twelve links measured 12 1/16, which, as I understand it, means it's time for a new chain. But why so soon? Yeah, I like to hammer up steep hills, but I only ride in dry weather and I re-lube once every 100 miles or so with Tri-Flow, although I used White Lightning for the first 700 miles of thi chain's life. My chain is a SRAM PC-59, and no, the powerlink was not in between the links I measured. This is the original chain that came with the bike. I find it highly doubtful that this bike was test-ridden 2000 miles before I bought it. Is this normal? Am I within spec or do I need to head to the LBS for a new chain?

Soooo, there's only 1082 miles on the chainrings and rear cogs, too? Yeah, that's way more stretch than I would expect considering that you're keeping it lubed. I have no explanation... only that it's not normal, and it's not from hammering the hills.

Here's a possible guess...when you re-lubed w/Tri-flow, did you clean the chain first? Tri-flow isn't a "dry" lube, so you don't have to use it as often. If I don't ride in the rain, I'll go a month or more on a single Tri-flow lube... typically 600-800 miles. So, since the Tri-flow leaves your chain oily, maybe stuff is sticking to it, and re-lubing the dirty chain drives the gunk that would normally stay on the outside down into the works, where it grinds away the metal.

Depends on what the level of OCD you have. Some posters here agree that this is it, change the chain. Others would wait til it is closer to 12.125". I suggest monitering the elongation over the next 500-1000mi and see if the elongation is linear with mileage.
There is no great urgency. Steve

Was that White Lightning you used a dry lube? I used that (or similar dry lube product) on my road 8 spd once...a bunch of very experienced mountain biker friends recommended it. I found it to be totally useless...on several long rides I found myself riding along sounding like a worn out set of caterpillar tracks on a bulldozer. The chain was trashed very quickly. Maybe I put the dry lube on incorrectly, but I don't ever use dry lube on my road bike anymore.

When I switched to Tri-Flow a few hundred miles ago I thoroughly cleaned the chain in citrus degreaser solution to get the White Lightning gunk off it (I'll never use that crap again) then liberally applied the Tri-Flow, cranked the chain for about a minute, wiped off the sludge on the outside, re-lubed, cranked some more, and wiped again until the chain stayed clean while cranking. My weekly re-lubing is less involved, but I do remove the chain about once a month and clean it like I stated above. I think I'll pick up a new chain anyway before I ruin the cassette or chainrings. Thanks, guys.

The difference between 12 1/16 and 12.125 is .06". Thats a measurement you will not be able to accurately measure with a household tape measure. What are you using to measure it with? Buy one of the commercialy available measurers.

As Roadbuzz mentioned, you may be over lubing your chain thus introducing un-needed grit.

Hey live, did you measure the chain when you got the bike? It may have already been off by a little.

I use the original White Lightning & have never had a problem with it. Chain stays clean & quiet. You should wipe off excess before you ride. It does need to be applied more often than "wet" lubes.

If you let the chain go to 12.125" (12 1/8"), you will likely trash the cogs.

WL: Comment. Yea I do 130 and 160 mile rides and I don't hear the squeaking sound. My friend that uses Pedro's Ice Wax does get the squeaks some where around 60 miles. WL works great!

Bummer! I just bought some Pedro's Ice Wax, not realising 'till I got it home that it is indeed wax based...I thought I was getting plain old traditional Pedros chain oil. I just put a new drivetrain on and I DON'T want to hear my stuff squeeking and grinding away. :mad:

Might go get some more Finnishline....does that stuff come in bulk? Why is it so expensive anyway?!!!!????? I am really tempted to use 5W-50 synthetic motor oil...same price only I'll get 4 Litres instead of 0.120 Litres. I only ride on the road and degrease the chain on the bike once a week with the roller/brush tool....nearly all that 'special' bike lube seems aimed at MTBs anyway, not road...vastly different environment!