Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Can a chain "skip"?

I had a marginally terrifying experience this morning when I was riding in to work. I was attempting to cross a busy street, had found my break in the traffic to zip across, got on the pedals to start off, when I hear and feel CLUNK clunk. I'm moving, but just barely and not nearly as fast as I need to be to get out of the way of the cars barreling towards me, so I just keep pedaling (fortunately it was behaving normally now) and manage to get across safely.

The clunking felt sort of like it does when I shift and I'm putting too much pressure on the pedals, but I hadn't shifted and the chain was still on the correct cog. Is it possible that the chain somehow skipped a tooth or two? Or maybe jumped down a cog then came back to the original one after I was moving? What I should do or check to prevent this from happening again? It really was kind of scary just dribbling out into traffic when I was expecting to take off quickly.

When's the last time you oiled your chain?

How worn is is the chain, 12 links are equal to inches pin to pin, any more that 1/16th inch more and it is time to replace the chain, an over 1/8th inch and it is time to replace the chain ,cassette and possibly the chain rings.

Or......your rear dérailleur cable is stretched a bit and needs adjusting at the barrel adjuster..

As ctwxlvr suggested, it is most likely that your chain is worn and no longer sits properly on the cogs on your cassette or on the chainrings. This is pretty easy to see, shift your bike into gear that you least frequently use, personally I almost never use the largest cog in the rear. This cog will have experienced the least wear so a worn chain will mesh poorly with it. If your chain is very worn you should be able to see gaps between the cog and chain, if you can then the cassette and chain are toast and yes they will skip, no amount of oil or adjustment will fix it.

I just had a cassette and chain replaced on mine for the exact same reason, except I almost dumped it when it happened going up a steep hill, I was standing and a car was going past me. Consider it a non fatal warning you had :)

So here's probably a telling question... How often should I be oiling my chain?

(In case it wasn't obvious, I'm a bike maintenence noob. :()

So here's probably a telling question... How often should I be oiling my chain?

(In case it wasn't obvious, I'm a bike maintenence noob. :()


I clean mine as many times as it takes to keep it running silent and smooth. Sometimes once a month, sometimes every 2. I clean it then relube with a bike lube. I got 15,000 miles out of my last chain.

If you place a new chain onto worn cogs, same skipping will happen. I replaced both.

I would almost be you just need a rear derailleur adjustment if your bike is not too old. How old is the bike?

The only person you could reasonably ask how often you should clean and lube your chain is someone that knows when and where you ride. The weather makes all the difference in the world so if you live in Phoenix the answer may be once in a blue moon where in Vancouver or Portland the answer might be twice a day.
Mr. Beanz policy of keeping it quiet is probably as good as any, if the chain gets really dry/rusty it will let you know.

I got the bike in early July and it has 632 miles on it. I did oil the chain with a product called "Ice Wax" (claims to clean and lube) about a month ago when I started hearing some chain noise. I haven't heard any noise since, but given my experience this morning, I go ahead this weekend and oil it again. Hopefully that's all it'll need. I checked the stretch and it's still 12" for 12 links and I'm not seeing any significant wear on the cassette.

Thanks for the replies.

632 miles? Oh heck, more than likely need that free tuneup offered at most dealers. The cables lose tension during the breakin period, then need to be adjusted. Sometimes the need to be adjusted more than once if they want to be little bugger guys. But most of the time, one adjustment after the breakin is good!:D

I've had bikes that need adjusting after 10 miles, than again at 100, then again at 500. And some that needed an adjustment at 200 and that was it. Depends on cables and/or maybe quality and type of bike. Hybrids and mtb's are more than likely larger than skinny roadie cables, so may vary.

I clean and oil mine whenever the shifting gets erratic, whenever I hear the chain, or a squeek, whenever it's been in the rain, or whenever I am riding on surfaces other than asphalt or concrete. That might be once a week, once a month, or every other day. If I see dirt or grit building up on either derailleur, it's time. I ride 42+ miles every day.

But, I'm a maintenance junkie....... I'm even considering carrying a small bottle of TriFlow, or somethng similar.

By your avatar, I'm thinking you're a really cute chick. So please don't tell me you're a dude!:D

All you really need to do is run into another experienced looking cyclist. Walk up to him in your best silly girl voice and ask, "how do I know when I need this thing adjusted?" while pointing to the rear derailleur. He'll more than likely adjust it for you. Only takes about 30 seconds.

If you're a dude, then it may not work,.......and lose the avatar!:roflmao2:

I got the bike in early July and it has 632 miles on it. I did oil the chain with a product called "Ice Wax" (claims to clean and lube) about a month ago when I started hearing some chain noise. I haven't heard any noise since, but given my experience this morning, I go ahead this weekend and oil it again. Hopefully that's all it'll need. I checked the stretch and it's still 12" for 12 links and I'm not seeing any significant wear on the cassette.

The chain isn't your problem. In fact, in my experience problems are rarely related to the chain. Most likely, your derailleurs need to be adjusted.

Hahaha...yes Mr. B, you're correct - I am indeed a chick. I need to go the LBS anyway to pick up my replacement headlight. Maybe I'll twirl my hair and see if they'll help the poor blonde girl out.