phil15241

Just wondering if this is a bit uncommon or not. I'm pretty sure I'm measuring it correctly. I'm tensioning the chain slightly, and measuring from pin to pin. I do conduct regular cleanings on my chain and I'm lubing it with Chain-L. I just don't want to be miss reading anything and prematurely wearing parts.

Capecodder

Depends a lot on your riding style, power and weight, but Chain-L is the best lube on the market IMHO....

phil15241

I got a sample of Chain-L a while ago and it's awesome. I'm a pretty light guy and I like to spin a lot so maybe that's why.

gregf83 

What kind of chain? I recently replaced a campy chain at a little over 5,000 miles measuring about 12 1/16". I left it too long. With campy I believe you need to measure the distance between the rollers with a set of calipers. In the future I'll just change it earlier and forget about measuring it.

phil15241

It's a shimano ultegra 6600.

chinarider

I have one of those with over 5000 miles on it. Over 8000 on the cassette and over 11000 on the chainrings. Not having any problems, so I figure I'll keep riding the setup until problems develop and replace all at once. I am relatively light and don't tend to be hard on equipment (my front tire has over 5000 miles on it--no flats).

danvuquoc

Lots of climbing = lots of chain wear for me. Before I started climbing a bunch, I'd get barely any wear after 4K miles on a SRAM Chain, same exact chain after climbing, 50% life after 1500 miles.

DaveSSS 

Use a precision rule, like a machinst's rule and measure from the edge of a pin rather than eyeballing the centers. When new, the end of a 12" rule, set on the edge of a pin, will cover the pin at the opposite end. When that covered pin is exposed by nearly half it's diameter, then you've got .5% elongation.

Shimano chains generally elongate quickly, but a recent report from tour magazine suggest that the latest chain may have been improved to reduce elongation ( like Campy chains have been for many years).

You should also check the space between the rollers. Shimano chains usually measure .210-.215 when new. When that value increase by .020-.025, it;s time to change the chain. Toss the chain, unless you're using several chains in a rotation. A rotation of several chains will permit further use of the chain and with no chain skip.

rooftest

I got 7,500 miles on the dura ace chain that came with my Di2 setup. Sometimes they last longer.

wle

you might also want to add some tension with a bungee cord on the top pedal to be sure it;s not just loose

but, road riding, i have gotten as much as 15,000 miles from a chain
of course that chain at 2200 was pretty new still

wle

deacon mark

I have 4600 on a dura ace and 3400 on my other bike 105. I have a machinist ruler and both show almost zero stretch. I keep in clean but only wipe with mineral spirits and lube with cheap light oil from ace hardware. I do not ride in the rain live in flats, and chain wear can vary. My first chain went 3400 and I decided to replace it and when next to the new chain it was almost spot on. I had a similar question as you but now I am sure it has to do with how I ride.

I am really not too slow I ride 30-60 miles at 18-21 but maybe I don't produce much power. I would be curious to see others getting longer miles on their chains.

Looigi

Coincidental I was just checking my chain at ~2500 miles. Has about 0.020" (0.5 mm) wear over 12" which is surprising. I was expecting more. I'll replace it at 1/32" wear (0.031").

rogerstg

I guess it depends on the size of the dot.

FWIW, mine lasts ~3500 miles before it shows 1/16" wear, so at 2200 it would still be "on the dot."

curiouskid55

usually get about 10 k a chain, have two bikes with 30k ea on them no problems with rings or cassettes. weekly lube and wipedown pays didvidends.