Originally Posted by
Crankycrank
Technically they don't stretch, they elongate due to the pins and such wearing down creating more play in each link. Rubber bands stretch, metal chains elongate through wear. Call it stretch if you want, we all understand what that means here but don't go blasting other posters for using the correct term.
+1, to that.
ANNND, if one wants to get super-technical.... the plates will stretch ever so slightly, while under HEAVY load... then they resume their previous length... but a seriously accurate "ruler' would be needed, and a fast one, too! it's a molecular metallurgy thing... crystaline bonding shear stuff.
what we silly bike guys deal with is pin wear, and roller wear, and sprocket wear.