Hello!
I Purchased a Specilized Hardrock Sport in Oct 2005. It has about 500km on it.
Today I bought a new chain - 8 speed SRAM powerlink. Measured it against the old chain, broke it at that location and installed it on the bike.
When the chain is in the smallest chainring and I apply force to the pedals (riding uphill) the chain seems to skip, as if it was jumping a cog. This does not happen in either the middle or large chainrings, only the small ring (small ring is used the most obviously).
I called my LBS and they said it sounds as if the transmission was worn out!! How can this be? It only has 500km on it and they are STEEL rings. I could accept it if the rings where aluminum but not steel.
The last ride I went on, with the old chain, it did not do this. So I'm thinking that, now with the new chain, the rear cassette and small ring are "unmatched" with the new chain....?
I guess my ride tomorrow is off, I don't have time to fix it tonight.
Digger