I hope relatively expensive chains pay off. Yesterday I forked out $18 for a Shimano HG for my wife's bike -- a new build. She won't be doing much more than riding a well-paved trail, ever. I think I overpaid. That said, I've put almost 1,000 hard miles on a $16 KMC 510, used on a fixed gear, and it's held up very well. Did I answer my own querstion instead yours? Sorry.