Is this the best explanation of chain stretch ever?
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If one were to stipulate, for the sake of argument, that cleaning prolongs chain life to some unspecified degree, that would still not imply that it's worthwhile.
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That is as good of an explanation as there is. Yet someone not only took the time to make the video in the OP, but they took time to make props.
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#30
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"Chains wear out and there is no magic lube that will increase the lifespan of a chain...Chain cleaning is also waste of time and does nothing to increase the lifespan of a chain. ..Just enjoy riding your bike and replace your chain when it's worn out."
I believe there is something to this statement. A guy I ride with replaces his chain around the 4000 mile mark. All he does is lube it to keep it quiet. Runs the same cassette through 3 or 4 chain changes. The outer chain ring where he rides most of the time has never been replaced. This bike is about 14 years old now. He is not a masher, but does weigh around 200lbs. Terrain is relatively flat with a few steep hills along the way.
When riding with him he can't hear the squeaking chain so I have to tell him to lube it when he gets home. He never cleans it, just adds lube. It really baffles me as I replace my chain every 1000-1500 miles. I have yet to replace the cassette or chain ring, but the drive train has only seen 3 full seasons.
I believe there is something to this statement. A guy I ride with replaces his chain around the 4000 mile mark. All he does is lube it to keep it quiet. Runs the same cassette through 3 or 4 chain changes. The outer chain ring where he rides most of the time has never been replaced. This bike is about 14 years old now. He is not a masher, but does weigh around 200lbs. Terrain is relatively flat with a few steep hills along the way.
When riding with him he can't hear the squeaking chain so I have to tell him to lube it when he gets home. He never cleans it, just adds lube. It really baffles me as I replace my chain every 1000-1500 miles. I have yet to replace the cassette or chain ring, but the drive train has only seen 3 full seasons.
Yes, I see cleaning chains as a waste of time. Yes, people using chain cleaning devices look a bit like aliens to me. And about taking the chain off to clean it in a bucket? Don't get me started on that. As others said, waste of time.
#31
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You can either replace the chain every couple thousand miles, or just let things go all sharktooth and replace the whole shebang when it won't shift anymore. Heck maybe that's new bike time; let someone else deal with chain wear. The big tent of cycling has room for both extremes and everything in-between.
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Keeping everything running smoothly and wasting the least power isn't a big imposition for me, but there are all sorts, I guess.
I mean, taking off the chain once per month, deep cleaning and relubing takes all of half a hour, during which time I'm also chatting with my wife and kids and possibly doing something else while the chain is soaking. Every week before a big ride, a wipe-down and a relube. I spend as much if not more time washing and drying my cycling kit.
I mean, taking off the chain once per month, deep cleaning and relubing takes all of half a hour, during which time I'm also chatting with my wife and kids and possibly doing something else while the chain is soaking. Every week before a big ride, a wipe-down and a relube. I spend as much if not more time washing and drying my cycling kit.
#33
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You can either replace the chain every couple thousand miles, or just let things go all sharktooth and replace the whole shebang when it won't shift anymore. Heck maybe that's new bike time; let someone else deal with chain wear. The big tent of cycling has room for both extremes and everything in-between.

4 bikes, 12 years cycling, and all 4 chainrings are still the originals. Yes probably I have to change chain at 3000km instead of 4000km (like... 20 dollars a year), but how much time I save not doing something I hate? I prefer sweeping floors than cleaning chains, and that says something. It makes cycling a stress instead of a reliever.
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Freewheels are NOT cassettes
Cassettes are NOT freewheels
I will now begin calling every part on a bicycle any or all of the following ....whatchamacallit ....doohickey ....or better yet .... thingamabob
Cassettes are NOT freewheels
I will now begin calling every part on a bicycle any or all of the following ....whatchamacallit ....doohickey ....or better yet .... thingamabob
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"Hey, let me take off from this red light and clip in to my clipless pedals."
"Yesterday I fell over because I couldn't unclip from my clipless pedal"
We coulda come up with snap-in or click-in but no, the collective cycling mind came up with let's clip in to our clipless pedals.
#36
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[QUOTE=cubewheels;22367071]Not a problem if you have full fenders with long mudflaps on the front fender. Perhaps keep a good clearance between fender and tires to avoid icing issues or use heated fenders.[/QUOT
Man, another reason to appreciate the luxury of year round riding in Florida! I recall the extraordinary energy, time and resources it takes to "appreciate" the change of seasons.
Man, another reason to appreciate the luxury of year round riding in Florida! I recall the extraordinary energy, time and resources it takes to "appreciate" the change of seasons.
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Do your fenders keep water out of your paper spacers?
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#38
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If full fenders are not working for you to keep your chain from getting dirty, you need longer and wider mudflaps on the front fenders. the mudflaps on my front fender is 3 inches wide and almost touches the ground.
If you didn't know before, most of the muck that gets thrown to the drivetrain comes from the front wheel.
If you didn't know before, most of the muck that gets thrown to the drivetrain comes from the front wheel.
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'to clean or not to clean, that is the question'
'you say cassette, I say freewheel , you say cog, I say gear - Let's call the whole thing off '
'Winter idleness is the heaviest of oppressions' - courtesy of somebody... maybe me
'Winter' has truly come to BF... LOL!
OP - always to be held in the back of one's mind - no good deed or intent is ever left unpunished !
Ride, ski, skate, walk, swim, read, play, listen, ANYTHING on!
assures no wasted moment... time is only 'wasted', when we choose to give it away... like, right now
Yuri - chain cleaning has its meditative side...
'you say cassette, I say freewheel , you say cog, I say gear - Let's call the whole thing off '
'Winter idleness is the heaviest of oppressions' - courtesy of somebody... maybe me
'Winter' has truly come to BF... LOL!
OP - always to be held in the back of one's mind - no good deed or intent is ever left unpunished !
Ride, ski, skate, walk, swim, read, play, listen, ANYTHING on!
assures no wasted moment... time is only 'wasted', when we choose to give it away... like, right now
Yuri - chain cleaning has its meditative side...
#41
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ok BF brain trust, since we're talking chains... my chain is measuring approx 1/20" long (not quite 1/16" yet) over 12 inches - about .5%. bike rides perfectly. chain is cheap. cassette is EXPENSIVE. approx 2,500 miles on it. replace it?
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Lifehack * Party candles for cleaning & lubricating the chain. Birthday candles takes years of crud & wear off from it!
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Just figured out that average retirement age is what it is to ensure that sufficient birthday candles are available. With the increased bike mileage you'll be doing, you'll need a lot.
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I replace chains every 6500-ish km and they have more life in them at that point, but I have an important race coming up or something and want everything to be in perfect condition, or last time I changed my chain I installed an OSPW and hence had to put a longer chain in and so on.
Cleaning and lubing with quality stuff, and the chains are Dura-ace 11 speed. It absolutely matters - not all lubes are the same and chain quality differs.
Since they are in reasonably good condition still, I didn't toss the last couple or so in the garbage. Might use them for kids' bikes or something.
Cleaning and lubing with quality stuff, and the chains are Dura-ace 11 speed. It absolutely matters - not all lubes are the same and chain quality differs.
Since they are in reasonably good condition still, I didn't toss the last couple or so in the garbage. Might use them for kids' bikes or something.
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Chain and chain lube postings always go wonky. I agree good cassettes are expensive, but there is a lot to your question. If I was riding busy city roads, sometimes wet, still working, kids at home and had a spare I am sure I would put on a new chain. Most of my bikes are ridden in a bike friendly community with wide bike lanes that are swept clean frequently, Southern AZ so never in the wet, I am retired so I keep my chains lubed, wiped down and cleaned as needed. Also I rotate bikes w/o logging milage, unless obviously a new chain when wiping them down before a ride I use a Shimano TL-CN42 (calibrated by me) for a quick check and a scale if getting close so would wait for that last little bit of life.
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Every time I read one of these threads and people talk about replacing chains (or tires) after 1000-1500 miles of riding, I always wonder what I'm doing differently.
I've got at least 3000 miles on a Shimano chain right now and it's still not measuring any wear using a Park Tool CC-4 chain checker. I have a brand new chain on the box ready to install, just waiting for a sign...
I don't do anything special in terms of drivetrain maintenance. I clean and re-lube the chain with a wet lube every couple of weeks unless I'm riding in wet conditions, in which case I'll clean & re-lube it more frequently.
I've got at least 3000 miles on a Shimano chain right now and it's still not measuring any wear using a Park Tool CC-4 chain checker. I have a brand new chain on the box ready to install, just waiting for a sign...
I don't do anything special in terms of drivetrain maintenance. I clean and re-lube the chain with a wet lube every couple of weeks unless I'm riding in wet conditions, in which case I'll clean & re-lube it more frequently.
#48
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Every time I read one of these threads and people talk about replacing chains (or tires) after 1000-1500 miles of riding, I always wonder what I'm doing differently.
I've got at least 3000 miles on a Shimano chain right now and it's still not measuring any wear using a Park Tool CC-4 chain checker. I have a brand new chain on the box ready to install, just waiting for a sign...
I don't do anything special in terms of drivetrain maintenance. I clean and re-lube the chain with a wet lube every couple of weeks unless I'm riding in wet conditions, in which case I'll clean & re-lube it more frequently.
I've got at least 3000 miles on a Shimano chain right now and it's still not measuring any wear using a Park Tool CC-4 chain checker. I have a brand new chain on the box ready to install, just waiting for a sign...
I don't do anything special in terms of drivetrain maintenance. I clean and re-lube the chain with a wet lube every couple of weeks unless I'm riding in wet conditions, in which case I'll clean & re-lube it more frequently.
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I cannot believe this is a serious post. You don't mention lubrication, so every chain I have ever seen would be seriously rusted in a few months of riding, and the noise would be nearly unbearable. Your claim flies in the face of logic and evidence. Any other completely bogus beliefs you want to share?
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Chain and chain lube postings always go wonky. I agree good cassettes are expensive, but there is a lot to your question. If I was riding busy city roads, sometimes wet, still working, kids at home and had a spare I am sure I would put on a new chain. Most of my bikes are ridden in a bike friendly community with wide bike lanes that are swept clean frequently, Southern AZ so never in the wet, I am retired so I keep my chains lubed, wiped down and cleaned as needed. Also I rotate bikes w/o logging milage, unless obviously a new chain when wiping them down before a ride I use a Shimano TL-CN42 (calibrated by me) for a quick check and a scale if getting close so would wait for that last little bit of life.
i ride in and around san francisco, city streets, steep hills, but mostly very well paved roads in clean and dry conditions. maybe 10% of the time i'm in heavy fog/mist/rain or riding gravel. i clean and lube it carefully every 200-300 miles. i think maybe i'll ride this one for another 500-1000 miles until/unless i put the gravel wheelset back on, which has a nearly brand new cassette with less than 500 miles on it.