MAN, I've gotten 2 new chains on 2 of my bikes, and BOY did it make a HUGE difference in the ridability factor. GREAT!!!!
I suggest you replace a chain with a hipo chain every 10 years, if you store your bike outside (my dad won't llet me do anywhere else, I need my own garage

"hipo"?

high performance?

I suppose; I kept thinking that it was a brand name that I had never heard of, too.

At the rate I'm riding, I can probably go 2-3 years between chains, at least if I stick with the typical mileage recommendations.

Oh, so I should change it more often?

Ultimately, it's not about how many years or how much mileage you put on a chain, but how much it actually wears out. All-weather commuters in the snow belt beat the snot out of their chains with road grime, dirt, salt, and stuff like that, so some of them get a new chain every year. Road racers put so much mileage on theirs in such a short time that they may replace chains more often.

Most of the time, a worn chain would affect shifting performance, including the ability of the chain to stay in place. People will check chains to see if they're "stretched", whether by using a chain gauge or measuring it with a ruler (12 links = 12 inches; any more than that and it's due for replacement).

But, if it performs fine after cleaning (I'm cleaning at least one of my bikes' chains about every weekend now), there's not much reason to change a chain.

Well, I take this bike off road sometimes, and there is a lot of dust when I ride, she is a single speed Sting-Ray

I just bought a new chain.The old one was rusty,and the difference the new one made is amazing.It's like riding with a chain full of sand v/s a chain with vaseline on it.Get new chains people!

I end up replacing my chain about every year. It only costs about $20.00 for a high end shimano ultegra chain.

......

Anyone who advocates replacing a chain based on time used should be immediately ignored. Chains are replaced based on wear, which can be measured with a $1 ruler FFS>

Everyone, listen to this guy. Just like they do at the LBS.

Stretched link=new chain. (actually it's not a stretched link, but it looks like they are stretched). You know what I mean.

I don't know about you guys but my LBSs don't usually stock chains, and I have a hard time finding them elsewhere.

Wal-Mart has chains for 1-3 speed bikes.

Finally found a chain for 3-21 speed bikes at OSH for about $8.50.

Chain replacement should be based on mileage and the conditions one rides in... I ride nearly every day and based on mileage will replace 5-6 chains a year.

Last summer my fixed road bike was getting a new chain every two months due to the amount of riding I was doing.

Rusty chains also need to be replaced.

Unless they've also learned that they wear out a chain, as measured by a ruler, over a given length of time, then they just make it a seasonal replacement.