Hi All, Had my bike in at my lbs today to have a few things checked and while there he had mentioned that i need to replace my chain. This is all fine with me but i have only logged at the most 400-500 miles on it. My question to all of you is, is this something i am going to have to do every 500 miles? Is this considered normal wear and tear or am i doing something wrong while i am biking. He had mentioned that possibly i was cross chaining. If that is so would the chain wear that quickly and how do i prevent further problems likethis. Any and all help (suggestions) would be great. Thanks in advance for the help. Brad

Rode 8,000 miles on my first chain
Cleaned it every 500 miles
Now 5,000 miles on my 2nd chain.

wish i could say the same. Just trying to figure out what i am doing wrong.

Bought a "previously owned" chain? The bike-shop wants to sell you a chain? Your chain was poorly manufactured with inferior materials? You didn't eat your Lima Beans as a kid? You weigh 800 pounds in your shorts?

Seriously though - get a chain-checker or learn to use a ruler for the same purpose. Find out for certain before you plunk down $20.

You don't actually need a "chain checker" to check the chain yourself. Here are a couple of easy ways:
Take an ordinary ruler, 12 inches long, and put the mark by the 1 in the center of a pin on the chain. Stretch the chain tight and look at the mark by the 12. It should be near the center of the pin on a link. If the pin is more than 1/8 inch past the mark, the chain is worn out (we say it's "stretched," but it doesn't actually stretch. The parts just wear a little).
Or put the chain on the big ring with the cranks vertical, one at 12 o'clock and one at 6. Pinch the chain at 3 o'clock and pull it away from the ring. If it pulls far enough to expose all or nearly all of one chainring tooth, replace it.
As for your original question, I don't keep track of chain life, but I'm sure I get at least 2500-3000 miles on one, and probably quite a bit more. I've had my singlespeed for 10 years (five as a geared bike, five as an SS) and it's still on the original chain.

Thanks for the help. Velo Dog i meant to say in my earlier post that i did check it with a tape. I measured out at about 1/16" over the 12" mark. Again i am not disputed my lbs i just am trying to figure out if i am doing something wrong while biking.