How often do you guys replace your chains? I went brakeless pretty recently, and realize I have to pay more attention to this now.

Sedisport - still got a few left and a bunch of links (from shortening chains over the years) to make some more. Never broke one. Otherwise, I use DA 10's with my race bike, since it's all DA.

sun

i have the ezumi eco chain... that ****er was pretty sticky for the first week or so, even with lube, but now it's great

im glad to see there are other people using 9 speed chains. i recently got a hold of a PC-89R Hollow Pin for 12 bucks. It's absolutly quiet! and it's sooo light and slick (not i care about weight) it looks sooo cool and now all i can hear are my tires rolling.

i also love the master link, i hope more people open their minds to 9 speed chains, manufacturers spend more time developing 9speed chains than they do bmx chains. that's why their soooo quiet and light and MUCH stronger.

rember, multispeed chains are more known for breaking than bmx chains because they shift and the side plates take a lot of sh*t.

okay, let me ask my question in a slightly different way. i've been riding a SRAM PC-1 on my conversion, and it's served it's purpose. then again, i haven't really been picky about it. it does seem fairly noisy, but i also don't have a perfect chainline and am running a 3/32" chainring with a 1/8" cog and chain.

so anyway, now i'm building up my track bike, and finishing getting the small parts. now is the time to stray from the PC-1, so i'm looking for a 1/8" chain that's going to be strong, quiet, and won't break the bank.

can anyone make some good suggestions? would the difference in quality between the NJS certified chains and the "lower quality" chains really be worth the huge price difference; especially for a bike that will probably never see a velodrome and has no reason to have all NJS components?

For a solid, inexpensive 1/8" chain, go to the lbs and ask them for a good BMX chain. Whatever is quiet on a BMX will be quiet on your track bike.

Exactly what I do. I think I usually use SRAMs, but I could be mistaken. They're cheap enough that you can replace them every year or so, just to be over-cautious. Mine runs quiet as anything, though my chainline is also pretty dead-on.

just copped a KMC z610 from business cycles...along with single stack bolts so I can take off that extra chainring...might even arrive today *rubbing hands*

that cat who runs it is one of the most pleasant business people I've ever dealt with over the phone

the izumi eco is only like $20 or so. i've put in decent milage on it for 6-7 months and its still hanging in there with minimal stretch

[QUOTE=Ira in Chi]I think SRAM chains are pretty nice, they are made by Sachs, the old german company, who SRAM recently aquired. I use their nickel plated SS chain (don't remember the name), and have found it lasts through about 6 months of constant use. ... QUOTE]

Could this be the SRAM PC-1 Nickel chain? I picked up a couple of these online for about 7 bucks. Haven't tried it yet. I just switched my chain over to a KMC Z-510HX that was made for Eastern Bikes. Haven't gotten any real riding on it, as I just switched it over last night. It's pretty beefy. The important thing is to keep checking your chain for wear and stretch. I had to change out my stock chainring last night also, as it looked kinda worn as well. You can spend as much as you like on a chain, but there are many adequate chains for less. Your style of riding may recquire you to purchase a more expensive chain. It's up to you. When I switched my mtb to ss, I just used a PC-59 by SRAM. The PC-69 is probably higher quality.

I've got the super-heavy-duty and it is massive, sexy, and yes, it can be quite noisy. Not always, though. Some days, when it's at its lube sweet spot or something, it's dead silent. I absolutely adore this chain and will keep riding it as long as I have this bike. The next build might have the same chain, but I also want the Shadow Conspiracy chain so we will see.

i just put an izumi eco chain on yesterday... needs lube but quiet enough... I think in 2 months or so i will cop for a higher quality chain.

when i got mine it was ultra sticky and i could feel an insane difference until that thing got moving

I've just been handed an SRAM PC1 Saltshaker (guy I know works at SRAM) -- anyone got anything to say about these?

I just wanted to confirm that you can run a 1/8" chain with a 3/32" cog/chainwheel with no problems.

I like the idea of the shadow conspiracy chain that is all half links for my conversion. Does anyone use one? if so tell us about it.

I use a stainless steel KMC - it says INOX on half the links. It's 1/8", but you can run that with 3/32" teeth. It's really nice to be able to be able to clean it and only have to be able to remove the oil and dirt, not rust. Especially now that it's winter and there is salt everywhere....

i've been running a shadow conspiracy chain on one of my bikes for a year and a half now:

http://fixedgeargallery.com/2006/jan/GARRETTCHOW.htm

it's a pretty heavy chain to be certain, and seems to want to be adjusted and re-tensioned more than others. i haven't figured out if this fact is due in part to its heft or, the fact that it's on my daily-rider which i definately ride harder and skip/skid more than other bikes. however, for its weight and extra beef, it runs surprisingly smooth and quiet --two factors balanced by its forget-about-it strong nature and super-adjustabilty.

one thing i've noticed and never been a able to put a finger on, is the fact that the shadow conspiracy above all others has a serious tight spot --a place in the crank rotation where it's tighter than in other spots.

for the money (the shadow conspiracy is fairly expensive), i'd run an izumi V.