Categories: The Bikes

That New Chain Feeling

Chain Breaker. photo-Cor Vos

I replace my chain every year, more or less. It tends toward less as I don’t have a set anniversary for new chains. Usually I notice the shifting is lagging a second and it dawns on me that the chain is in need of replacement. In my youth I would keep the same chain on the bike forever. I even used to take it off, and reinstall it inside out (?!) thinking…thinking that I was a cheap idiot. The result of that was the rear cogs were always ruined too, reinforcing the cheap idiot thing. Since replacing the chain on a yearly basis I’ve never had to replace a cassette. I’ve heard that the Fabian Cancellara’s of the pro peloton get a new chain once a week. The pros are fifty-two times more mighty.

This most recent chain replacement had me using a Campagnolo Chorus chain I had attempted to install on another bike and failed. I shamefully put the chain on a shelf until I had stocked up on Campagnolo’s special bullet shaped, don’t drop this on the shop floor or you will never find it, you only get one shot at this, very special chain pin. Maybe it’s like redoing your handlebar tape or filing taxes; these jobs only done once a year never go perfectly. Installing the Campagnolo chain is like what I imagine arming a field tactical nuclear weapon is like. It is cramped. It requires small hands. It requires excellent vision. It requires mechanical skills and you only get one shot at it. Luckily, for me, the whole mess was contained with a KMC 11-speed quick link, whew, done and dusted.

My point is, when one changes just one component on one’s bike, the change is very noticeable, The first few pedal strokes out on the road with a new chain is a subtle revelation. It feels different. It feels better. Damn it feels excellent.

Or is it all in the mind. This article was linked in the Velominati posts a while back. In a world full of anecdotal evidence I do enjoy an article where our perceptions are put to the test. Maybe my new chain feeling is all in my head? Who cares, I can still enjoy it and “in my head” is where enjoyment happens anyway.

Gianni

Gianni has left the building.

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frank says:

Apr 28 2015 at 2:47 pm

@Ron

@unversio

@Gianni

Bar tape 3 to 4 times a year — and utilize a winter drivetrain and a summer drivetrain. This guards the Principle of Silence all year.

As much as I’d like to replace it, the fi'zi:k microtex glossy on my LOOK is going strong after a few years. It looks new, those guys have to make less awesome tape.

The only reason I ever change my fizik tape is when the cables or handlebars wear out.
pistard says:

Apr 28 2015 at 5:03 pm

@JohnB

@bea

@JohnB

A new chain is indeed a wonderful thing. No matter how often you clean and lube there is something extra slick and silent about a new one. What grease do the manufacturers put on them before packaging?

If (big if!) I’m informed correctly, it’s lanolin.

Quite possible now I’ve read the wiki list of uses for this natural wonder substance. Keeping sheep dry to nipple lube and everything in between! Now where’s the VMH put her hand cream?

Don't know if any manufacturers are using it, but there are several lanolin based chain lubes available (Biomaxa, Inox, Lanotec). I'm guessing they could do double duty as chamois cream.

Some KMC track chains (the D-101, at least) come with a little packet of that factory grease to pack the bushings of the quick link. It's magical and smells heavenly.
TBONE says:

Apr 28 2015 at 5:22 pm

@Gianni

Do you think it extends the chain life or just rocks because it is silent and always clean? Silent and clean would be more than enough.

Grease attracts dirt, dirt means grit, which wears shit out.

@MangoDave

@DeKerr

@Hein

It’s all the “bloody yanks” on this site that keep messing with the measurements. You’ll notice that @TBONE uses the correct metric for calculating distance, as well as demonstrating a significant level of meticulousness in the care of his drivetrain.

@TBONE ruins the mystique by admitting that he avoids Rule #9 conditions.

Here's me winning in the rain, on a waxed chain, this time last year. It should be noted that the last half of May, and the better part of June were a write-off due to the cough I developed from this race.

@TBONE

Ratio of wax to carbon? Inquiring minds want to know.

Well, zero. If you mean graphite, I just dump a bunch in to the wax once it is melted.
TBONE says:

Apr 28 2015 at 5:25 pm

@DeKerr

@Hein

It’s all the “bloody yanks” on this site that keep messing with the measurements. You’ll notice that @TBONE uses the correct metric for calculating distance, as well as demonstrating a significant level of meticulousness in the care of his drivetrain.

Oddly enough, it's less time and maintenance than standard lube to wax. 20 minutes or so every 3 weeks.
Velofreak says:

Apr 28 2015 at 5:28 pm

- I now use a generic use digital micrometer of 9$ from ebay to measure my chain stretching, in centesimals of milimeter. I like to change them when 10 links measure 133,30mm. So not only I check it, but I see when that number is approaching. So there are no surprises.

- I use only the best chain; KMC X10 SL, or X11 SL. Much better than shimano, which is way better than sram and campy (i´m talking chains only here).

- Was lube, like skirt of finish line wax seems to be the best for fair weather, you have to re lube every ride, just a bit. Chain clean for many many miles. In rain it doesn't work, it goes out after 30km. spring-autums; finish line red. winter: finish line green.
Bespoke says:

Apr 28 2015 at 6:43 pm

@Owen

Speaking of cheap idiot, when I changed the chain for the first time on the now #1 I cheaped out and got the SRAM chain for an Ultegra gruppo-san. Wouldn’t you know it never shifted right until I finally bought the more expensive but correct chain. On the bright side, constantly troubleshooting shifting problems *did* allow me to find a crack in the frame that was subsequently covered by the Fuji warranty.

Interesting. So, the shifting issue went away when you switched back to the Ultegra chain? I also switched to a SRAM chain (easier to remove and replace for cleaning) but it hasn't functioned as well as the Ultegra.
Owen says:

Apr 28 2015 at 6:49 pm

@Bespoke

@Owen

Speaking of cheap idiot, when I changed the chain for the first time on the now #1 I cheaped out and got the SRAM chain for an Ultegra gruppo-san. Wouldn’t you know it never shifted right until I finally bought the more expensive but correct chain. On the bright side, constantly troubleshooting shifting problems *did* allow me to find a crack in the frame that was subsequently covered by the Fuji warranty.

Interesting. So, the shifting issue went away when you switched back to the Ultegra chain? I also switched to a SRAM chain (easier to remove and replace for cleaning) but it hasn’t functioned as well as the Ultegra.

Yeah changing the frame out helped a ton but it didn't quite index right until I changed to the ultegra chain. Something about the shape of each link does it. In retrospect for what I paid for the bike plus wheels I shouldn't have balked at a 30 dollar chain but here we are.
Bespoke says:

Apr 28 2015 at 6:51 pm

@Owen

@Bespoke

@Owen

Speaking of cheap idiot, when I changed the chain for the first time on the now #1 I cheaped out and got the SRAM chain for an Ultegra gruppo-san. Wouldn’t you know it never shifted right until I finally bought the more expensive but correct chain. On the bright side, constantly troubleshooting shifting problems *did* allow me to find a crack in the frame that was subsequently covered by the Fuji warranty.

Interesting. So, the shifting issue went away when you switched back to the Ultegra chain? I also switched to a SRAM chain (easier to remove and replace for cleaning) but it hasn’t functioned as well as the Ultegra.

Yeah changing the frame out helped a ton but it didn’t quite index right until I changed to the ultegra chain. Something about the shape of each link does it. In retrospect for what I paid for the bike plus wheels I shouldn’t have balked at a 30 dollar chain but here we are.

Bitch to remove the pin every time you want to clean the chain though. Or do you clean the chain on the bike?
Owen says:

Apr 28 2015 at 6:52 pm

@TBONE

Well, graphite *is only* carbon, so yeah. I'm just interested in the ratio becase spend my working hours in a world where ratios like that matter. But in this case there may be some tolerable slop. So some carbon added to some wax may be a fine working solution.
Owen says:

Apr 28 2015 at 6:54 pm

@Bespoke

I use a master link. Maybe not a purist in that regard but if it's good enough for Frahnk it's good enough for me. If need be I'll take it off but mostly it's a CIP situation.