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.
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A question; lube chain pre or post ride? a couple of the guys at the bike shop I work at advocate lubing post ride.
@RedRanger
Lube post-ride, wipe down pre-ride.
@frank
thats what I started doing after they told me the reason behind it.
@RedRanger
Do tell more Obi Wan
@Barracuda
Let the love soak in overnight, and wipe off the excess pre-ride. As @Oli says, you want the love in the chain, not on it.
But you also want none of the HATE in the chain, so clean it with a chain cleaner like the Park Chain Cleaner or this Finish Line one if it was exposed to any real filth like a muddy Roubaix or some such.
While I use a quick link, its more out of stubbornness than reason; those chain cleaning tools work perfectly well and even help clean the cassette and chain rings while you're at it. I almost never take my chain off, but like the idea that I can without having to buy a special kit to do it.
@Barracuda
Basically a freshly lubed chain is gonna attract more dirt and grit so it off sets the lube benefit. lubing post ride lets the lube work into the rollers a bit more also.
@Ron
Why are you trying to join a chain whilst it is under tension? Put it onto the 11, and drop it off the chain ring to hang around the crank axle and there will be plenty of slack to join with no tension.
@Bespoke
I used to be in that camp. Chain of and into a bath and agitate. These days though I have found some excellent soaps/degreasers and don't bother. Then again I wash the bike/degrease/relube once a week so that probably is a factor. I also wipe the chain down each day after a ride (I have a theory that it's hot so the lube comes off better) and this keeps the chain very clean to start with.
@frank
Or somebody finds some killer orange cable housing for you....
@RedRanger
I saw that pricier tool as well. But since my LBS uses the cheaper chain checker, I thought that that one would be pro enough. I just got Park's TW 5 tork wrench and now need to find adapters....