Bicycle chains are a tool that provides the complete operation of the bicycle, transmitting the force of the legs that is being exerted for its use. Many are used to using bicycles for sports, others for occasional uses, but the truth is that there is always wear and tear that can be little or a lot.
For this, it is necessary to invest from time to time for maintenance and changes of the chain so that long-term dangers due to a lack of bicycle maintenance are avoided. Thus, for long periods of use, you can be sure that there will be no dangers leading to bicycle accidents.
Here you will know how often you should make these changes and have your bicycle in the best possible conditions, taking into account the maintenance deadlines you must meet according to its characteristics and use.
How Long Do Bike Chains Last?
Several factors cause chain wear, so this can reduce the time it takes to change your chain. Many believe that this depends on the brand of the chain and establishes the duration time it has, justifying that greater recognition of the brand is synonymous with durability.
Few others say that it depends on the material because the better it is, the more it will ensure its duration as soon as the chain is assembled. The truth is that both considerations are true; Although the materials are important and so is the brand, the chain can last as long as is convenient according to its use.
There are no specific mileages to change the chain. It depends entirely on the uses and cares given to the chain and the bicycle. In addition, the terrain is another influential element because its conditions may or may not be beneficial for chain wear.
Nor is it necessary to change the chain with all maintenance. The more frequent maintenance there is, the greater the chances for a chain to last.
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How often Should I Replace my Bike Chain?
An easy way to tell this is to lift the chain off the front chainring and swap the smaller trunnion on the rear cassette and the larger chain on the front, then lift the chain off the chain. If the chain rises from the chainring and you see the light between the chain and the chainrings, it is advisable to replace the chain or do it soon because it is up to you.
Although this is not something 100% accurate, I can help approximate what is happening with the chain. Another alternative is to use a suitable tool known as the chain tester, which measures the length of the chain over time.
A replacement has to be given when the chain is elongated to 0.75%; if the chain already has to wear, the chain gauge will drop. The change must make immediately, or the cassette and the chainring will have to be changed in the future, with more expensive and complex elements to change than a chain.
The new chain must be compatible with the number of speeds of the cassette, and it is also important to use a chain cutter to make the job easier; you can use a quick link for it. The chain breaker will allow breaking of the chain, placed on any link, and the crank is turned until the chain link is pushed and it breaks.
The new chain will be longer than the damaged one, so it is recommended to place one next to the other to know the correct place where the new chain has to be broken and that it works. Once the measurements are made, the new chain is broken where it corresponds to the chain wrench, and the chain is placed correctly on the bicycle and connected using the quick chain link together with the chain.
Finally, the two opposite quick links are placed and joined, applying a little pressure to make them join to fix at the rear and then giving the pedal downwards, giving enough pressure at the top to join the quick link.
How Much Should a Bike Chain Cost?
Changing a bike chain can cost anywhere from $30 to $50, so it’s an affordable price you don’t have to pay as often because you don’t always have to change it. However, when proper maintenance is not carried out, wear is faster, and the toothing of the chainrings and crowns also deteriorates.
In these cases, the investment is close to 150 dollars because the cassette, the chainrings, and the chain have to be replaced. It is recommended that a change be made with prestigious brands to avoid incomplete performance in the face of the common demand for a bicycle.
It is also important to consider the workforce in any of the cases. Otherwise, greater damage can cause at the hands of inexperienced people in the area.
How Do I Know if my Bike Chain Needs Replacing?
Possibly, you realize that when using your bike, it is not working as it normally does, but for greater safety, it is better to use a chain measurer. It is an easy-to-find tool that cannot be missing from your maintenance kit, as it is the definitive test that will give you the necessary answers.
If the chain has stretched to 75% of its limit, surely, your bike needs a chain change as soon as possible. You also have to check if the teeth on both sides fitted with each chain link.
The proper way to use the chain is to start with the side that says “75”, then place the teeth of the tool on the chain links. If both teeth enter without problems, the 75% limit of the chain has been exceeded, and you should make an immediate change.
If the chain does not fit, you can rest assured that there are no problems and you do not have to make any changes. Not going in means the chain dimensions are still in top condition, and your bike can run longer.
This must continue for a long time, be maintained when it corresponds, use adequate lubrication, and avoid wear on the links. It would be best if you also used the correct transmission of the bicycle. A dirty chain can generate jumps when changing and will not give the correct gear to the crowns and the teeth of the chainring, which will prevent or complicate pedalling.
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Do Bike Chains Wear Out Faster?
The chains will wear out according to the use they are given, and, above all, it depends on the maintenance that is carried out periodically. It is important to remember that if the bicycle is used daily or professionally, maintenance and chain changes have to be more frequent than those that are not.
In turn, if you are using a brand that is not good, it can cause more wear and tear and lead to more wear on the general gears of the bicycle. The chain allows the operation of a bicycle, so it is important to be attentive to its health and detect possible failures that may occur in time.
A chain that is not compatible with the bicycle or that is larger or smaller can be very negative and cause long-term accidents that could even occur when using it. This can be very dangerous, especially when riding on a more public road where cars pass by.
Taking these precautions into account, you can be sure that in the long term, the useful life of the chain and the bicycle will be effective, even more than you want. It is also important to go to specialists who do the corresponding maintenance and, in addition, make the chain changes when appropriate.
A good place to do it is where the purchase of the bicycle make, a place where you will surely have the full assistance of what you have to do. In addition, it could be very useful to detect any other type of fault generated during the time of use, which must be attended to instantly.
How Long Should a Mountain Bike Chain Last?
These types of bicycles are a little more demanding, as they tend to be used more frequently and for long hours, which leads to the study of several factors that affect the durability of the chains, such as:
- Terms of use:
The conditions of use can be a factor that accelerates the need to change the chain. If the chain is not lubricated frequently or properly, it can cause the chain to break or rust and rust to the rest of the gear with the discs.
If the bicycle has not been used for a long time, it may have been exposed to humidity and dust, equaling a lack of maintenance. Therefore, mountain bikes are recommended to be as careful as possible because they tend to be a little more delicate than ordinary bicycles.
Suppose you compete with a bicycle of this type at a professional level. In that case, it is advisable to do maintenance and tests before and after each competition, thus eliminating any failure in the process. Also, having another bike on hand is important to ensure you can continue through a marathon without a problem.
- Adjustments and change handling:
Changes must be done very carefully because a well-tuned change and using it delicately is not the same as a change that jams or jumps and is given incorrectly. Each change is suitable for the terrain and speeds that must maintain on it, so it is important to take these precautions so that the chain does not get damaged.
When these precautions are not taken, the chain wears out more, and it can come off the discs frequently, thus increasing the probability that it will break in the process.
- Chain tension and crossing:
When using combinations of extreme chainrings and sprockets, it is possible that the chain is crossed and has more tension and twist. This will stretch the chain faster and lead to a more frequent output of the discs, which can be a telltale of a problem.
This is a factor that gives many signals. Still, trying to have the bicycle with the most optimal performance is recommended, avoiding the greater wear of the chain when it is not considered necessary.
What Happens If You Don’t Replace a Worn Chain?
Avoiding the necessary replacement of a bicycle chain can cause greater future failures in the general operating system. This greater expense must attend to in an emergency. The necessary changes to the chain are not that complicated, and that is why it is recommended to give them when the bicycle operation requests it.
You can also have serious driving accidents if the chain is not in good condition. It can break or come off the discs. The maintenance makes the useful lifetime longer, but this does not mean that the chain will never change. On the contrary, it is what allows the maintenance to have the result that is needed.
Conclusion:
The bicycle chain is the one that allows the correct operation of the gear system, giving meaning to its discs and pedals at all times without generating complications. When you have a bicycle at home, it is important to do this carefully to avoid dangers over time.
Maintenance also extends the usefulness of a bicycle and its chains, along with the correct use of speeds and other elements, such as tires and brakes. However, it is important to remember that maintenance is not the only need a bicycle presents since it is necessary to make recurring charges to these elements.
In doing so, quality will allow a bicycle to continue to be used. If you have one at home, remember that it will always depend on specialists to do things correctly, do not wait for your bike to be damaged, and carry out maintenance and changes when is necessary for better use and result. You need the best product at the best price.