chain advice

[mynydd]

In over twenty years of cycling I have never had any issues with my chains. However in the last two weeks the chain on my 6month old Specialized tricross has snapped three times, in different places!!
I keep the chain as clean as I can and I regularly lubricate it.
Any advice regarding this? its a pain, but worse it's completely knocking my confidence whilst cycling uphill, as I constantly worry that its going to snap!
Are their chains known to be crap? any advice on a decent replacement? I'm reluctant to go back to the shop - despite it still being under warranty, as their aftersales technical support has been pretty hopeless - and its 30 miles away.
Thanks

 

[BSRU]

Don't use Shimano, KMC are very highly regarded(both for quality and price), personally I use SRAM.

 

[Cubist]

Where is it breaking, and what have you been doing immediately before it breaks? Chains can get mangled by poor shifting technique, but I also distrust shimano chains with their pin joining system.

 

[smokeysmoo]

+1 for KMC or Sram, (I use KMC myself).

Shimano chains are really not very good IME.

 

[ianrauk]

I'm not one for Shimano chains. But the one's I have used I never had any problems. Seems strange that the same chain broke 3 times. The first break I would have repaired thinking it was one of those things. A second break I would have binned it as faulty.

 

[mynydd]

Great, thanks for the advice. have ordered an Sram one, will give that a go

 

[youngoldbloke]

If my chain broke once, I'd replace it.

 

[Old Plodder]

I never use fancy joining links or pins, I always rivet my chains links together.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

I've never had any issues with Shimano chains, and I have a relatively slow cadence compared to most cyclists, which means I quite often put a fair bit of pressure on my chains. I've been using the HG93 chains for some years, now.

 

[HLaB]

Never had a problem with a shimano chain either when the been Orig Manu Equipment but I prefer the missing link on kmc chains.

 

[User16625]

Is it ok to switch from a shimano chain to an SRAM one without changing the cassette or chainrings?

 

[youngoldbloke]

Yes

 

[smokeysmoo]

Is it ok to switch from a shimano chain to an SRAM one without changing the cassette or chainrings?

Yes it is, or indeed a KMC one

 

[HLaB]

Is it ok to switch from a shimano chain to an SRAM one without changing the cassette or chainrings?

Yes, unless you've left it too long and then the new chain will slip on the old cassette and it would need replaced then, you very rarely have to replace the chain rings though.

 

[the_mikey]

Another +1 for swapping Shimano chains for another brand, KMC or SRAM are good alternatives.