How many miles before changing chain and Cassette?

[youngoldbloke]

But what do park say about how you should interpret those marks/what action you should take when it hits each one?

Edit - just noticed that that chain tool has a 2 suffix after the 3. The version that measures angel pubic hair perhaps

https://www.parktool.com/product/chain-wear-indicator-CC-3-2
- it is an updated 9/10/11/12 speed version

 

[youngoldbloke]

I just find it very odd how people have adopted this mentality of arbitrarily discarding things on no rational basis and when the items still have lots of useful life left in them. It seems to be a fairly recent thing too. No-one I rode bikes with as a youngster would change a chain for any other reason that it had snapped or got mangled between a sprocket and frame after coming off. The idea of binning one on the say-so of a 0.5 or 0.75% measuring tool would be laughed at, as would replacing a tyre before it either had the canvas showing or was suffering frequent punctures. I've read previous comments on here about brand new road tyres being binned after only one or two rides, simply because the rider didn't like the "feel" of them!
I'm no tree-hugger, and couldn't care less about global warming, but there is no logic to being wasteful either on financial or sustainability grounds. Despite all the anti-motorist rhetoric and the environmental virtue-signalling displayed by many, cyclists themselves often actually set a pretty poor example of sustainable living; buying carbon bikes that will end up in landfill, flying abroad just so they can ride their non-recyclable carbon bike up a continental mountain pass, fitting toxic batteries into bikes, binning perfectly serviceable parts whose manufacture consumed resources, using CO2 cylinders instead of pumps, then dumping the empties at the roadside, along with the discarded energy gel wrappers.

- I disagree, it has always been so. I rode with enthusiasts - I remember us drooling over the new Campag Gran Sport in the bike shop windows, and saving our pocket money to buy the kit in our much thumbed 'Bike Riders Aids'. We wanted the newest and 'best' even in those innocent days of the 1950s' It just depends what sort of cycling you're into.

 

[Blue Hills]

https://www.parktool.com/product/chain-wear-indicator-CC-3-2
- it is an updated 9/10/11/12 speed version

Thanks youngoldbloke.

And that product listing says:

For 9 and 10-speed chains, replace chain just as the gauge fits the 0.75% side fits flat into the chain. For 11 and 12-speed chain, replace as the 0.5% side fits.

and I think slowmotion said he had 10 speed - more beer money slowmotion. and less hassle changing cassettes before they are due.

Park's advice matches what I have been doing - replacing the chain at 0.75.

That advice reinforces my idea that I am never in a million years going to 11 or 12 speed as I'm not currently a Tour contender. I think it was asked upthread if the newer stuff is less durable. Park's advice confirms that it is. I trust their judgement. Their maintenance book is great - written in a no nonsense straightforward practical style. No flummery.

edited for typo

 

[slowmotion]

Has anybody hereabouts gone over the bars when their chain slipped when riding out of the saddle? I have. It made a lasting impression on my memory, though not on my face thankfully, when I met the tarmac. My palms were a bit scarfed up but nothing awful.
I believe that chain wear can lead to chain slippage. I now want to avoid that. If I chuck my chains prematurely, that's a few pennies I'm prepared to fritter. Other more virtuous types can do as they please.

 

[Blue Hills]

Frankly no. Hard to see how a chain at 0.75, or even 1 for that matter is going to put you at serious risk of that. If so, the road would be full of fallen riders since most day to day cyclists probably wouldn't even know what a chain checker looked like. Sounds to me like something else was going on. Did you check the chain wear after your unfortunate accident?
Up to you what you do, I'll stick to the park bible.
Dare I ask when you bin your tyres?

 

[Dogtrousers]

Has anybody hereabouts gone over the bars when their chain slipped when riding out of the saddle? I have. It made a lasting impression on my memory, though not on my face thankfully, when I met the tarmac. My palms were a bit scarfed up but nothing awful.
I believe that chain wear can lead to chain slippage. I now want to avoid that. If I chuck my chains prematurely, that's a few pennies I'm prepared to fritter. Other more virtuous types can do as they please.

Yes.

Well, not over the bars so much as into them. Got a big bruise on my thigh from the bar end. Landed on my shoulder.

When I got home I dug out the chain checker and the chain was at or around 1% (IIRC twas a while ago) so serves me right.

That happened ascending a steep hill, descending which I fell off a couple of years later on wet leaves. I have since banned myself from that road.

I'm also more assiduous about checking and replacing chains.

 

[Sharky]

Yes.

Well, not over the bars so much as into them. Got a big bruise on my thigh from the bar end. Landed on my shoulder.

When I got home I dug out the chain checker and the chain was at or around 1% (IIRC twas a while ago) so serves me right.

That happened ascending a steep hill, descending which I fell off a couple of years later on wet leaves. I have since banned myself from that road.

I'm also more assiduous about checking and replacing chains.

Name and shame that hill - I hope it isn't a Kentish mountain.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Name and shame that hill - I hope it isn't a Kentish mountain.

Chalkpit Lane. Off the North Downs ridge above Oxted I think it's actually in Surrey.

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?...archp=ids.srf&dn=611&ax=538568&ay=154498&lm=0

 

[Blue Hills]

Yes.

Well, not over the bars so much as into them. Got a big bruise on my thigh from the bar end. Landed on my shoulder.

When I got home I dug out the chain checker and the chain was at or around 1% (IIRC twas a while ago) so serves me right.

That happened ascending a steep hill, descending which I fell off a couple of years later on wet leaves. I have since banned myself from that road.

I'm also more assiduous about checking and replacing chains.

Was there also a chainwheel issue? The only time I have had serious slippage that was dangerous was on a bike with a single chainring which of course took a lot of wear - could be dangerous pulling away from lights until I temporary retired it awaiting some specialist fiddling.

 

[Sharky]

Chalkpit Lane. Off the North Downs ridge above Oxted I think it's actually in Surrey.

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?...archp=ids.srf&dn=611&ax=538568&ay=154498&lm=0

Some steep climbs around there. Don't think I've done that one though. Used to commute to Whyteleafe along the North Downs and pretty tiring.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Was there also a chainwheel issue? The only time I have had serious slippage that was dangerous was on a bike with a single chainring which of course took a lot of wear - could be dangerous pulling away from lights until I temporary retired it awaiting some specialist fiddling.

I don't remember. Too far back in the mists of time.

 

[Blue Hills]

I don't remember. Too far back in the mists of time.

could have been then - slippage issues can take a bit of tracking - once had the idea that a bike was habitually slipping when climbing in a particular rear gear - turned out to be my middle chain ring which had worn prematurely.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I attach a flux capacitor to my bike which means that the chain never wears as long as I go down the hill at 88mph twice a week.

 

[confusedcyclist]

Ah but which one makes the best Twooooiiiiingg sound on the edge of a desk in the WDC.

Had to test it out. Endless fun for all the family. Haven't done it in years.

 

[slowmotion]

Frankly no. Hard to see how a chain at 0.75, or even 1 for that matter is going to put you at serious risk of that. If so, the road would be full of fallen riders since most day to day cyclists probably wouldn't even know what a chain checker looked like. Sounds to me like something else was going on. Did you check the chain wear after your unfortunate accident?
Up to you what you do, I'll stick to the park bible.
Dare I ask when you bin your tyres?

You can ask.