Premature Chain Stretch

[andyfraser]

I took my road bike to my LBS yesterday for a service. They called me to say my chain had about a month left in it. The thing is it's only done 300 miles. They've replaced the chain and I have the original.

1. Is this possible?
2. If it is, how would this happen?

Many thanks.

 

[mrandmrspoves]

Rubbish chain to begin with? Otherwise, I would say no. When I used to mountain bike off road, I would still expect a chain to last at least 1500 miles despite the grit, sand and crap that it was constantly exposed to.

 

[andyfraser]

Thanks. That's what I thought.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Agreed. Either the chain is rubbish, or the LBS is rubbish.

 

[andyfraser]

How would I check whether the chain was rubbish? It's the one Felt fitted so I would expect it to be ok.

 

[boydj]

If your cassette is worn, that will cause excessive wear on our chain.

 

[Drago]

Best I've ever managed to 0.75mm stretch is a little over a thousand miles, and I'm a big fat jelly arsed lard-O who puts a LOT of stress through the chain. I can't see how a mere mortal could do it in a piffling 300 miles.

 

[derrick]

Have the old one measured by someone else.

 

[I like Skol]

Have the old one measured by someone else.

Don't condemn the LBS so readily! The OEM chain on my GT hybrid lasted only 400 miles before showing 0.75% wear and then PROMPTLY FAILING. Chains fitted since then have usually lasted between 1.5-2.5k

 

[derrick]

Don't condemn the LBS so readily! The OEM chain on my GT hybrid lasted only 400 miles before showing 0.75% wear and then PROMPTLY FAILING. Chains fitted since then have usually lasted between 1.5-2.5k

Not condemning anybody, just a simple way of finding out whats what.

 

[andyfraser]

I have no reason to distrust the LBS (Hargroves) but I'm always wary of any business that makes more money the more things they can find wrong. I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who's had an early chain failure though.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

During the winter of 2009/10 my first brompton went thru chains at one a month. The local council were using a different type of grit (remember when all the proper stuff ran out), whatever it was it ground my chains into the ground quickly. But brompton transmission are low to the ground.

 

[slowmotion]

Some bike shops are like some garages or some dentists. They make money by doing unnecessary work and charging over the odds for the components. Buy a chain wear tool for £5-10 and see what's going on for yourself.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/x-tools-chain-wear-indicator/rp-prod10219

 

[marzjennings]

How would I check whether the chain was rubbish? It's the one Felt fitted so I would expect it to be ok.

Measure the old chain, 12 links should be exactly 12 inches. Anything longer and the chain has stretched.

 

[andyfraser]

Some bike shops are like some garages or some dentists. They make money by doing unnecessary work and charging over the odds for the components. Buy a chain wear tool for £5-10 and see what's going on for yourself.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/x-tools-chain-wear-indicator/rp-prod10219

Very good advice. That's the one thing I didn't check because it was new. I made a point of telling them what definitely needed doing, what needed looking at and what should be fine. I completely missed the chain.

Measure the old chain, 12 links should be exactly 12 inches. Anything longer and the chain has stretched.

Thanks. I'll get that checked out later.