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RWBTC is a recreational bicycling club devoted to the promotion of friendly cycling in the Redlands, CA area.

We cater to riders of all levels and abilities.

Bike mechanics

10 Speed Chain
Michael Miller
I am wondering if ten speed chains wear significantly quicker than 9 speed. I was told because the gears are closer, the chain is thinner and as a result getting 1500 miles on a chain is considered good. Has anyone else had this issue?
Mark Friis
Very true. You save weight but you lose durability and gain cast. I still have 9 speed, chain $16,and cassette $30. Really am reluctant to move to 10 speed
Michael Miller
Okay, that sucks. Funny when I bought the bike he said I would get about 2000 miles on the tires, never mentioned the chain. Is it possible to change the cassette and chain to a 9 speed set up without having to change the front chain rings, the shifters etc? I have Shimano 105 on it now
I doubt I would notice that much difference between the nine and the ten.
Mark Friis
Not a chance. Your shifters are the main reason. Keep your eyes peeled on the internet for deals.
Russell Cammell
If you have a 10 speed shift system you have to stay with it. The chains can last up to several thousand miles if cleaned and lubed with Park Cl-1 or Prolink oils every couple of weeks, if ridng about 150 miles over two weeks . There are better buys in some 10 speed chains than other brands. I do like KMC because I get them cheaper and they wear well. I resisted changing to 10 speed for several years because of the higher chain cost but I manage to find good buys on chains and am now content with the change over. Buy a chain length checker and make a habit of seeing if it is in limits for wear stretch on the chain or your cassette will need to be replaced when the chain wears to too long a length, especially the smaller tooth sprocket in the cassette will wear out in companion to the chain.
Michael Miller
http://www.nordicgroup.us/chain/

Thanks for the input.  I have been looking at Cleaning/Lubricating chains online for a while.  IT seems like a controversial topic. The above link goes to a page on cleaning and lubricating a bicycle chain. Gist of it is , Don't use water based products to clean a chain. He includes simple green in the Do Not Use category. He suggests Kerosene to clean and Chainsaw lube for Lubrication.

I have not seen kerosene for years. Would wd-40 work for cleaner.
Mark Friis
It's probably true about using water base products, but for me, i use them for environmental reasons. The petroluem based products are not exactly the best for your yard.
Bill Green
Russ is correct. I will add my observations. My ride is now almost four years old, with original 10speed Dura Ace cassette and FSA chainring. I have replaced the chain once, going to the newer Dura Ace. The new chain was installed at around five or six thousand miles, and it was just showing the minimum wear according to the chain checker. The new chain probably has two thousand miles on it, as I haven't been riding as much this year. What accounts for my longer chain life is simple. I am meticulous about cleanliness. I use the same lube and cleaner as Russ, and the entire drive train gets a good cleaning every week even if I only ride 50 miles. Grit wears the thinner chains and gears faster than anything.
Mark Benson
There are a lot of factors when it comes to chain wear. The internet forums are full of all kinds of opinions on the subject. I'm not convinced that a ten speed chain will wear out any faster than any other chain if properly cared for.  Also, lighter weight guys will not strain a chain as much as a larger rider, I think...

Jim Baden told me some time ago that he never replaced as many chainrings as he did when ten speed came out. To me, this is the achilles heal of ten speed and it only makes sense. If you look at the narrowness of the chain and how much skew you get shifting up and down the cassette, you can't help getting a lot of chainring scrub on the inside of the links. The aluminum rings will give way before the chain will.

Like Mark, I'm reluctant to upgrade to ten speed for not only this reason, but the fact that triples are not used very much any more. Running a triple chainring setup helps to keep your chain running straighter and preventing chainring scrub.
Don Q
...to comment on your statement (Mark Benson) about "skew" and "chainring scrub", Shimano Di2 with the feature of auto trim, adjusts the front derailleur with every three shifts of the rear. This should help alleviate this "skew and scrub" issue.
Mark Benson
Don, hard to argue with that. I cry foul, though, since your shifting system is the exception to the rule. In all seriousness, it will be interesting to see if you have significanly less wear and tear on your drivetrain. Good point, Mr. Di2!

In another note, I'd like to move that we get a new message icon, "mooning"

Thanks!
Andrew Leason
Just getting back to the comments of Bill and Russell. I would also contend that rider weight is also a factor in chain wear. Thus, their chains should last longer than say, mine.
Russell Cammell
Yes Andrew, and don't forget another factor, Eleven tooth grinders like me wear chains and small cogs quicker because the chain has to sweep around the smaller cog with a tighter circle, causing the links to do more fast twitch motion between the metal faces ! This chain topic seems to be number one doesn't it ?
Michael Miller
So my current chain has about 1200 miles on it. I read that you can measure chain stretch with a tape measure. Center to center 12 inches should put you center to center on the chain links.
since changing the chain I have cleaned it weekly, and lubed it prior ti evey Ride. It is exctly 12 inches center to center. BTW, I took Russells advice with the Park tool Chain Lube.
Russell Cammell
Michael, it is easier to buy a Park chain checking tool instead of messing and measuring an oily chain over a long distance. A new chain shows .5 when the tool pins are inserted between two links and the cam is rotated. They say to change the chain at 1.0 but that is too much. I change before .75 when the tool cam is rotated.to the stop for checking length. If the chain is allowed to stretch due to wear to 1.0 the cassette cluster is also being worn severely and the life is shortened. Pro Link chain lube is also excellent ! All, yes all lubes cause build up on the chain and derailleur pulleys so it is to be expected, and cleaning is of the utmost imprtance. Yes those derailleur pulleys can pack on the dirt and grime to intefere with operation so they must be cleaned when the chain is cleaned.
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