Read an Article Like This and You Will Know About Your Bike Chain

Every cyclist knows that the chain ring is for a bicycle is very important. It is the pulsating life of the bike itself. If you do not take care of your chain, do not expect to go very fast on the road soon. You might be healthy yourself as a human being, but your chain is a mechanical component that can wear and tear over time.

How long should you change or replace your chain? The rule of thumb is every 1,000 miles. Do not wait until it reaches 3,000 mileage or more. Delaying your chain replacements is never good idea because it could damage your sprockets (front gears) and cogs (rear gears).

How do you know your chain is giving up on you? You should notice some difficulties when changing gears. This is because a worn out chain will disrupt the smooth transmissibility of gear changing. You have to know that worn out chains are already stretched and have more lateral movements (sideways).

How much does a chain cost? Typically, they only cost about $10 to $30. Immediately replace your chain if you suspect they are worn out. Otherwise, you will have to replace the more expensive front sprockets ($75 to $100) and rear cogs ($30 to $70).

How to check your chain properly? The best way is using a ruler to measure the chain. How do you measure it? Measure the distance between the chain link rivets. You should be able to get a 12-inch measurement. If you get slightly more than 1 millimeter, then you know that the chain is stretched already. Replace the chain immediately with a new one.

What tools do you need for removing the chain? In reality, you will be changing chains quite frequently if you are an avid cyclist. The more you cycle, the easier your chain wears out and stretch. It is a probably a wise decision to invest in a pair of chain gauge. A chain gauge is like ruler, where its 2 edges can be stuck into the chain. Therefore, you could easily measure the chain's length.

When inserting the chain gauge into the chain, the 2 edges of the gauge should be able to fit nicely inside. If you notice any gaps, then you know that the chain is stretched. Every cyclists should get a chain gauge for fast measurement, rather than using the conventional (sometimes inaccurate) method of using a ruler.

Sometimes, you will notice your chain will get badly twisted. In this case, you might get away with if you only replace the damaged links if your chain is new. Most of the time, you should just get a new chain anyway. The risk and cost of replacing a new chain is just more worth it.