A question for the bike wrenches out there. Chains are cheap, would it be a good practice just to replace them every 1500 miles or so? Kind of “PM”
Probably would be cheaper in the long run to just buy a chain checker tool which measures chain wear. Once it gets to the point where it’s worn 0.75-1%, you can replace it.
I also use a chain checker, but my rule of thumb is to replace at around 2500 miles.
-Colin
I go every ~4,000km on my road bike and every 3,000km on my TT/Tri bike. My buddy has had the same chain on his training bike for the last 7 years. He rides ~14,000km a year on it too. His bike shifts just fine too.
Instead of using mileage, measure the chain stretch. If you live in a flat area and don’t have to change gears much and it’s dry, your chain will last much longer than someone who lives in a hilly wet area. Twelve links should be twelve inches when new, and stretched to twelve and one eighth should be replaced. Less than twelve and one eighth inch is usually good.