Originally Posted by supton
Originally Posted by Surestick
Originally Posted by supton
Originally Posted by Wheel
Or use a good ruler. 12 links should be 12 inches, if you're over by 1/16, you're wearing the freehub/freewheel and chainrings.
That's what I do, although I find the rollers get sloppy long before then--supposedly sloppy rollers don't cause wear but by then the chain is a soggy mess and I'm tired of looking at it. I suspect our roads are sandy; plus I do a fair amount of riding on dirt roads.
I've decided this year to stop removing from the bike and cleaning, as I don't think it really extended chain life all that much--it's easier to just replace every 500 miles than to clean and get 1,000 miles or whatever. YMMV.
The higher the number of cogs the shorter the life, give or take.
It sounds like you should try a dry wax lube like Squirt or Smoove.
Both actually do well in wet conditions (albeit with more frequent re-application) and excel in dry dusty conditions.
They are also two of the faster lubes out there in terms of watts lost in the drivetrain
Friction Facts pdf.
The two mistakes most people make with this kind of lube are:
- Not properly cleaning the chain before switching. All the old lube needs to be removed before you switch over.
- Not letting the lube dry before riding. Wax type dry-lubes aren't an apply, wipe off the excess and ride affair, you need to apply them at least a few hours before use (I generally apply after riding when the chain needs it, that way the bike is ready to go for the next ride).
They both leave a bit of build-up on the cassette but it doesn't affect shifting.
Hmm, interesting. I'll have to look into that, maybe this winter I'll change a bike over.
Depending on the weather that might not be the best season.
Squirt makes a winter version of their lube but I've never tried it so I can't speak to its performance.
On my fatbike in the winter I use oil on the chain. I only ride it on trails though so the oil just sees clean snow, not slush or gritty water.