[TrueBlue]

I broke my chain two weekends ago riding rocky trails at Coopers Rock State Forest here in WV. I didn't let it discourage me though; I just parked the bike against a tree and hiked about 4 miles, then came back for the bike on my way out. BUT... the floodwaters should be receding soon and the rain should let up any day now, so I'm ready to ride again. Question is... is it worth repairing (putting a new link in) the chain, or would you rather just buy a new one? And are there actually "good brands"?

[BlueXJ]

Well true if the chain is old then a new one may hold up better and longer but I would carry a spare master link or two with you on the trails just to be safe.

[BigDumbBear]

If it's had a hard life or a lot of miles, just go ahead and replace it. If it's a fairly new chain that just happened to catch a rock the right way, repair it. There are differences in chains. you'll often get exactly what you pay for so don't buy one at wal-mart.

[Dae-Dae]

How long can a chain last usually before it gets worn out and you need a new one?

[powderbock]

Chain life depends a lot on how many miles you've ridden. Chains stretch out over time which can cause damage to your chainrings if left unreplaced for very long. You can buy a simple chain measuring tool, if you ride a lot and prefer to do your own bike work, or, if your not mechanical take your bike in for a tune up a least every year, more if you ride a lot.

As for repairing the chain or buying a new one, again depends on how old it is. Would recommend buying a simple chain repair tool you can carry with you on your rides so you can fix it rather quickly and be on your way to bike 4 more miles instead of hike them.

[monty73741]

chain & sproket wear together. so if they been on a while you might get skipping

[hophead]

If you don't have a chain checking tool like a Park CC-2, you can just use a ruler. The pins are 1/2" on center. If you line up a ruler against your chain and measure from the center of one pin, the 12" mark should line up with the center of the 24th pin on a new chain. If the 24th pin is 1/8" or more beyond the 12" mark, the chain is wasted and should be replaced.

[tajcrews]

If you get a new one buy a SRAM. They make the best in my mind and they are easy to repair if you break em.

[Neuner]

Originally Posted by powderbock

Chain life depends a lot on how many miles you've ridden. Chains stretch out over time which can cause damage to your chainrings if left unreplaced for very long.

I agree. As the chain wears, it lengthens. This will cause the 'U' inbetween the teeth of your crank or cassette to widen and it will cause your chain to skip or not shift properly.

[Reesh]

How do you think a chain has been doing after ~3000 miles over 2.5 years?