unclehan said:How often should one change a chain on the bike?
Shouldn't the chain last practically forever since the load on a bike is so tiny? (It's human powered).
When you consider that the chains in the industrial and agricultural machines takes load over 1000lb and still functions for thousands of hours, it seems a chain used on a bike should last practically forever.
Add to the fact most people don't ride their bikes 8 hours a day every day, unlike the chains in industrial machines, a bicycle chain should last for decades.
So why do people change their chains so often?
The short answer is to change the chain when it's worn. How often that is depends on a number of variables. Kindof last asking how often do you need to change tires.
Agree an enclosed chain, protected from grit and dirt and kept well-lubed would indeed last about forever. But, like many other things on modern road bikes, few of us want to carry the extra weight and complexity that would entail.
Not sure what your definition is of "about forever" anyway. My last chain went 6000 miles, just over a season, before it was worn to the replace point. My 1973 Raleigh GS still has the original chain on it...so I guess it's "lasted" 32 years.
