Had a talk with my neighbor that made me rethink cheap chains

My neighbor Bill, who's been building bikes since the 70s, told me I'm wasting money on those $10 chains from the hardware store because they stretch out in 200 miles. He showed me his 15 year old Shimano chain that still measures perfect with a chain checker tool, and now I feel dumb for buying 4 cheap ones this year alone. Am I really saving money if I'm replacing a chain every 3 months instead of every 3 years?

2 comments

2 Comments

iris_dixon9121h ago

Oh man, the "15 year old Shimano chain" part really got me. I actually just read a thing on another forum where a guy tested cheap vs name brand chains and the cheap ones wore out his cassette and chainrings way faster too. So you're not just buying more chains, you're killing other parts that cost way more to replace. Bill is right about that chain checker tool by the way, I got one after my mechanic yelled at me and it's wild how fast a cheap chain stretches. I've started just buying a mid range KMC or Shimano chain once a year and calling it good.

morgan.nancy20h ago

The cheap ones wore out his cassette and chainrings way faster" - yep, that's the part that gets overlooked. I learned the hard way on my old hybrid, ran a cheap chain way too long and ended up replacing the whole drivetrain (cassette, chainrings, the works). Cost me like triple what a decent chain would have. The chain checker is a lifesaver for catching it early, especially if you're like me and tend to forget about maintenance until something breaks. Mid-range KMC or Shimano once a year is smart, I do the same now and my parts last way longer.