PSA: I just read that a worn chain can accelerate cassette wear by up to 400% according to a study from the University of Utah's mechanical engineering department.

Found this stat buried in an old technical paper and it made me double-check my chain wear gauge way more often, so has anyone else seen data on how much a bad chain really costs you in the long run?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_kai18d ago

That Utah study is legit, I saw the same numbers. A worn chain basically acts like sandpaper on your cassette teeth. People don't realize a $30 chain replacement can save a $150 cassette. I check mine every 500 miles now. Letting it go too far is the most expensive mistake you can make on a bike.

nora_taylor7918d ago

Totally, it trashes the chainrings too.

ross.kevin15d ago

Yeah, that part about it being the most expensive mistake really hits home. I mean, it's like @the_kai said, you skip the cheap fix and end up with a huge bill. I see this everywhere, like not changing your car's oil and then blowing the engine. People ignore the small, regular maintenance because it feels like a hassle, but then the whole system falls apart. It's a way bigger project to fix it after. Maybe it's just me, but that pattern of skipping small upkeep seems to cause most big problems.