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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!rlgvax!dennis
From: dennis@rlgvax.UUCP (Dennis Bednar)
Newsgroups: net.bicycle
Subject: 5000 miles too short a Life For a Chain?
Message-ID: <839@rlgvax.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 14-Nov-85 02:12:49 EST
Article-I.D.: rlgvax.839
Posted: Thu Nov 14 02:12:49 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 15-Nov-85 08:19:45 EST
Organization: CCI Office Systems Group, Reston, VA
Lines: 30

I have a Specialized Touring Expedition bicycle which only has
5000 miles on it, yet the chain has stretched apparently a lot,
and needs replacement, along possibly with a front aluminum gear.
What I would like to know is chain stretchage supposed to happen
on such low mileage?  If I remember correctly, I have a maniac
cyclist friend who, reportedly, gets about 50,000 miles per chain!!

I first noticed symptoms of this problem riding into work: if I
put a lot of torque on the pedals, the chain would "slip", and
sometimes even come off the front chainwheel.  The chain would not
shift to another gear on the back freewheel, though.  At first I thought
it was something in the rear drivetrain (either the freewheel
or the derailleur) that was the cause of the problem.  But today
a co-worker helped me diagnose the true problem: the chain has
stretched so much, that it has worn an irregular pattern into
the teeth of the front middle chainwheel.  If you look at the
front chainwheel, it is very visible to the naked eye that the
chain doesn't seat totally into the "valleys in the teeth".

I have one other question for advice:  If I had to skimp, and not
replace both the chain and the front chainwheel, at the same time,
then which would be better to replace first, the chain or the
chainwheel?




-- 
Dennis Bednar	Computer Consoles Inc.	Reston VA	703-648-3300
{decvax,ihnp4,harpo,allegra}!seismo!rlgvax!dennis