The Ultimate Mid-Drive Chain Care Thread

[Stefan Mikes]

a quality regular chain

Unfortunately for me Jeremy, I must buy expensive e-bike chains for my big Vado. The chainstay length is a whooping 478 mm, and there is, say, a 44T chainring and a 46T largest cassette sprocket. It requires 128 chain links, and only e-bike chains are that long. Now, the original 48T chainring required 130 chain links! Only e-bike Shimano or KMC chains are that long (138 links)!

 

[DaveMatthews]

Dave, I'm afraid it will cost you dearly when it comes to the future drivetrain replacement. 12-speed? It will hurt! Waxing does not prevent the chain stretch...

Nah, I'd expect $120 - $150 CAD for a new chain and cassette for Shimano 10 speed. Even $200 is fine.

 

[DaveMatthews]

Dave, I'm afraid it will cost you dearly when it comes to the future drivetrain replacement. 12-speed? It will hurt! Waxing does not prevent the chain stretch...

Also, I have a chain check tool and it hasn't even gotten to .5 yet. The LBS checked and same conclusion 2 months ago.
I will need to replace it this fall methinks.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Also, I have a chain check tool and it hasn't even gotten to .5 yet. The LBS checked and same conclusion 2 months ago.

It defies the laws of physics!

 

[DaveMatthews]

It defies the laws of physics!

Not gonna lie, I'm very surprised as well. That said I am VERY fastidious about NOT shifting under load.

 

[TomD]

Same here. Still on original chain. No stretch after 3K miles. I keep thinking there's something wrong with my chain checker.

 

[DaveMatthews]

Same here. Still on original chain. No stretch after 3K miles. I keep thinking there's something wrong with my chain checker.

My son is on the other side of the equation. He is on his 3rd chain/cassette on his 2022 Giant Talon E+. I've ridden with him a few times and man... he shifts under heavy load!
I believe I have cured him of this disease now (along with the bills from LBS).

 

[Gionnirocket]

Same here. Still on original chain. No stretch after 3K miles. I keep thinking there's something wrong with my chain checker.

Is this on the Frey CC?

 

[fooferdoggie]

Teflon super toxic? Good I didn't know my PTFE frying pan from Tefal was toxic.

Bullshit.

it is especially at high heat. but it also releases microplastics.

 

[teskow]

I know this is a trivial thing but but it bugs me, People saying chain stretch when the fact is bicycle chains don't stretch. They get longer but it is from wear on the pivot points of the chain.
Well I got that off my mind

 

[Gionnirocket]

I know this is a trivial thing but but it bugs me, People saying chain stretch when the fact is bicycle chains don't stretch. They get longer but it is from wear on the pivot points of the chain.
Well I got that off my mind

I feel the same way...
That's why I always say my chain got yanked!

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

I know this is a trivial thing but but it bugs me, People saying chain stretch when the fact is bicycle chains don't stretch. They get longer but it is from wear on the pivot points of the chain.
Well I got that off my mind

No doubt about it, bike lingo is a mess — especially ebike lingo. Don't get me started about using "PAS" to mean just cadence-sensing assist.

But if it makes you feel any better, in geoscience and at least some engineering fields, "stretch" simply refers to a change in length by any mechanism — no elastic or plastic deformation implied. The term's actually more useful that way.

 

[teskow]

I try to stretch my dollar but that is becoming more and more difficult.

 

[PedalUma]

The term sag could be more useful than stretch. The space between the pins and rollers gets larger, not overall length. So the pegs are looser in the holes. Flaccid could also work.

Dr. Freud is a character in a novel I am reading.

 

[PedalUma]

Somewhat off topic: That laugh-out-loud per-page new book is 'Anima Rising', by Christopher Moore is great. It features the Bride of Frankenstein, Indigenous mythical gods of the Intuit, Freud, Yung, Stupid bad guys, Naked models, Art theory, Murder, Rape, and Gustave Klimt. The best character does not have much dialog, but barfs an largely intact walrus on Freud's rug, Geoff. Bike mechanics have to be well-read to work on eBikes and their chains. Essential, or it cannot be done, with art theory and science included too. Another factor is human understanding, and empathy. Real people ride bikes bikes that are their expressive extensions, not just objects for narrow autistics. A bit of Alchemy helps.

 

[TomD]

Is this on the Frey CC?

Yep. I know it's borderline unbelievable. I should post a video clip.

 

[TomD]

 

[Calcoaster]

I had 5000 + miles on my Creo 11 speed chain when I changed it and it still showed less than .5mm using the same chain tool as in the above video. I used Rock n Roll Gold every 100 miles or so, all road riding in dry weather. I‘m waxing now on my BMC TQ bike and expect even better longevity and NO black stains on hands or clothes!

 

[stompandgo]

I use R&R Gold (Teflon), just not every 100 miles.

 

[PedalUma]

I have been riding a very basic bike a lot since February when it got a new chain, freewheel, and gravel tires. Today at .5 it got a new hot waxed chain, freewheel, and a tire rotation. I also went from a revoshift to a Microshift push/push with fresh DOT 5 down the housing. I also had the derailleur in the tank and it got a cleaning and lube. I used the DhAG. Then I trued the wheels and the tires. I know, truing tires, really? It is easy to check. Just take a pastel crayon and spin the wheel. Brace the crayon while barely touching it to left, right, and tread. Sometimes the bead is a little off. Now it rides great. I love that MucOff C3. I still have four little UV lights on a shelf. I got the starter bike on Super Sale new for $450 in 2020 and enhanced it a lot. It is comfortable around town and cheap to maintain. For example the new 11-34 nickel plated freewheel was $22 plus tax. Batteries are easy to swap for whatever the size of the ride.