How long do bicycle chains last?

You’ve had your bike for some years now and different parts of the components are starting to need to be replaced. Now you’re wondering how long do bicycle chains last.

You’re going through your routine check and you’ve looked at the brake pads only to learn that a new pair of bike brake pads might outlast the entire bicycle itself.

You’ve looked at the cassette, and can see by the way the teeth look that they still have some life.

The tires still look great since you have been keeping them up and the derailleur is still shifting correctly after you made the correct adjustments.

In this post we will discuss how long bicycle chains last. We will talk about what makes a bicycle chain wear faster. You will learn about more expensive bicycle chains, and if they will last longer than standard bicycle chains.

By the end of this post, you should have an in depth understanding of bicycle chains and how long they typically will last with the correct use.

Will a rusty chain break?

Before moving forward, rust on your chain is not a sign for replacement. It also is not a sign that your chain is weakening. It is simply a sign that there is a layer of film where water has reacted to the air around it.

In simpler terms, rust simply sits on top of the chain and is harmless in the short term. If you allow the chain to rust over years, or many times over, then the chain will become weaker because mass is lost off of the chain.

To remove rust off of your chain, spray the chain with WD-40. Wipe the rust away with a rag. The rust will melt away.

I just did it on a bolt that is rusting on my derailleur because I have been biking by ocean beach lately. It is actually fairly satisfying to watch.

How long do bicycle chains last?

Bicycle chains tend to last anywhere from 2000 to 3000 miles of use. This will differ depending on how much you shift, if you shift under load often, if you allow rust to accumulate over time, if your cassette is worn or other variables.

Should you count to 3000 and then replace your bicycle chain? More than likely, no. This is because your bicycle chain and riding the bicycle will tell you when you need to replace the chain.

Your bicycle will start to do strange things when the chain is worn from shifting when going up hills itself, to acting as if it does not want to shift, to skipping while riding. Riding with an old chain is not a fun experience.

How do I know if my chain is worn out?

There are two ways to know if your chain is worn out.

The first is to use a tool to measure if your chain is stretched too much. This is great for cyclists, though I don’t typically advise this as much because the bicycle will tell you when the chain needs to be replaced.

The second way to tell is my counting and tracking all of your miles. Tracking 3000 miles can be difficult, even if you are fairly regimented like I am when training for century rides ahead of me.

The third and easiest way to tell when your chain is worn out is that your chain (after you made sure to spray your chain with chain lube often) will start to skip when you are pedaling under load. Pedaling Under load is another way of saying you are pedaling hard.

This is a signal that your chain is now stretched too long and is not catching the gears on the cassette the way it should when it was new. Consider changing your chain when the chain is skipping and worn out.

How often should a bike chain be replaced?

A bike chain should be replaced when the bicycle chain tells the rider it should be replaced. The main way to know when it should be replaced is when your bicycle starts to skip and you have recently lubed the chain.

The other time that you should consider replacing the chain is when you are replacing the cassette. Chains tend to get married to cassettes, so when you replace the cassette, the bicycle may start to ride in a strange way if you don’t change the chain as well.

For those wondering, if you replace the chain, this does not mean that you need to change the cassette. It only works the other way around.

Do more expensive chains last longer?

In my experience, yes, more expensive chains last longer and ride smoother. This does not mean a high cost chain will last longer, but a chain focused on performance typically will last longer.

The only reason that I have ever replaced my Shimano Ultegra chain was because of user error (I broke the chain at the incorrect link rather than the master link). Up to this point I have not used the chain to its extent.

However, other lower quality chains with the amount I have been riding, typically would mean I would be on my second chain at this point.

Conclusion

How long do bicycle chains last? Bicycle chains will usually last you about 2000 to 3000 miles of use. This can increase or decrease depending on how often you use the bicycle, the amount of elevation you use the bicycle on, how often you shift, how often you shift under load, how often you lube the bicycle chain, and if you are using the chain on a cassette that is not worn.