How & When To Change A Chain On Your Road Bike

The chain on your bike is a very important component, transferring the energy put into the pedals, to the back wheel and gets you moving forward. We look at the process of fitting a new chain to your bike and when/why you would need to.

Why does your chain need replacing then? With every bit of pressure being put onto the pedals, the lifespan of a chain decreases. Now there's a common misconception that a chain stretches when in actual fact, it doesn’t. As you would need to produce an incredible amount of power to stretch the metal. Instead, the chain actually wears out. How though? Well, there are these parts of the chain, the rivets and the rollers and they actually slowly wear away as you pedal, if there is a lot of dirt in there, it wears out even quicker. Hence the love for a clean chain!

There are a few methods here on how to see if your chain is in need of replacing. The first option is arguably the easiest and simplest method, it’s not the most accurate but it’s a start. You need to put the chain onto the big chainring and the sprocket at the rear with the smallest number of teeth. Then, at the 3 o’clock position of the chainring, try and lift the chain from the chainring. If you can see lots of daylight where the chain normally sits then there is a good chance that the chain needs replacing, particularly if you can see that daylight over a number of the teeth of the chainring.

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[gcntech]

When did you last change your chain? 👇

[justinmbr]

Never thought of taking the pressure off the chain to join it before. Bleedin' obvious in hindsight

[ryanotte]

If somebody hasn't mentioned it already, it can be helpful to install the special connecting pin pointing towards the outside of the bike rather than towards the bike's center. After breaking off the pointy bit from the connecting pin, there always seems to be a little bit more protruding than the other side, which might rub against the a neighboring sprocket as the chain enters/exits the rear cassette.


Not a big deal, and might be fixed when fine-tuning the pin depth anyway, but is recommended by Park Tool literature.

[georgehugh]

If you buy enough bikes and spread out your rides, you'll never have to change the chains in your lifetime....

[hugobrown]

Park tool says pin should go in the other way, to the outside? Break is on the outside.

[lason]

One thing that wasn't covered is the direction of the chain. As far as I know, Shimano chains should be put on with inscriptions on the outside. Sram chains are bi-directional, but the masterlink is not. There is an arrow on the masterlink showing how to install it. As for the other manufacturers, I have no idea :P

[MrLuigi-oigm]

Thank you. Some gentle and hopefully helpful feedback...better lighting on the close-ups (and more close-ups) would have helped.

[erichaskell]

You talk about one chain checker, in hand, then show another in use. A bit confusing. Secondly if you hang a badly used chain and compare it to a new chain, the links will not match towards the end, although you do say to match the links. I lay both on a bench and insure the number of links match, thus avoiding the gravity issue. I like the idea of removing the chain from the chain ring, much easier, never thought of that and have always had a bit of struggle. Thank you.

[markevison]

Hi Jon.. Just wondering.. Do you ever use speedplay pedals? Maybe I noticed new presenter Chris using them.. Any benefits beyond weight saving and dual sides? #askgcntech thank you

[richardmoody]

I buy SRAM chains for the masterlink over the shimano pin. So much easier and can be unfastened never had a problem.

[changenoways]

My chains got a stiff link that I cant get out with lubing and its proving to be a real pain in the ass

[jamesskinner]

Actually better way to get chain length is to do it with chain on small chain ring on front and smallest on rear. Then you should ensure there is the minimum tension.

[sergioramos]

Every 10, 000 - 15, 000 kilometers I change the chain #GCNTECH

[ryanmclean]

Worth mentioning that when you are comparing a new chain with an old chain to measure the length, be sure to account for wear. You may need to realign the chain links to ensure your not adding a link or two to the length,

[JH-fkow]

digital vernier calipers, they are cheap, more accurate than chain checkers and obviously you can measure other stuff with it as well

[dans]

Garbage video, makes no attempt to show/explain how to resize a too big chain, which 99% of us will have to do as they always come with more links than needed!

[leespencer]

There is an equation for chain length that takes into accout chainring latgest sprocket and chanstay length.

[darrellgoodwin]

I prefer the Big-Big-Plus-1-inch method for chain length. No guesswork involved and it always comes out right.

[grindupBaker]

At 0:37 he's triggered my pedantic mode. Chain links do not stretch but chains do stretch, no doubt about it. Chain link wear stretches a chain and hence the famous saying "A chain is as stretchy as its wornest link".

[ARKINHK]

Jon, you should really wear surgical gloves when handling anything with oil. It's not good for you in the long run - and it keeps your hands clean. Get some biodegradable gloves. I use them all the time.