Chain finally gave way on ride home, it was very worn so thought i would treat the bike to a new one. Measured it out and split it to the same number of links as per instructions. re -set the gears and all work fine in the bike stand. But when i try and ride it. CLUNK BUMP BANG!!! major chain slip in every gear. New Chain is a sram and suitable for a 9 speed mech.

Im fairly new to this do it yourself bike maintenance but if i keep sending it to the shop i will never learn. Anyway advise please?? am i looking at a new cassette? chainrings?

Cheers

Chains generally wear at the same rate as cassette’s and chain rings so chances are you’ll have to replace the whole lot to avoid the dreaded chain slip.

probably cassette

If you have let the chain get very worn it will have trashed your cassette and if you are unlucky the chainrings as well.

yep as above.

that advice works in reverse too, ie now that your cassette and chainrings are worn they will trash your new chain

i ran the same chain for almost two years and wrecked the cassete and the chainrings (but it was a super cheap crankset). As the guys above have said if you have not let the chain get too worn then you should get away with only having to repalce the cassette.

Park Tools chain wear indicator. Possibly the best investment you can make for your bike:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=5784

Always change chains at 0.75% wear. I’m on my 5th chain using the same cassette and rings and it’s running fine.

Everyone learns this the hard way, Luke. You’ll need new chainrings too so best to bite the bullet, unless it’s a deore chainset with steel rings.

Buy a LX chainset (old version) from CRC whilst they’re cheap and a SLX cassette from merlin. You’ll need specialist tools to fit but I’m sure you can find someone to borrow them from. I’m in leeds if you’re local you can borrow mine

just been looking at the CRC chain wear tools theres an identical “ice tools” one further down the page for a fiver …

You have 3 choices IMO to deal with wearing chains

1) run the whole lot into the ground and replace entire drivetrain once worn out / keeps breaking chains

2)Use 3 chains and rotate them – every week or two remove chain and clean – put on another chain from the three once the 3 chains are worn out so is the cassette but the chainrings might be OK

3) replace chains every time they reach .75% worn and cassettes and chainrings last a lot longer. chainrings hardly wear at all this way

I am not sure thee is any cost difference in the three methods over the years

I am not sure thee is any cost difference in the three methods over the years

All depends what drivetrain you’ve got

Rotating 3 chains is a good idea but they can still wear at different rates, and you need to remember to do it. Do you change after x miles, x hours, x hours in the peaks etc. I find it much easier with a wear indicator and I know the Park ones are laser cut and super accurate, plus they used to be £6 I think 🙂

Thanks for all the advise people. Looks like im going to dip my hand in the old wallet again!