How a Stretched Bike Chain Can Cost You a Bundle

my bike takes me places school never couldAnyone who reads my blog should know I love my bike. Not only do I save $10K a year by biking to work, I’m doing my part to help the environment. With the nice weather finally here, last week I decided to take my bike in for a yearly tune up. It had a few minor issues (the rear brakes weren’t working), but nothing major… or so I thought.

When I took in my bike to my local bike shop for an initial assessment, the salesperson took a look at my chain and noticed it was stretched and would need to be replaced. This wasn’t a surprise, since I ride my bike 10 months a year. What was a surprise was that my cassette and crank were worn and would need to be replaced, too. (Taking a bicycle maintenance is always on my to-do list, but I never seem to get around to it).

I learned a costly lesson: it’s very important to keep a close eye on your bike chain. Bike chains are rather inexpensive (I paid $25 for my last bike chain). But riding with a stretched bike chain can damage more expensive parts – mainly your crank and cassette. Not replacing your bike chain is a case of penny wise, pound foolish. By not spending $25 on a new bike chain, it can end up costing you about $100 to also buy and install a new crank and cassette.

When Should You Replace Your Chain?

CYP200.bs_bench.parkcc-700-80So how do you know when your chain needs to be replaced? You could take it to the bike shop, but let’s face it, most people can’t be bothered to do that. The best way is to buy a chain wear indicator. It’s a little  piece of metal that measures the wear and tear on your chain. It’s rather inexpensive (I got mine for $17.99, less than a new chain). It’s simple to use. All you do is place the tool on your chain and see if it drops. If it falls flat, you need a new chain. Catching your chain before it starts damaging the other parts of your bike is vital. The tool pays for itself and is money well spent.

Here’s a helpful video I found on how to know when to change your chain, cassette and chainrings

When you need to replace your chains depends on how often you ride your bike. A good rule of thumb is to change your chain every 2,500 kilometers. You can figure out how long your bike ride to work is by using Google Maps. I ride my bike in the rain (but not in the snow), so I plan to check my chain once a month.

I’m a frugal guy, so why don’t I do my own bicycle repairs? Mainly time. I could probably do the repairs myself, but it would take me at least twice as long as the experts at the bike shop. I also might not do a good job (not to mention I’d be covered in grease). Even changing a flat tire can be a pain. If you don’t find the piece of glass or nail that punctured your tube, you can replace the tube and end up with a flat again in no time.

Bike Repairs: The One-Third Rule

When is your bike a goner? I use the one-third rule. If the bike repairs cost more than one third of the value of the bike, I’ll get a new bike instead. When my bike repair bill came to $200, I decided only to get minimal repairs done (under $100), since my bike is only worth $400.

Do you do your own bike repairs or take it to the bike shop?


Sean Cooper is the bestselling author of the book, Burn Your Mortgage: The Simple, Powerful Path to Financial Freedom for Canadians, available now on Amazon and at Chapters, Indigo and major bookstores, and as an Audiobook on Amazon, Audible and iTunes.