Many people overlook the fact that a bike chain, like brake pads and tyres, are a consumable piece of equipment that needs regular maintenance and replacement over time. Good chain health is crucial to the smooth running of your bike and, when neglected, results in comments like “my gears keep slipping” or “there is a grinding noise when I pedal”. You may notice when you drop your bike off for a service that one of the first things the mechanic will do is check the chain for wear. This is simply because it is the centrepiece of your drivetrain and paramount to a smoothly running bike. So, first up, what is actually going on here?

Tech Zone

Your bicycle chain is made up of inner plates, outer plates, pins and rollers. Pins work like axles. They hinge the outer and inner plates together and allow them to rotate.The plates also make contact to the side of the gears when you shift. In between these plates are little donuts of metal called rollers. These rollers rotate around the pins and are the main contact point to your gears. The quality of your chain will have a big effect on durability and shift quality. With that understanding let’s shift things into high gear, here are 3 reasons you should replace your chain.

Your chain has “stretched”

Now chains don’t actually stretch, but it is the easiest way to explain the kind of wear a chain will go through. The stretch of a chain can be measured with a “chain checker”. This is a simple devise that measures the movement/play of the rollers. A brand new chain will have about 0.2-0.6mm of play in it. This is necessary for the rollers to rotate freely around the pins. Eventually the rollers’s inner surface wears causing more movement. Once the play is measured at 1mm it is time to replace the chain. If the chain continues to wear beyond this then it will wear down the gears. It’s much cheaper to replace a chain vs replacing chain rings and cassettes. Think of it like changing the oil in your car. It’s a lot cheaper to service it then wait until it blows up and have to buy a new engine.

A new chain will shift better

Along with the bushings, the pins and plates will also loosen over time. This can dramatically affect how well the bike shifts and is the most common reason chains break while riding. Unlike the rollers, this is more subjective to measure. Hold the chain with both hands and move it laterally back and forth. Does it feel tight and stiff? Or is it loose and gritty? If it is the latter then it is time to install a new one even if the rollers aren’t completely worn. Yes you could draw it out a little longer but expect poor shift quality until you replace it.

Damaged link

This may seem obvious at first but hang on, there is more to this. As a rule I always carry a spare joining link (quick link) with me when I ride in case my chain breaks. With a simple multi-tool I can remove the damaged link and replace it with the joining link to get me home. All too often I see riders continue to ride the same chain after replacing the link. Yes sometimes this is ok but consider that by removing a broken link you may have shortened the chain’s length. This can be a big issue if you accidentally shift into the big chain ring up front and the big sized gear (lower gear) in the back. If the chain is too short in this gearing it could rip off your derailleur. A new chain will give you some piece of mind that it shouldn’t happen again soon.

How to make your chain last longer

A clean chain is a happy chain. You don’t have to be pedantic with chain maintenance but you should make an effort. I would recommend cleaning and lubing your chain at least every fortnight. Check out this video we made on how to clean and lube your chain.

The holidays are coming and you just drew the office cyclist for your secret santa! Now it may seem the easy way out to just get him a fresh set of leg shaving accessories, but lets not get into an intense existential debate of tri-blade vs quad blade effectiveness. So what do you get the bike rider who apparently has everything? Here are 8 perfect gifts for the bike rider who already has everything.

Gift Card to their favourite bike shop

Wait it can’t be that easy? Yes it can. Most avid bike riders find themselves back at their favourite bike shop monthly if not weekly. There is always something new they want or most often replacing worn out parts on their ride. Gift cards are a great way to let them choose what they want or need and can be bought in any amount.

Colourful Socks $20/Pair

One of the biggest trends right now is tall bright socks. They don’t even have to match their favourite jersey, just as long as they are bright, loud, funky, pineapples all over them….the more wild you can find the better. Avoid the really short runners socks. Go for mid to tall ones and at around $20 a pair you can get multiples.

Night/Day time running bike lights (Ion 100/Flare R City Set $95)

Daytime running lights are not just for cars and motorbikes. It’s proven time and time again that having lights on your bike during the day gets you noticed and ultimately safer on the road. Not all lights are rated for day time use. They need to have a high powered LED and ultra bright reflectors. Most are rather small and come with USB rechargeable batteries.

Camelbak Water Bottle (Podium $19, Insulated $22)

Bottles are always getting worn out, dirty, mouldy and lost. Camelbak have created a new style of bottle that no longer spills and drips all over you or your bike. They also come in insulated versions so you can keep a cold drink on your bike in even the hottest summer days. Perfect for mountain bikers too as you can lock off the nozzle when it’s in your backpack so it won’t leak when squeezed.

Scratch Lab Electrolyte Drink Mix (Bag $29, Single $3)

One of the top drink mixes on the market is easily Scratch Labs. Easy on the stomach, yummy mild flavour, no bad after taste and has little bits of real fruit. They come in a large bulk bag or you can mix up a variety of flavours with a bunch of individual sashays. They also make some tasty little chews to keep your sugar balanced on rides longer than an hour.

Knog Oi Bell (4 Colours $30)

It’s no secret that helmet and bell laws for cyclist are getting enforced more and more. As a result Knog (An Aussie company) has come up with a very simple, pleasant sounding, stealth bell that even fits around road bike cables. You can ring ’em, ding ’em but you don’t see ’em. Choose from four different colours. Easy as ringing a bell.

Quad Lock Phone Mount (Universal Kit $49)

While some riders swear by owning a Garmin GPS computer, not everyone wants to fork out the premium price for one. You probably already own a good GPS anyways. It’s your smart phone, and there are numerous, most free, cycling apps that will work perfectly as a bike computer. Now you just need a secure way to mount it on your handlebars or head stem. Enter the Quadlock system. If you own one of the recent iPhones then there are custom cases that work perfectly. Already have a good case or use android? Then get the universal bike kit. You’ll peel and stick on the thin connector to the back of your phone or case, zip tie or bungie the mount to your bike and securely click it on. There is nothing I have found to be easier to use or more secure for phone mounting.

New Oakley Sunnies (Radar Lock Prizm Lens $249)

Now these may not be the cheapest gift in the list but by far they are the most exciting to receive. Sunnies get scratched up a lot from repeated use and eventually will need replacing. Oakley is and has been the gold standard in quality fitness eye wear for decades. One of their most recent innovation is their Prizm line of lenses. They come in two different types, Road Prizm and Trail Prizm. Not only are they top rated for safety but the new Prizm lenses give the rider the best clear vision for off road or on road.

And there you have it! As an avid bike rider and known gear geek I would be thrilled to receive any of these as a gift this holiday season.

FACT: Driving to work is boring

FACT: Riding a bike is fun

It’s a simple equation really, but one often overlooked. The problem with driving to work, (or anywhere for that matter), is that it’s boring and you generally wish it was over. Then you get to work and you’re down and out before even punching the clock. The mind numbness of sitting in traffic bombarded by commercial radio ads in all their high volume and compressed hysteria…no wonder we’re all depressed and hate our jobs.

“Imagine if there was a better way, a pathway to happiness, energy and aliveness.”

BUT, imagine if there was a better way, a pathway to happiness, energy and aliveness. Imagine starting the day on the front foot instead of the back. It’s all available, and it’s called bicycle commuting.

Yeah okay, perhaps a little dramatic, but I can speak from experience that riding to work is an awesome way to start the day. You get to work feeling more alert, alive and ready to tackle all those challenges, big and small, in a typical day at work. On top of that, it keeps you fit and healthy, and allows you to really enjoy that midmorning chunk of cake.

So what’s involved and what do I need?

BIKE

Any bike will work, but one with bigger wheels will work better. The larger diameter 700c wheels on a hybrid, flat bar road bike or drop bar road bike roll with little resistance and therefore require less effort to pedal than a fat mountain bike tyre for example. If you are stuck with a mountain bike, try swapping out the knobby tyres for something narrower with a slick “city” tread. This makes a huge difference on the road and actually increases grip.

Hybrids and flat bar road bikes can also be equipped with panniers, racks or other mounted accessories to make carrying work stuff more easily without compromising performance.

To E or not to E?

Electric bikes have come in leaps and bounds recently and are a great option if working up a sweat before donning your office attire is not a practical way to begin the day. You don’t get the same workout as a normal bike, but the thrill of trucking along on an electric bicycle is a joy of its own…and the parking is cheaper.

Clothing

Gearing up in skin tight lycra isn’t necessary to ride to work. There are many options. Mountain bike shorts often have a discreet chamois which no one will know about and makes for extremely comfortable riding, but on a short ride you may not even require this. Just make sure your shorts or trousers allow plenty of movement to pedal and aren’t flapping around near the gears and chain.

Cycling tops are breathable, dry quickly and are cut so they don’t blow about while riding. There are lots of casual options if you want to remain more incognito.

Grab a helmet and you’re ready!

Lights

Lights are a legal requirement for riding at night and could mean the difference between getting home safely or not. I don’t mess about in this area and so I bought the brightest lights I could afford and use them religiously. Visibility is everything when riding on the road – contrary to many viewpoints out there, car drivers really don’t want to hurt people, even cyclists! Make it easy for other road users to avoid a bad situation by becoming as noticeable as possible.

“Make it easy for other road users to avoid a bad situation by becoming as noticeable as possible.”

Daytime running lights

My colleague keeps both lights on during his daytime morning ride as well as at night. Again this is a great idea because it helps keep other road users alert to your presence. That bright flicking light in a drivers peripheral vision might mean you don’t end up skipping work because you were in the hospital getting patched up.

Riding in traffic

As I’ve already said visibility is everything on the road. None wants an accident, riding so you are well seen by other road users is crucial. When on the road, bike lanes are your friend, but if there aren’t any stay to the left and ride a consistent line – avoid swerving in and out around parked cars – it makes your movements hard to predict. Staying consistent allows drivers to respond to your presence safely.

Sometimes you will have to move into traffic. Make exaggerated hand signals to indicate your intended manoeuvre, check twice, then move into the flow. Remember you are probably a lot slower than the surrounding traffic so friendly wave or gestures to drivers who may be held up is one way to encourage everyone sharing the roads.

“Make exaggerated hand signals to indicate your intended manoeuvre, check twice, then move into the flow.”

Want to know where the best routes are in you area? Stop in to your LOCAL BIKE SHOP and ask some of the employees there. Some or most of them ride to work daily and can give further advice about the best routes and gear to make your morning commute enjoyable.