Timeline for Can a new chain significantly improve the riding experience? If yes - what else can?
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
19 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 13, 2019 at 12:09 | vote | accept | WoJ | ||
| Sep 11, 2019 at 17:11 | answer | added | Roland | timeline score: 0 | |
| Sep 11, 2019 at 16:57 | comment | added | Roland | Important factors that you did not mention: your country, type of road, height profile, amount of luggage, body weight. And what do you mean with a generic type of bike: cross country, or grandma model? | |
| Sep 11, 2019 at 16:55 | answer | added | Matthew | timeline score: 0 | |
| Sep 11, 2019 at 16:10 | comment | added | JimmyJames | Here's a video that offers up some possible reasons you might actually see a difference. I'm not vouching for the accuracy but I found some confirmation here. Based on what the video says, a clean chain is probably most likely and it's also possible your new chain is better than your old one. The stretching of the chain will increase transmission losses eventually leading to slipping but the video suggests this is a smaller effect than the other two I mention above. | |
| Sep 11, 2019 at 15:03 | comment | added | dwizum | Chain/cassette shouldn't really change speed significantly, though it should shift better (and a very worn chain may skip). I agree with others that it was placebo, or another change you're not aware of (different gear ratios in the new cassette, or added air to tires). With regards to your actual question - it's hard to answer without knowing how you define "better" and what conditions you're riding in. Someone who wants to go faster on smooth paved roads would have a different answer than someone who wants more reliability on gravel, or reliable braking and shifting in rain and snow. | |
| Sep 11, 2019 at 14:41 | answer | added | Bobby J | timeline score: 2 | |
| Sep 11, 2019 at 10:05 | comment | added | WoJ | @Sparhawk: sorry, I was not clear. The commute was objectively faster and (someone less, but still objectively) easier (no muscle pain etc.). The placebo effect I was referring to was whether the whole thing improved because of the chain (and possibly minor adjustments, but the chain was the only major change), or was it just me thinking "now I have a fixed/cleaned/tuned bike so I am a so much a better cyclist" | |
| Sep 11, 2019 at 9:39 | comment | added | Sparhawk | You say "significantly faster" but then suggest it might be a placebo effect. Does this mean you measured your speed, or was it just subjective? I think a new chain/cassette can be much smoother, but it doesn't change speed that much for me. | |
| Sep 11, 2019 at 8:31 | comment | added | Holloway | @Michael, I don't know. Switching from a very worn out chain and cassette to new ones is definitely noticeable | |
| Sep 11, 2019 at 3:00 | history | tweeted | twitter.com/StackBicycles/status/1171619479278751744 | ||
| Sep 10, 2019 at 23:34 | history | became hot network question | |||
| Sep 10, 2019 at 18:50 | comment | added | Michael | Maybe your tire pressure was too low and they added air? Or maybe they changed to a different cassette with easier gears? As long as your chain wasn’t completely dry (or even dry, rusty and dirty) it shouldn’t have that much impact. | |
| Sep 10, 2019 at 18:05 | answer | added | cmaster - reinstate monica | timeline score: 0 | |
| Sep 10, 2019 at 18:02 | answer | added | Weiwen Ng | timeline score: 8 | |
| Sep 10, 2019 at 17:29 | history | edited | WoJ | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
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| Sep 10, 2019 at 17:27 | answer | added | Adam Rice | timeline score: 15 | |
| Sep 10, 2019 at 17:24 | history | edited | WoJ | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
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| Sep 10, 2019 at 15:23 | history | asked | WoJ | CC BY-SA 4.0 |