Watts are watts, change that chain

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2013-10-04 1:14 PM

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Subject: Watts are watts, change that chain

Just read an Inside Triathlon article and reviewed the Friction Facts chart on chain stretch losses vs. a new chain. At 250W a 0.5% stretched chain loss was 1.0W vs. new chain, 1.5W for a chain at 0.75% vs. new, and 2.0W a chain at 1.0% vs. new.

I recently bought a simple park chain stretch tool and my chain was well past the 0.75 limit.  Guess I left some seconds out there in my last sprint tri!

2013-10-04 1:20 PM
in reply to: Donto

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Subject: RE: Watts are watts, change that chain
It's minimal but it adds up, especially the longer you go (IM). My friend is the most Type-A person I have ever met in my life and it serves him well. He has a separate chain, chainrings, cassette, and locking that he puts on before he races, and he uses a special coat from a producer to save wattage as well. Not many have the time for such details but he races professionally (used to be on this board) and he can pay attention to such great detail.
2013-10-04 1:28 PM
in reply to: Donto

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Subject: RE: Watts are watts, change that chain
It's also murder on your cassette to have a stretched chain.
2013-10-04 1:43 PM
in reply to: happyscientist

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Subject: RE: Watts are watts, change that chain
Originally posted by happyscientist It's also murder on your cassette to have a stretched chain.
A severely stretched chain!  I recently read on one site that changing the chain at 0.5% you should easily go 4-5 chain changes for the cassette life.  At 0.75% it was like 2-3 chain changes for the cassette life. Like I said I'm well past 0.75%, probably closer to 1.5% and everything shifts fine, until I change the chain then its cha-chingMoney mouth time!!
2013-10-04 2:30 PM
in reply to: Donto

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Subject: RE: Watts are watts, change that chain

There's more than a handful of watts difference even between which kind of lubrication you use.  Let alone a dirty change vs a clean and well oiled one.  

I always clean and lube my chain for races.  if nothing else- it looks good and is quieter.  

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