Let’s talk about cross chaining

[lordofthemark]

I used to not know anything about it, and just avoided (as lots of newbies do, I gather) changing gears on my crankset. I have 3 by 8 gearing, so I would just stay in the middle gear in front, and shift between 1 and 8 (really mostly between 3 and on the rear. As I got faster I shifted to the big gear in front when going particularly fast for me (on downhills) – but mostly only on long rides where I would then feel comfortable staying in the big gear in front for most of the ride.

Well when I got my chain and cassette replaced recently, I started googling around, and I came to think that the gear combinations I have been using may have shortened the life of my chain – and perhaps of my cassette? Also not an efficient way to ride, I gather.

So now I have tried to do much more shifting of the crankset, and to not use all 8 rear gears for any given front gear. But in my googling, I have also seen people say to not worry so much about cross chaining.

I am not sure what is best in terms of how many rear gears to limit myself to. I think at least 4 or 5 is okay? So in the big front gear, the rear can go from 8th down to 5th, or even 4th? In the middle front gear, from 6th to 3rd?

If its okay to be in 7th while in the middle gear, and in 3rd while in the big gear, that would make things a good bit easier though.

Topic

[hozn]

I solved this by going 1x. . I have not noticed any difference in life of chain by only having a single chainring. So I wouldn’t worry about it.

[Lt. Dan]

If you are hearing noise from the drive line, it’s causing extra wear. Other than that, I wouldn’t worry about crossing things up that much

[Emm]

I typically ride using something along the lines of this:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]12723[/ATTACH]

I tend to also avoid the extreme high and low gears in the middle ring, but I’m a little less vigilant about that, partly because my front derailleur doesn’t always shift chain rings so well… My chains get an “average” lifespan out of them typically–1500 to 2000 miles on my commuter, longer for the weekend only good weather road bike. I think my current chain has around 1200 miles of it and the shop told me it was at .5 last weekend, so I’m sure it’ll end up getting changed out during my spring tune up, along with the cassette (and maybe even a new derailleur if I feel like splurging ).

[Steve O]

@Emm 148805 wrote:

My chains get an “average” lifespan out of them typically–1500 to 2000 miles on my commuter, longer for the weekend only good weather road bike. I think my current chain has around 1200 miles of it and the shop told me it was at .5 last weekend, .

Really? That’s average? I’m pretty sure I last changed my chain in April 2015, so that’s more than 9000 miles I think. I asked Phuoc at Bike Club to check on it before my ride to Pittsburgh in July, and he said it was fine. I ride it year round in all weather. Is that possible? I’m also 1x (1×9), so there’s no front derailleur, but slightly more cross-chaining at the extremes.

[Crickey7]

I kept my chain very clean this year . . . and got about 2k out of my last one, maybe less. I shift a lot.

[hozn]

I think the lifespan question is going to depend on whether you change chains for a single cassette. I am guessing Steve will be changing both. I get 5k from a chain (and cassette) which hasn’t been any different with multiple rings vs a single one (and more cross chaining).

[TwoWheelsDC]

I ride in my big ring probably 95% of the time, so I really just avoid the big/big combo, and that’s mainly to avoid putting the chain out to maximum length and putting strain on the rear derailleur. Maybe that affects chain life, but I think my towpath commute is going to be a much bigger factor.

[Vicegrip]

@Steve O 148807 wrote:

Really? That’s average? I’m pretty sure I last changed my chain in April 2015, so that’s more than 9000 miles I think. I asked Phuoc at Bike Club to check on it before my ride to Pittsburgh in July, and he said it was fine. I ride it year round in all weather. Is that possible? I’m also 1x (1×9), so there’s no front derailleur, but slightly more cross-chaining at the extremes.

9000 from a single chain? I wish I got that from my dry bike.

As to the OP I think cross chaining concern is a thing of the past if you have a reasonably good modern drive train. Say 105 or the like. I often run Big big*. THe added tension from the RD jockey wheel cage spring is little in relation to the tension you impart while driving yourself forward.
I think chain life is directly related to exposure, stress and care. Bikes are not magical things they are relatively small simple analog machines. A chain is a chain. Bike chains have side to side slack built into them intentionally. The side to side slack is calculated to cover the angle displacement of the intended driveline. With well designed modern drive trains the chainring and cog teeth are designed to not contact the chain plates in a full cross. The goal is to only see contact between the chain rollers and the flats on the teeth.

*I don’t make a habit of it. I so like the silky fine finish feel of a clean fresh totally lined up drive line.

[Harry Meatmotor]

Big-Big is less bad than Little-Little: the greater chainwrap, i.e., number of teeth that the chain is contact with, the less load is transmitted by each roller and pin in the chain. Side loading the chain isn’t a significant factor in premature wear with modern drivetrains. If your bike uses a cassette, not a freewheel, it has a modern drivetrain.

Also, sometimes the internet doesn’t know what it’s talking about. Worrying about cross-chaining can cause paralysis by analysis.

[huskerdont]

My last chain (Sram 970) lasted about 34 miles. This has had a serious negative effect on my average chain life.

I don’t hang around in cross-chained combis, but if I find myself in one, I don’t worry about it but just change out of if when not under load. It’s advice I think I picked up from Ned Overend’s book on mountain biking, back when I still thought there might be a chance I could improve my mediocre mountain biking skilz. So I like seeing these comments from the more mechanically knowledgeable of the posters here.

[Steve O]

@Steve O 148807 wrote:

Really? That’s average? I’m pretty sure I last changed my chain in April 2015, so that’s more than 9000 miles I think.

And, of course, today I was riding with some of my peeps on the Blue Ridge Challenge. I was about 200 yards up the hill from the Bluemont General Store when, “Shpramk!” My chain broke.
Was able to remove a link and forge on, but I could immediately sense the ragging I would probably get from this forum.
@hozn 148810 wrote:

. I am guessing Steve will be changing both.

That will be tomorrow.

[huskerdont]

@Steve O 148856 wrote:

And, of course, today I was riding with some of my peeps on the Blue Ridge Challenge. I was about 200 yards up the hill from the Bluemont General Store when, “Shpramk!” My chain broke.
Was able to remove a link and forge on, but I could immediately sense the ragging I would probably get from this forum.

That will be tomorrow.

You didn’t mention tonking. You didn’t tonk? WTF do I always tonk and no one else* seems to?

*Exception being the guy I saw break a chain while warming up for the Captain Thurmond’s Challenge, who tonked into a brick wall. Dude borrowed my tool, then went on to win the race. I waddled in a good while later. Overall, I think I must be doing it wrong.

[Steve O]

@Steve O 148856 wrote:

That will be tomorrow.

Shiny!
[ATTACH=CONFIG]12737[/ATTACH]

[Author]

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