Garth: by the sucky Park variety, do you mean this one? https://www.parktool.com/en-us/product/chain-checker-cc-2
Curious as to why you think it ineffective. I’ve used no other kind, so I can’t say whether they’re effective or not. On Sun, Mar 8, 2026 at 1:15 PM Garth <[email protected]> wrote: > The chain checker I use from Pedros, the Chain Checker Plus II. It uses > three points of contact, easily followed by the diagram on the checker > itself. In simple terms the chain is measured under tension, so it's a very > accurate reading. You not only get the best chain checker, you get a > chainring nut tool on the end. The big deal there is it's a lot easier to > use(a longer lever) than the much-too-short Park/Sugino variety that always > sucked. > https://www.amazon.com/Pedros-Chain-Checker-Plus-2/dp/B075VR82NN?th=1 > On Sunday, March 8, 2026 at 11:32:35 AM UTC-4 [email protected] wrote: > >> The old school, quick-and-dirty method is to put it in small cog/large >> ring and pull the chain away from the chainring. If the chain stays close >> to the ring, it's probably good. The bigger the gap, the more wear. >> >> Andy Scherer >> Manhattan & Woodstock NY >> >> On Saturday, March 7, 2026 at 3:48:14 PM UTC-5 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! >> wrote: >> >>> I was just curious if it was possible to eyeball a worn chain. They used >>> a chain checker and the chain failed miserably. 🤣 >>> >>> The tornadoes hit 35 miles south of us. It’s terrible. And F3 and 3 >>> dead, last I heard. The Michiganders are hearty and generous and they’ll >>> rebuild because people will volunteer and donate as it is The Michigan Way. >>> Such good people here; I hate to see these things happen to them. >>> >>> On Mar 7, 2026, at 3:13 PM, 'John Hawrylak, Woodstown NJ' via RBW Owners >>> Bunch <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> Leah asked, " Also, could you tell by looking that the chain was >>> worn? " >>> >>> >>> I can not. The wear distance is very small, 3/32" (2.4mm) over a 12" >>> length (0.0075 x 12, multiply by 32 to get 32nd of an inch) for 0.75% >>> stretch. >>> >>> I use a Go/No Go chain wear indicator tool, like this Park one at REI: >>> >>> Park Tool Chain Wear Indicator | REI Co-op >>> <https://www.rei.com/product/830220/park-tool-chain-wear-indicator?CAWELAID=120217890000970930&cm_mmc=PLA_Bing%7C21700000001700551_8302200001%7C1188865467003%7Cbrand_flag%7C12508863560&gclid=1843086403b41155925d61c87fd0c80f&gclsrc=3p.ds&msclkid=1843086403b41155925d61c87fd0c80f> >>> >>> It has 2 sides, 1 to measure 0.75% stretch for aluminum rings & 1.0% >>> stretch for steel rings. You can see the '0.75' and '1.0' stamped on the >>> right hand side of the picture. >>> >>> You put the left side against 2 links and let the right side drop into >>> the chain, about 4 links apart. If the tool falls down to the chain, it >>> worn to at least the value stamped on the side you are using. >>> >>> Your LBS probably has this tool for sale. If you get one, put on the >>> upper part of the chain & push down on the pedal to tension the upper >>> chain and the see how far the tool drops in the chain. >>> >>> BTW, a new chain typically is factory lubed for about 500 miles of >>> normal road riding, per private communication with KMC service rep. >>> >>> Hoping the tornadoes avoided you in Michigan >>> >>> John Hawrylak >>> Woodstown NJ >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On Saturday, March 7, 2026 at 2:17:57 PM UTC-5 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! >>> wrote: >>> >>>> Hi John, they just cleaned the drivetrain. They had my blessing to fix >>>> anything they found lacking, but I guess the chain rings and cassette were >>>> ok? Also, could you tell by looking that the chain was worn? >>>> >>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>> >>>> On Mar 7, 2026, at 2:10 PM, 'John Hawrylak, Woodstown NJ' via RBW >>>> Owners Bunch <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>> Leah >>>> >>>> >>>> Maybe I missed it, but did you have to replace the cassette, chain >>>> rings or rear derailleur after the riding your son did??? >>>> >>>> I only saw a badly worn chain, a frame with road grime and chipped >>>> paint, & worn grips. A badly worn chain (greater than 0.75% stretch) >>>> typically increases the wear on the front aluminum alloy chain rings, & to >>>> a lesser extent the steel rear cogs. >>>> >>>> John Hawrylak >>>> Woodstown NJ >>>> >>>> On Saturday, August 5, 2023 at 10:54:39 PM UTC-4 Bicycle Belle Ding >>>> Ding! wrote: >>>> >>>>> It nearly kills me to say it, but my older son will be heading to >>>>> college in a year. Freshman aren’t to bring cars to campus, so that leaves >>>>> buses, bikes, and your own two feet for transportation. My boys have grown >>>>> up riding Clem Hs; this son rides a 52 cm cast-off from my husband (who >>>>> doesn’t ride, sigh). >>>>> >>>>> My 6’3” Dad had a blue 59 cm Clem on order when he died suddenly in >>>>> 2020, and his blue Clem has sat, boxed, waiting for my boy to grow into >>>>> it. >>>>> I lugged the gargantuan box up from the basement last week to see how if >>>>> the bike would fit. “Now that I’ve obtained optimal height,” my son is >>>>> fond >>>>> of saying… >>>>> >>>>> Anyway, he’s 6’1” now (likely still growing) and I need him to decide >>>>> if he wants to stick with his old Clem H (that he was fond of) or settle >>>>> into this Clem L. Because whichever bike he chooses is getting new wheels, >>>>> dyno and fenders and going to college with him. At first he was opposed to >>>>> the idea of a new Clem; he liked his old Clem, thought it looked cool. But >>>>> after the - as he calls it - Big Bike was assembled, he really began to >>>>> like it. “It looks elegant,” he said. It really does, all long and lithe, >>>>> in blue and silver. He put his saddle and bags on the bike and we test >>>>> rode >>>>> it tonight. He said, “I am really liking the Big Bike. I like that my >>>>> knees >>>>> don’t have anything to hit (geez, were his knees hitting his bars?!) and >>>>> it >>>>> looks elegant. It feels more at home now that I have my old saddle on it.” >>>>> >>>>> I have mixed feelings about sending him to college with this bike, >>>>> because it’s so nice. I also doubt he’ll be able to get it on a bus bike >>>>> rack - and I have no idea how often he will want to do that. His bike life >>>>> is totally unknown at this point. All I know is that I’m getting him dyno >>>>> because the kid has never remembered to charge a light in his LIFE and I >>>>> will not sleep at night without it.The 52 takes 650b wheels and the 59 >>>>> takes 700c, so I don’t want to buy the wheels until I know which bike he >>>>> really wants. But as of now, he wants his new bike. >>>>> >>>>> I know people will say we should just get a beater. I know why that >>>>> would be advisable, but I also hate to think of a Clem languishing when it >>>>> could be serving a noble purpose. I’d love for him and his Clem to journey >>>>> through undergrad together. >>>>> >>>>> I am wondering…has anyone gone to college or sent their kid to college >>>>> with a Clem? What do you have to say about it? Photos in the next post… >>>>> Leah >>>>> >>>> -- >>>> >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the >>>> Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>>> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit >>>> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/rlzGS4r3P9E/unsubscribe >>>> . >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to >>>> [email protected]. >>>> >>>> To view this discussion visit >>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/2d3bcc74-1602-460e-b407-50572d32cfbfn%40googlegroups.com >>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/2d3bcc74-1602-460e-b407-50572d32cfbfn%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>> . >>>> >>>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the >>> Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/rlzGS4r3P9E/unsubscribe >>> . >>> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to >>> [email protected]. >>> >>> To view this discussion visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/2b816351-00b0-4d83-a495-ae68d4d3bf70n%40googlegroups.com >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/2b816351-00b0-4d83-a495-ae68d4d3bf70n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>> . >>> >>> -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/9ab8460a-2a99-4218-83c5-4b8b066fce72n%40googlegroups.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/9ab8460a-2a99-4218-83c5-4b8b066fce72n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- Patrick Moore Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Executive resumes, LinkedIn profiles, bios, letters, and other writing services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *When thou didst not, savage, k**now thine own meaning,* *But wouldst gabble like a** thing most brutish,* *I endowed thy purposes w**ith words that made them known.* -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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