How-to (Workshop)Workshop

Chain wear: how to measure it and when to replace

A worn chain quietly eats your cassette and chainrings. Two minutes with a checker tells you when to swap it.

Editorial teamOctober 2, 2026 · 1 min read

Time2 min

DifficultyBasic

ToolsChain checker

How to check

1Shift to the big ringThis puts tension on the top run of the chain.

2Drop in the checkerInsert both ends of the tool into the chain.

3Read the gaugeCompare against your drivetrain maker’s wear limit.

Editorial team · Editors

[Short bio: who writes here and what they ride]