Old Chain vs New Chain
This deal is nothing new, really...
Probably 5 years ago or so, a guy sent me a bunch of data that used an external dynamometer and a bunch of different SRM's and PT's that suggested, statisticaly, that a new chain would save a handful of watts compared to an old, worn-out chain. My memory seems to be fading these days, so don't quote that "handful" of watts or anything, OK? ;-)
Well, I don't ride much these days, and so, I reckon that means I don't go through a bunch of equipment like I did back in the day. So, I've got that going for me! A month ago or so, I busted out my chain length checker and found that the chain was in desperate need of replacement.
I'm pretty sure this is the first time I've needed to swap out the chain on this bike - which I built up in Q2 of 2008 or so? But, I've always wanted to independently check the data that the guy previously mentioned had shared many moons ago. The exercise just never was convenient, as I don't really like to ride around using both the PT/SRM, since the PT I have is 9 spd and all and I'm riding 10spd stuff these days. That kloodged together setup still works, though, suprisingly.
I gathered simultaneous SRM/PT data on the road for a few weeks prior to getting on the rollers yesterday and doing a bit more of a controlled test. And during this process, I finally got a chance to use a new bike tool for me - a master link separator that I got from these guys:
www.skabtoolz.com
the last time I tried to gracefully remove a master link, I tried to use a regular pair of pliers and wound up taking a chunk of flesh out of my hand! Then, I proceeded to break the chain the old fashioned way.
Let me tell you, those master link pliers worked like a charm - stick 'em around the master link, apply a bit of side pressure to the master link...squeeze the pliers shut, and boo-yeah, broken chain.
I didn't wind up spending a whole lot of time taking data on the rollers with the old and new chains, but the little I did does seem to suggest that there are indeed a few watts to be had when going from a worn-out kinda krusty old chain to a brand-spanking new SRAM 10spd chain.
More details and protocol nuggets about this mini-test can be found in this thread over on the BTR Forum.
Probably 5 years ago or so, a guy sent me a bunch of data that used an external dynamometer and a bunch of different SRM's and PT's that suggested, statisticaly, that a new chain would save a handful of watts compared to an old, worn-out chain. My memory seems to be fading these days, so don't quote that "handful" of watts or anything, OK? ;-)
Well, I don't ride much these days, and so, I reckon that means I don't go through a bunch of equipment like I did back in the day. So, I've got that going for me! A month ago or so, I busted out my chain length checker and found that the chain was in desperate need of replacement.
I'm pretty sure this is the first time I've needed to swap out the chain on this bike - which I built up in Q2 of 2008 or so? But, I've always wanted to independently check the data that the guy previously mentioned had shared many moons ago. The exercise just never was convenient, as I don't really like to ride around using both the PT/SRM, since the PT I have is 9 spd and all and I'm riding 10spd stuff these days. That kloodged together setup still works, though, suprisingly.
I gathered simultaneous SRM/PT data on the road for a few weeks prior to getting on the rollers yesterday and doing a bit more of a controlled test. And during this process, I finally got a chance to use a new bike tool for me - a master link separator that I got from these guys:
www.skabtoolz.com
the last time I tried to gracefully remove a master link, I tried to use a regular pair of pliers and wound up taking a chunk of flesh out of my hand! Then, I proceeded to break the chain the old fashioned way.
Let me tell you, those master link pliers worked like a charm - stick 'em around the master link, apply a bit of side pressure to the master link...squeeze the pliers shut, and boo-yeah, broken chain.
I didn't wind up spending a whole lot of time taking data on the rollers with the old and new chains, but the little I did does seem to suggest that there are indeed a few watts to be had when going from a worn-out kinda krusty old chain to a brand-spanking new SRAM 10spd chain.
More details and protocol nuggets about this mini-test can be found in this thread over on the BTR Forum.
Labels: power, powermeter, powertap, SRM
posted by kraig at
9:15 PM
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