E-bikes eat chains? Busted!

[Gubbins]

Based on the premise that chains don't actually stretch, it's just the moving bits that get worn by repetitive movement made worse by dust and grit getting in there I did a bit of an experiment. I bought an aldi ultrasonic jewellery cleaner and once a month a popped in my chain with some hot water and detergent for 5 minutes or so. Surprisingly it comes out looking like brand new, and after a good soak in some GTX (left over from my car servicing days) it's back on the bike with just an occasional run through a mechanical cleaner filled with paraffin when it looks grubby. Using the Park chain measuring tool to decide when the first one needed replacing I am now at 2700 miles and on second chain with original cassette and chainring and no obvious signs of wear.
When compared with my Boardman which needed new big ring and chain at 800 miles or so I am pleasantly surprised.

 

[EddiePJ]

A cousin on mine also puts his chain through a monthly ultra sonic clean at the factory where he works. He swears by it, and is always saying that I wouldn't believe just how much more crud that it removes, and also how it has lengthened his replacement time. When I get the next bike, I have already decided that because I eat chains at an alarming rate, that I'll start to use two chains and give one to him to clean as part of a regularly maintenance schedule, or after any particular harsh rides.
Ref the Boardman, I have had use of a Boardman pro for the last couple of weeks. It's been bloody hard riding it on the hills, but it's been very quick along the flats and downhill, although it has obviously felt very twitchy when compared to the KTM Ultra mtb. I'll miss it when it goes back, but I guess that a KTM Hybrid will take it's place somewhere along the line. N+1 and all that.