Change the chain. Look, you're worrying about it now! You want to worry on race day?
Piece of mind is priceless.
Everything else lubed? Tight? How's the tires? Shoe cleat screws tight? Did you use a dash of
Loctite on them?

+1 to Anton. An ounce of Prevention is worth....

I just had a screw come flying off the bottom of my bike shoe yesterday. Lucky it was on the trainer or I probably wouldn't have found it. Go over the whole bike top to bottom or take into the LBS for a tune up in the next couple of weeks.

+2 change the chain.
I go as far as to change the tires a week out too, but I am OCD.

I saw article a while back that discussed how common it is for athletes to have equipment trouble at IronMan events. The gist of it was that given the heavy training load you are putting on your equipment leading up to the event, you really need to do a careful review of everything. As Anton said ... "Everything else lubed? Tight? How's the tires? Shoe cleat screws tight? Did you use a dash of
Loctite on them?". I would add some things such as the cleats themselves and the pedal mechanism, all of the bearings (hubs, bb, headset, pedals). The list goes on and on ... only you or your trusted LBS mechanic can decide where to draw the line.

[quote=Anton]Change the chain. Look, you're worrying about it now! You want to worry on race day?
Piece of mind is priceless.
Everything else lubed? Tight? How's the tires? Shoe cleat screws tight? Did you use a dash of
Loctite on them?[/quote]

Since the recent drop out of Macca at the IMWC Id say a full pre-race tune up is in order...

I say live on the edge. The thought of a broken chain will keep your mind occupied during the 112 mile ride.

[quote=Nobody]I say live on the edge. The thought of a broken chain will keep your mind occupied during the 112 mile ride. [/quote]

Yeah and totally ruin months/years of building up to be able to do the race in the first place not to mention the money involved to get to the race!! Better to just spend the few bucks and get done what you need to do rather then have a chain break 30 miles in and your done for the day...

Exactly my point, CadenceGuy. Sorry, but this question seems to just warrant a WEE BIT of sarcasm.....

[quote=CadenceGuy]Id say a full pre-race tune up is in order...[/quote]

+1 Not to kick a dead horse re: the chain, high-end chains (Wipperman, SRAM, Campy, Shim) last 1,000m/1,650k, so you are way over. A stretched chain doesn't shift well and ends up wearing down your cassette teeth. And chains are cheaper than cassettes.

Prior to IM you should also fork over the money for The Full Monte. And I don't mean adjust derailleurs and brakes. I mean full tune up where they true wheels, re-cable everything, repack bearings in hubs and bottom bracket, check crank arms, and and re-compress headset . . . plus "adjusting" and the run-of-the-mill stuff and cleaning the drive train blah blah blah.

Yes, you're looking at $100-$200, but add up the costs! How much did you spend to register and get to the race? How many hours training? Want to DNF because of a frayed cable or broken chain pin? This falls under the axiom of "penny wise, pound foolish."

And Anton, loctite? Red or blue?

[quote=gshuldes]. . . only you or your trusted LBS mechanic can decide where to draw the line . . . [/quote]

+1 True. It may sound cheesy, but pre-IM race tune ups are done by only my fav 'wrench' at my shop. He's gives me the 'knowing nod.'

I prefer Loctite #242 - (Blue, medium strength) ... the red is too strong and makes the screws very difficult to remove.

my chain lasted 5 632 km and it was well maintained. I'd say replace it. I broke mine in the middle of a busy intersection. you can do your own chain if you have your own chain tool. size it by putting the chain around the big ring up front, and the big ring in back, and one link and cut there... park tool does a good job explaining this.

http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=26

I'm a Loctite Blue kind of guy. The red takes a blacksmith's grip to loosen.

[quote=Anton]I'm a Loctite Blue kind of guy. The red takes a blacksmith's grip to loosen.[/quote]

Ok, I am going to sound STUPID here---what is the loctite for? I do know what it IS ......

Also I aways get a tune up at my shop before a big race.

Think of Loctite as glue to hold screws in place. The little bolts that hold cleats to cycling shoes have a nasty habit of working loose. Loctite keeps them tight.

ahhhhh . Well I know what it is, just have never heard of using it. Clearly I have not yet had a problem to prompt me (although it's possible hubby put it on for me). I will look into it for my next race. Thanks!