| Re: Broke A Chain!
David L. Johnson wrote:
> Stephen Harding wrote:
>>
>> I typically run the entire drive line down, letting them
>> wear out together, then replace the chain and the cogs
>> at once. Chain rings seem to be harder to wear than
>> cogsets, so a ring can last a couple chain/cog replacement
>> cycles.
>
> This strikes me as false economy. Chains are available for $15 or $20
> just about anywhere. Cassettes are more like $50, $100 for fancier ones
> like 10-speeds. Chainrings can cost $50 apiece. Frankly, tossing a
> chain every once in a while is a lot cheaper.
Only my joy bike has 9 speed. The others are 6 and two 7
speed cassettes that run about $25. I think my procedure
is quite cost efficient.
You may be more correct in the "false economy" charge WRT
my 9 speed bike. Never replaced the cogset so I'm not up
on what they go for, but $50 for one might make me more
attentive towards replacing the chain more frequently.
>> I put about 2500 mi/year and 1500 mi/year typically on my
>> two primary rides (one road/one MTB). Chains last for
>> 2+ years easily.
>
> At your mileage I would be replacing 1 chain per year (per bike), and
> keeping the cassette for several years, and the chainrings for longer
> than that.
I think that's way too frequent for a 7 speed cogset.
In the 15 years I've owned my Trek 520 (my primary ride with
the most miles per year on it), I've replaced the large ring
3 times, the middle ring twice and never replaced the small
ring.
Not certain how many times I've replaced the drive chain and
cogset but perhaps 4 times (???). I really don't think I'd
do a hole lot better with more frequent chain changes.
I suppose if crisp shifting were more a requirement chain
changes might be more critical, but I'm a "Fred Rider", so
it's largely irrelevant.
Until the rings start skipping teeth in gear during stand up
climbs, they stay put; that's the indicator that a ring needs
replacement for me!
SMH
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