Do you have to replace cassette with chain?

griff99

Hello all

My P-X SL Pro finally arrived, and I'm beaming with happiness. But I have a minor maintenance question...

It came with a 105 cassette - the options were 12-25 or 12-27. I took the 12-27 as I'm contemplating doing LeJog next year and I don't want to be dying up the hills. But I also dabble in the occasional triathlon and I'm thinking of buying an 11-25 for that purpose.

I've read that your chain and cassette are "tied", i.e. you replace them at the same time. But if I'm switching my cassette, does that mean I have to replace both cassettes?

Are there any other complexities I should be aware of?

Cheers
Chris

Pokerface

I go through several chains for each cassette I wear out.

And I swap wheels all the time between 4 different sets. So no - you don't have to replace the chain and cassette at the same time.

Some people don't replace their chains early enough - which causes the cassette to wear out prematurely. Then they HAVE to replace both at the same time.

John.T

+1.

griff99

Thanks!
Very comprehensive reply.

all show no go

Pokerface wrote:

I go through several chains for each cassette I wear out.

And I swap wheels all the time between 4 different sets. So no - you don't have to replace the chain and cassette at the same time.

Some people don't replace their chains early enough - which causes the cassette to wear out prematurely. Then they HAVE to replace both at the same time.

+1. What he said.
(Enjoy the new bike by the way)

DubaiNeil

Just as a side note to Grif99, have you considered the 105 11-23 cassette instead of the 11-25?

My bike came with the 11-25 and I switched to the 11-23 as this removed the "gap" between 15t and 17t, which I found intensely annoying, more than missing the 25t largest cog - and made TT style riding a lot easier, as sticking to a cadence was easier to achieve.

This will depend obviously on the hilliness of the tri courses you ride, but I "managed" 830m of vertical in 12km's on the 23t rear - using a compact chainset.

Neil

JamesB

As a possible guide for cassette life between 2 bikes I`ve covered >12 000 miles with three or four cassette ( CAMP[AGNOLO ) variations and many chain changes; I have yet to buy a new cassette or have a chain jump; worst that has happened is that had to replace inner chainring after 7000 miles due to chain suck with new chain.