What's the most cost-effective transmission for a commuter?

craker

I'm at the point of changing chain-rings, chain and cassette of my Tiagra 9 speed bike, weighing in at around 7000 miles + for the chainring (am changing just the middle one of a triple), 5000 for the cassette and 2500 for the chain. (all numbers are approximate!).

Am being slightly mocked by my mate who ran his sh*tbike on a 7 speed transmission for about (he says) 14000 miles until the bike died (nothing that a replacement chainset, headset, bottom bracket and wheel bearing service + replacement rims wouldn't sort out). Neither of us would argue that his set-up was terribly smooth in the last couple of years - something I couldn't put up with for 20+ miles a day.

So on replacing his bike last month he got himself another 7 speed on the basis that parts are cheaper, shifting less fussy and the chain likely to last longer. Do 9 / 10 / 11 speed setups really compromise longevity?

I was surprised to see in a thread a couple of days ago that single speed bike users were complainnig about how quickly they get through chains - 1500 miles or so?

supersonic

Older 7 and 8 speed stuff, especially the cheap end, tend to be made out of thicker steel and be more tolerant to wear. I do indeed think more modern set ups are a bit more fussy.

8 speed to me is the one to have. More choice of cassettes (a lot of 7 speed stuff is screw on freewheels), and more options elsewhere. But if you have 9 speed shifters, then you'll of course need to stick to 9 speed, in which case I'd get the cheapest steel chainrings that fit, the cheapest cassette and a couple of SRAM PC951 chains.

pdw

Why are you changing now? Has it started to slip?

I've got 105 10 speed. First chain swapped out at about 5k miles, current chain is probably on about 1500 miles, and it's all still beautifully smooth. I'm hoping the cassette will see out a third chain.

When my commute was a bit shorter, I used to operate the alternative system that your mate uses, and I suspect I got to a similar mileage before the chain snapped - that was 8 speed. It was never very smooth, but it didn't slip until I had to start replacing stuff.

corshamjim

Looked after properly a 3-speed hub gear should go for many thousands of miles with very little attention. The chain on my 3-speed hub geared bike has been going for I guess about 5,000 miles or more now. I think it probably needs replacing soon (about a tenner depending on which one I choose). A new sprocket is about £3.50 and a new chainset about £30. I did replace the chainset recently but only because I bent a crank in an accident.

passout

Shimano 2300 or Sora I guess.

rolf_f

Shimano still make a fair few 7 speed cassettes but you may need a more specialist shop to source them.

Then £10 gets you a serviceable low mileage decent rear mech on Ebay or £20 something top range in its time. For commuting I run a 7 speed tourer over the winter and a Campag Centaur equiped bike over summer. Both work fine and last well but Campag 10 speed for commuting is pure indulgence. If I keep it clean, the 7 speed is just as silky smooth as clean 10 speed - both are just chains running over cogs after all.