Chains and cassettes
waltdinghy
Posts: 38
Currently running Ultegra 6800 cassette 11 28 and chain ( 11 speed ) on 50 34 compact chain set . With regular cleaning after each ride and appropriate lubrication what chain and cassette life should I expect to get in terms of
Kilometers . Have already covered 3900 Kim's and all seems o.k., at the moment .
Would appreciate any experience based advice.
Kilometers . Have already covered 3900 Kim's and all seems o.k., at the moment .
Would appreciate any experience based advice.
0
Comments
-
About 1500 miles for a chain and 4 - 5 chains per cassette seems the general consensus.0
-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hzyYzBdX80
http://www.parktool.com/product/chain-wear-indicator-CC-3-2"The Prince of Wales is now the King of France" - Calton Kirby0 -
My chains start wearing in at 1500 miles
I aim to get 10,000 miles (2500-3000 miles a year) out of the chain,cassette and chainrings. Then change the whole lot.0 -
Thanks guys for your advice; it looks like time to buy that new chain before it gives up the ghost in the middle of nowhere .0
-
Running it too long shouldnt make it fail - it will just wear the cassette and if you really push too far on the mileage the chainring, because the chain stretches and doesnt fit the cogs properly.
I normally get 2000-3000 miles on mine and change chain and cassette together. I did like trailflow with my last chain because I was going to replace the chainset so probably did 8000-9000 miles on it as I didnt care about wearing the chain ring anymore. I actually had an ultegra chainset waiting to fit but still ran it for another 18 months before bothering...!!! No ill effects to report, but wouldnt recommend unless binning your chainrings.0 -
Judging your chain wear by mileage is dependant on the strain that you exert on the chain during that mileage (lots of gear changes, weather conditions, hard intervals)
As stated above including the links - measure the chain to see if it has stretched.
Here's how - 12 links of a new chain should measure 12 inches. (measure from the centre of a pin)
A good usable chain will measure less than 12 and one sixteenth of an inch.
A chain that is between 1/16 and 1/8 over the 12 inches is ready for changing.
A chain that is over 12 and 1/8 is likely to be wearing your cassette.
If you aren't the type to be so vigilant to faff around measuring your chain often, then poor gear shifting and/or a "skipping" chain should give you a clue that your drivetrain may need attention.0 -
Get the Park Tool chain checker.... very quick to use.. depressing to note that chains start to stretch as soon as you get them on.
Unless you are racing, TTing, col climbing at 300 watts then chains can last a fair old time and certainly cassettes ... if you ride to the shops .. I can assure you you might see some bikes that havent had a change of anything inside 20 years... but as roadies we tend to look after our kit a bit too much..
a Dura Ace cassette, at over £100 or a Super Record at over £200, I will get a lifetime..
Not many people can actually recognise slight wear and tear on chainrings either.. but there is a good guide in the Park Tool blue bible... worth the £18 to have as a reference.
it's the chain basically that will knacker things up.. get some bulk stuff off Ebay.0 -
On a point of pedantism, chains do NOT stretch!
New chains bed in; the high spots are quickly worn off the chain pins and rollers.
A well worn chain will eventually wear through the case hardening of the chain components and the wear rate will rapidly accelerate.
A chain guage is cheap. If you want to get every mile out of your chain, buy one and use it.0 -
On a point of pedantism, chains do NOT stretch!
New chains bed in; the high spots are quickly worn off the chain pins and rollers.
A well worn chain will eventually wear through the case hardening of the chain components and the wear rate will rapidly accelerate.
A chain guage is cheap. If you want to get every mile out of your chain, buy one and use it.
glad you cleared that 1 up... the fact that a chain is 1/2 inch longer than it was 2 months prior is not stretch.0 -
Also depends on your changing and riding technique.
Many riders use big front and back and small front and back which increases chain plate wear and also crunching changing under load increase wear. This is where riding with old style down shifters improve technique.0 -
On a point of pedantism, chains do NOT stretch!
New chains bed in; the high spots are quickly worn off the chain pins and rollers.
A well worn chain will eventually wear through the case hardening of the chain components and the wear rate will rapidly accelerate.
A chain guage is cheap. If you want to get every mile out of your chain, buy one and use it.
glad you cleared that 1 up... the fact that a chain is 1/2 inch longer than it was 2 months prior is not stretch.
Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that chain elongation is not primarily caused by plastic deformation of the constituent parts of the chain (which is implied by the word 'stretch'), but by wear on the sliding surfaces in the chain. But who would really care?- - - - - - - - - -
On Strava.{/url}0 -
Remember to rewind your cassette before you return it.
Sorry, I digress.Cube Attain SL Disc
Giant CRS 2.00 -
By keeping everything clean and lubed, changing chains every 2000miles ish, chainrings last for years and cassettes about 15k.
I dont run everything into the ground for 2 very good reasons, a broken chain in a group ride can be v dangerous and i dont want to be messing about joining chains in the middle of no where.0 -
mamba80 wrote:I dont run everything into the ground for 2 very good reasons, a broken chain in a group ride can be v dangerous and i dont want to be messing about joining chains in the middle of no where.
You can still break a new chain, a bad shift can do it, or a poorly installed pin, or a faulty quick link that fails.
I have less trust in newly installed chains.0 -
In 50 years of riding I've only ever broken a chain once, and that was on a £50 BSO in a box I bought off a bloke on an abandoned garage forecourt. So I don't buy the replacement to avoid a broken chain argument.
Back in the day my 10 speed Raleigh Tour of Britain went for about 10 years with minimal maintenance on the original drivetrain. It was still working perfectly when it was nicked.
More recently a decently equipped mountain bike (Shimano LX / XT kit), admittedly used more on road than off, but it too was still on the original drivetrain when it was stolen after 13 years.
Now I have 10 speed 105 road kit and check the chain wear. I get about 1500 miles to a chain and 4-5 chains to a cassette. I replaced the most used chainring after 8 years, but comparing the old with the new it was still barely worn and I've kept it as a spare :roll: .
It's more expensive this way. I also feel that 10 speed stuff wears quicker than the older, chunkier gear. But it's nice to know the drivetrain is in good condition and meshing well with no sloppiness.
If I was made redundant tomorrow and I was cycling on a zero budget I might go back to the wear out the whole thing together strategy.0 -
I am grateful for the great fund of knowledge and the response to my query .Thanks everyone and may the forum continue to keep us biking.0
-
Currently running Ultegra 6800 cassette 11 28 and chain ( 11 speed ) on 50 34 compact chain set . With regular cleaning after each ride and appropriate lubrication what chain and cassette life should I expect to get in terms of
Kilometers . Have already covered 3900 Kim's and all seems o.k., at the moment .
Would appreciate any experience based advice.
Are there really people who clean their chain and cogs after each ride?
I consider myself a very keen cyclist and I don't think I've ever given care and attention to the oily bits more than once a week. In good weather it is rather less frequent.
I second the advice about investing (a couple of quid?) in a chain-wear tool. Lube when needed. Wipe off the excess lube. Replace when the wear-measure thingy slips into the gap at 1%.
Few chains will wear at the same rate as there are so many variables. If you want to measure the distance covered for geek purposes, I'm sure you will find it fulfilling... but I'd be more inclined to take the occasional look and replace as necessary. It may be next month - it may be over a year.0 -
Currently running Ultegra 6800 cassette 11 28 and chain ( 11 speed ) on 50 34 compact chain set . With regular cleaning after each ride and appropriate lubrication what chain and cassette life should I expect to get in terms of
Kilometers . Have already covered 3900 Kim's and all seems o.k., at the moment .
Would appreciate any experience based advice.
Are there really people who clean their chain and cogs after each ride?
I consider myself a very keen cyclist and I don't think I've ever given care and attention to the oily bits more than once a week. In good weather it is rather less frequent.
I second the advice about investing (a couple of quid?) in a chain-wear tool. Lube when needed. Wipe off the excess lube. Replace when the wear-measure thingy slips into the gap at 1%.
Few chains will wear at the same rate as there are so many variables. If you want to measure the distance covered for geek purposes, I'm sure you will find it fulfilling... but I'd be more inclined to take the occasional look and replace as necessary. It may be next month - it may be over a year.
I take the view that it's just a chain and cassette, not the crown jewels. Don't think much about whether I'm cross chaining, and certainly don't clean it much.
Ride it until it slips, then bin the lot and start again...never snapped a chain, but have ridden many many thousands of miles.0
