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Using different gears for wear prevention?

Old 07-19-19, 08:35 PM
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DimplePimple
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Using different gears for wear prevention?

Do any of you make a point to use differing gears so as not to wear out certain cogs prematurely?

I'm almost always in the 15 or 17 tooth cogs and middle chainring. I was just reading how the smaller cogs can wear out a chain quicker than larger ones. I'm gonna switch it up to 23 and 26 & the large chainring for a while. I do have concerns about crosschaining and extra noise but so be it.

The thread titled "Anyone Tracking Gear Usage" got me thinking about this.
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Old 07-19-19, 09:23 PM
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I'd rather wear out the cassette than start cross chaining and wearing out everything else.
I consider the cassette a wear and tear disposable item.
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Old 07-19-19, 09:43 PM
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I shift for good cadence to not wear out my knees. I worry less about wearing cogs since they are easier to replace than knees.

Do you always go with same speed on flats? I naturally shift through most cogs by starting at 0 and riding at varying speeds at varying grades and wind.
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Old 07-20-19, 02:01 AM
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The machine is supposed to prevent me from wearing out, the reverse definitely takes a back seat. I use the gears I need, and really don't care if it takes a few miles off a replaceable part.
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Old 07-20-19, 02:58 AM
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venturi95
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Slightly Off Topic

I also worry about cog wear and drivetrain wear in general. This mindset has me usually installing a new chain about every 2500 to 3000 miles. I know there is about a rivet diameter of stretch at this point. The bike just seems to shift better and everything feels smoother with that brand new chain, could be mental. Part of me wants to be able to say “screw it, it’s just a bicycle, ride it till it skips”, but that will never happen.
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Old 07-20-19, 03:12 AM
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I guess it better than not using brakes because not wanting to buy new pads/rotors
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Old 07-20-19, 03:18 AM
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Originally Posted by DimplePimple
Do any of you make a point to use differing gears so as not to wear out certain cogs prematurely?

I'm almost always in the 15 or 17 tooth cogs and middle chainring. I was just reading how the smaller cogs can wear out a chain quicker than larger ones. I'm gonna switch it up to 23 and 26 & the large chainring for a while. I do have concerns about crosschaining and extra noise but so be it.

The thread titled "Anyone Tracking Gear Usage" got me thinking about this.

Why not just replace the 15 or 17 cogs when they wear out?
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Old 07-20-19, 06:27 AM
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Use the gears you need to use. Replace as needed.
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Old 07-20-19, 06:31 AM
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Originally Posted by DimplePimple
Do any of you make a point to use differing gears so as not to wear out certain cogs prematurely?

I'm almost always in the 15 or 17 tooth cogs and middle chainring. I was just reading how the smaller cogs can wear out a chain quicker than larger ones. I'm gonna switch it up to 23 and 26 & the large chainring for a while. I do have concerns about crosschaining and extra noise but so be it.

The thread titled "Anyone Tracking Gear Usage" got me thinking about this.
If the 26 is your biggest cog and 23 is your second biggest, I wouldn't cruise on those cogs with the big chainring.
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Old 07-20-19, 08:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Machka
Why not just replace the 15 or 17 cogs when they wear out?
That was the selling point for cassettes back in the day - that individual cogs could be replaced if needed. Now try to find single cogs. Only whole cassettes are readily available.
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Old 07-21-19, 08:21 AM
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The fastest wear item in the drive train is the chain. But if you ride with a worn chain, you will also wear out your cassette.

No need to worry about overusing one cog, as long as you replace the chain before it’s worn. Check the chain for wear monthly.

Park Tool makes a chain wear checker that’s not expensive:

Chain Checker
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Old 07-21-19, 08:25 AM
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Definitely. I run my car in 4th on the highway half the time to spare the overdrive, too.
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Old 07-21-19, 09:49 AM
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Hmmm, cross-chaining to prevent drivetrain wear.... interesting.
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Old 07-21-19, 10:30 AM
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OK I'll admit it, I have selected gears for no other reason than to distribute wear. I don't shift as much as most, and sometimes I don't "shift" mentally from my fixed gear to road bike and might finish a ride without shifting at all. It's just a shame when the 16+/- are worn out and the rest of the cassette is pristine.
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Old 07-22-19, 02:17 PM
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Wilfred Laurier
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Cogs primarily wear out when they are used with a worn chain. Chains wear out from being ridden with inadequate lubrication and, eventually, over time. If you replace your chain before it get to the point where it is wearing the cogs, your cogs will not wear out.
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Old 07-22-19, 02:21 PM
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I constantly bunny hop to reduce tire wear.
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Old 07-22-19, 02:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Point
That was the selling point for cassettes back in the day - that individual cogs could be replaced if needed. Now try to find single cogs. Only whole cassettes are readily available.
Yeah, this is annoying. Particularly when you primarily ride on the flat lands and you're mostly in 3 or 4 cogs max.
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Old 07-22-19, 02:53 PM
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Originally Posted by wphamilton
sometimes I don't "shift" mentally from my fixed gear to road bike and might finish a ride without shifting at all. It's just a shame when the 16+/- are worn out and the rest of the cassette is pristine.


Laughing because this is true.

Shifting is so overrated.


-Tim-
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Old 07-22-19, 05:23 PM
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Check out my non cross chaining cassette concept in General Cycling Discussions
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Old 07-22-19, 06:16 PM
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BCDrums
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Originally Posted by DimplePimple
Do any of you make a point to use differing gears so as not to wear out certain cogs prematurely?

I'm almost always in the 15 or 17 tooth cogs and middle chainring. I was just reading how the smaller cogs can wear out a chain quicker than larger ones. I'm gonna switch it up to 23 and 26 & the large chainring for a while. I do have concerns about crosschaining and extra noise but so be it.

The thread titled "Anyone Tracking Gear Usage" got me thinking about this.
DP, I don’t give a shift about cog wear. Cassettes are cheap. Ride in your favorite gear, and don’t worry about it.
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Old 07-23-19, 08:57 AM
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Good to know about it !!
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Old 07-23-19, 09:00 AM
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Cassette and front ring wear can be minimized by using several chains throughout the life of one cassette.

I use three chains per cassette, cleaning and swapping about every 1000 miles for road, more frequent for gravel.


-Tim-
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Old 07-23-19, 09:55 AM
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If you really want to avoid wear, don't ride the bike.

Solutions can be worse than the problems they are intended to address. If your legs are ok with shifting for this purpose, no harm in doing it. If I were to shift for that purpose only, I would find it incredibly annoying because of my strong preference for high gears.


The better question might be if there's any way to buy bikes these days other than SS that don't have a bunch of gears we don't need?
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Old 07-23-19, 10:05 AM
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I make a point of staying out of the small cogs unless I'm in the big chainring (I have triple cranks). In the past I have worn out the small cogs prematurely, so I try to avoid that.
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Old 07-23-19, 02:55 PM
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I just use 30 dollar caasttea and a 30 dollar.chain and switch them out for the better ones on race day .
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