cyclezealot

I have 3 bikes, the most heavily used are my long distance tourer and my local commute bike, ( a Surly Cross Check.) Probably each bike gets used in the range of 3000 miles a year..
My mechanic pretty much tries to save me money by putting on the least expensive components.
On both my touring bikes each year I seem to need to replace the rear cassette . It seems I replace the rear cassette more often than I change the chain..
. Other issues are pretty much such as changing cables, brake pads. Normal stuff..
. It seems a rear cassette should last more than 3000 miles. ?. Especially, considering the rear cluster gets changed more often than the chain.
. My rear cluster on the lite commuter, all of a sudden the chain started skipping certain cogs. Especially when the chain was positioned in the smallest chain ring.. When he took off the cassette it started shifting about as if a set of spacers were missing.. Up until recently the shifting worked just fine..
. Might I be better off if I had my mechanic use a better quality of components .. Seems a cassette should last more than 3000 miles. Especially considering I've never once changed out my chain rings on my Race bike which uses Shimano Ultegra components.

cny-bikeman

I'm sorry but it's more likely the problem is your mechanic, not the components. A bike is an integrated system, not just an assemblage of parts. You need to make sure you have a mechanic who can consult with you about the cause of your problems and pose solutions, including you as a part of the whole - shifting, gear selection, etc. I don't see a scenario where with proper maintenance and riding technique that you should have to replace cassettes that often.

Although I may not understand exactly what you mean, it sounds like the cassette cogs are not tight against each other - that should never happen.

HillRider

+1 You need to find a bike shop or mechanic who knows what they are doing. A cassette should never wear out before the chain, among other problems you describe.

Better yet, learn to do your own maintenance and repairs. Get a suitable repair manual, study the Park Tools web site and ask specific questions here. Bikes do require a few specific tools but they are not expensive and are a one-time purchase.

cyclezealot

On second thought, maybe the cassette was partially disassembled when I saw it looking all loose.. Over the course of a year, had it been assembled loosely, I am sure shifting would have been difficult.? Still I am pretty sure my cassettes have a short life compared to my chain. I had not thought that quite normal..

HillRider

It's not normal.

cyclezealot

One thing to add. My mechanic has not been changing out the whole cluster but normally 2 or 3 sprockets. ( Almost always the smallest sprockets.) . I really get involved in the cycle- tourism aspects of my ride.. I am so attuned to nature and the ride ; Often I do a lousy job of keeping tab of my shifting. I find my gears cross-threaded far more than I'd like.. ? Might that be a factor.. ?

powers2b

Smaller cogs wear faster because there is less contact area with the chain.
Sheldon B. explains this well.
I don't know what the rest of that post means.

Enjoy

powers2b

Keep everything clean, lubed, and properly adjusted.
That's what constitutes normal bike maintenance.
Annual checks at the shop are not enough unless your bike spends most of the year hanging from the rafters in your garage.
I didn't bother reading your OP just the title.

Enjoy

cyclezealot

Could riding with your chain on the biggest chain ring and the smallest cog( cross threaded) result in premature wear on the sprockets.? thanks. I find myself riding in such a fashion way too frequent. I know it's not recommended...

powers2b

No, that is what you are supposed to do.
CROSS-CHAINING is when the chain is on the small ring and the small cog.
Not recommended but not fatal. It will cause premature wear to your chain.
Think of keeping the chain in a staight line.
Big ring, smallest cogs
Small ring, big cogs

Enjoy

cyclezealot

Thanks. ^. By your definition, I often find my chain , cross-chained..

powers2b

Short term, no problem
Long term, premature chain wear.

No typical affect to cogs.
Unless your chain is worn and starts wearing down the cog, which is a completely seperate issue.

Enjoy

powers2b

?That's not what you described?
So one of us is confused or being confusing.

Enjoy

cny-bikeman

That is not cross chaining but that is the highest gear on your bike. You should not be riding in that gear unless you are going about 30mph, plus or minus. Using that gear a lot is like always driving a manual shift car in 3rd gear. Hard on the bike, hard on you and absolutely no benefit. If you want a high-geared bike with little shifting and maintenance required a 3 speed would fill the bill at a much lower price.

zjk

We had a case at our bike shop where the guy and gal were cross chaining enough to actually prematurally ruin the front sprocket and turn them into finely tuned throwing knives and the sides of the sprocket had been slowly chewed away

bkaapcke

You need a new mechanic. It should be you. bk

Al1943

The cassette should not be ridden when loose. It is important to keep the cassette lockring in the recommended torque range, and that is tight.
If you will ride in a cadence range of 85 - 105 (crankset rpm) you and the components will last longer. Select gears that let you spin.

cyclezealot

I spend so much of my week riding , the last thing my wife wants is for me to spend half my nights in the garage working on my bikes.


ZJK:. - I would not say I go long distance cross chained. I am aware that is something to avoid... Just I catch myself once in a while following shifting either up or down and either being distracted by traffic or the scenery..