Random11

I'm surprised, because I've never had a cassette go beyond two chains before. I replaced my chain today and rode 20 miles (a typical distance for me) with no skips. One reason (maybe the only one) that this cassette has lasted longer is that I replaced my old 11-34 cassette with an 11-28. I wasn't using the big cogs, and the small ones are the ones that tend to skip after some wear. My old 11-34 went from 11, 13, 15, to 17, whereas the 11=28 goes from 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. I have twice as many gears in that low range and maybe I'm using each one half as much. When I replaced the cassette, I wasn't thinking that the change would extend the cassette's life, but apparently it has. How many chains do you go through before you replace your cassette? Is my experience unusual?

shelbyfv

Outstanding! That 14t makes all the difference.

datlas 

Typically 3-4 chains per cassette for me, but YMMV.

Atlas Shrugged

When I used to ride Campy I was religious about changing chains at any hint of stretch. The thought of buying a new Super Record cassette horrified me. 4 chains minimum before thinking about a new cassette.

Troul 

12 & 16 are nice. Usually camp out in between those cogs if the momentum isn't impeded.

Four to six chains before I start to notice something is off.

Ron Damon

My Shimano CS-HG81 11-36t 10-speed cogset is on its ninth year and third bicycle, having served honorably on three overseas and three domestic tours. Here it was just like week on tour in South Korea...

spdntrxi

my cassette is on it's 3rd bike.. chains maybe 8-9 at least. Not gonna swap unless it loses shift performance.. which it is not.

KerryIrons

Without mileage numbers, this is not too informative. If I changed my chain every 1,000 miles I would be REALLY disappointed if my cassette only lasted 4 chains. But if my chains lasted 8,000 miles, I would be REALLY happy to have a cassette last that long. If you are using a chain checker to decide when to replace the chain, I suggest getting out a ruler and actually measuring the chain next time. You might find it is nowhere near 1/16" of elongation per 12" original length (0.5% elongation).

Random11

Good points. I'm using a chain gauge and replacing chains when they measure .75. I think the comparison I'm making is valid, because regardless of mileage or chain length, it seems my current cassette is lasting through twice as many chains. As far as mileage, I don't log my miles so it's a bit of a guess, for several reasons. I ride more than 100 miles a week almost every week, so I think 5000 miles a year is a good estimate of my annual mileage... but I have two bikes. This one has had that same cassette for more than two years, and I estimate I put about two-thirds of my total miles on that bike. So at this point, a rough estimate is that the cassette has 6600 miles on it, and I'm getting more than 2000 miles on a chain. I'm not overly concerned that I don't' have precise numbers here. I change my chains when they are worn and I change my cassettes when they start skipping, regardless of mileage.

PDKL45

A rule of thumb is 3-4 chains per cassette, 3-4 cassettes per set of chainrings/crankset. Measure chains at 2,500 kms and follow what the chain checking tool says, but that has changed. It used to be 9 speed check at 2,500 kms, 10 speed check at 2,000 kms and 11 speed check at 1,500 kms, but 10-12 speed chains got better. Shimano is also introducing CUES this year, moving to Linkglide from Hyperglide, which may promote longer lifespans for chains. At the end of the day, trust the chain checking tool and chain skip. There, on chains 3-4 on a Sunrace or Microshift cassette you may get chain skip upon a chain change, especially with KMC chains. That's usually not cause to change the cassette, as the chain will wear in and be just fine after a few 100 kms.

DaveSSS 

Sounds like flat land riding. All of my summer routes have 3-5000 feet of climbing. I never use a single chain until worn. If you want the cassette to last through 4 chains buy 4 chains and alternate their use. I have 10 chains in rotation for three bikes.

2old

I ride off road exclusively and change the front two rings (9-speed), cassette and chain about every three years and 5,000 - 7,000 miles. Since everything wears together, it never starts skipping until then. I use steel chainrings and mid-level chains so the expense is minimal.

pdlamb

I don't see how you minimize your expense. If you changed $20 chains three times during that interval, you wouldn't wear out your cassette or your rings, so your total cost would be $60. Two chain rings = $60; cassette=$30, and the one long-wearing chain brings the total to $110.

RCMoeur 

I generally replace chains when they reach 1/16" measured wear over 12", which usually occurs around 3000 to 3500 miles. This can vary - on my recumbent, the chain is 30 years old and has over 10,000 miles and still no measurable wear. I typically pull / clean / rewax / reinstall a chain every 500 miles.

I have a freewheel with 10,000 documented miles that won't skip at all even with a new chain. The freewheel currently on my primary bike has 9180 miles and still shifts great without skips - it's on its 4th chain (one chain was pulled early to move to another bike).

Conversely, on my folding bike recently, the chain went from less than 1/16" wear to nearly 1/8" wear in less than 500 miles, and chewed up several cogs on its cassette, necessitating replacement of both.

I've discovered aluminum chainrings will eventually show notable wear after 9,000 miles or so, depending on riding style (big ring / middle ring), but can still be usable.

2old

If you use three chains during that time, you still need to change everything at the end (or do your cassettes and chainrings last forever)? BTW, I got my steel middle rings from Jenson (Shimano = $10; still have one or two); chains were $10 - $15 when I purchased them; still have two; 9-speed Shimano cassette = $23 Amazon (still have two); small ring about $10, still have at least one. However, to reiterate, I just said the expense is minimal (total about $60 or so) and it's what works for me.

pdlamb

OK, add one more chain. I've never needed to change cassettes if I remember to swap the chain when it's worn to 1/16" "stretch", and I routinely get 30,000 miles out of rings (again, until I forget to change the chain on time). I can see you've got a stockpile of drive train parts from before pandemic inflation, though, so until you run out of those I guess your approach will work. When your stockpile is depleted I expect you'll suffer sticker shock.

79pmooney

I have around 17,000 miles on my 9-speed. Campy. I have about 3 cassettes of cogs so I can build just about anything from 12 to 28 teeth. I keep two wheels going. So far I have just replaced chains and all cogs work just fine. New chains run fine. Rings have been changed but only because I went to a different crankset. I hope to keep running this set a long time.

DT friction; SunTour Superbe, Campy Mirage RD, D-A front. Sublime for this guy who's been shifting DT friction almost six decades. So ingrained it might still be happening in rigor mortise. 9-speed might be as far as I can go and still have A-1 super DT shifting so I want to keep it going. (Good thing is the SRAM 9-speed chains are cheap and regularly go on sale so replacing them often is easy. Now I am running the 12 to 12 1/.16 standard. When new chains stop working I'll keep using the old and go to the 12 1/16 to 12 1/8 standard. Should last as long as I will.

bblair

I think I have my original cassette, so about 35k miles. Replace chain about every 5k, but rarely do they measure over. Original chainrings too. I keep everything very clean and use Squirt lube.

All that said, I have new chain and cassette, but too lazy to install. I am going to order chainrings too, why not. But I found this interesting: for Shimano Ultegra, inner rings are about $15 and outer are $165! I am going to replace both, but I would feel better if they told me it was $180 for the set.