I am a light recreational rider who does a sprint tri or two every summer, and commutes to work less than 4 miles round trip per day probably 75% of the year, almost always in dry weather only. I probably clean and lube on average every couple of weeks, sometimes less often. My best guess is that I ride about 1500-2000 miles per year. I have an entry level $600 flat-bar road bike that is 2-years old. I had it in for an annual tune up and they are telling me that the chain and cassette need replaced. They had some kind of a gauge for the chain, which registered “0.75” indicating it needed replaced. I have no idea what this is. They told me that if it gets to a reading of 1.0, then you are damaging your cassette. After replacing the chain, they called me to say that it is slipping/jumping a tooth on the cassette in gear 3, which is the gear I usually start out in (it’s an 8 speed). The thing is, I don’t ever remember this happening before. My questions are, given the mileage and conditions I ride, does it make sense that both the cassette and chain need replaced? And does it make sense that the new chain would start slipping on the old cassette?
My everyday cassette (12-25) and chain get replaced at the beginning of every season. I have other cassettes and matching chains for climbing and one for dead flat races, but those don’t see anywhere near the mileage so they get replaced far less often.
If you change the chain, highly recommend changing the cassette also. You can find them cheap online and change it yourself.
Yes it makes sense.
The chain and cassette have worn down together. Replacing the chain and using a worn cassette will give you the problems you described.
I’ve ruined cassettes with chains that have checked out OK on the Chain Checker. I don’t use that method of determining a good chain anymore.
jaretj
If you replace the cassette you might as well replace the chain too. Most places will tell you to do that. The measurement they gave you is likely from the tool that is used to measure your chain links. They can tell how stretched it is. A little maintence and TLC every year or two will prolong the life and ride quality of your bike. I’d say none of what they told you sounds unreasonable.
So are you guessing you rode the chain ~ 3000 to 4000 miles? If so that’s a decent to long chain life. Many folks just go ahead and change once a year so they won’t forget and cause problems. If you keep a good chain on the bike a cassette and last a really large number of miles…like 10,000+. I’m surprised the new chain is skipping when the chain wear gauge is only showing .75. Perhaps you’ve ridden the one cog soooooo much that it’s worn more than normal.
Hugh
Awesome - thanks everyone! Sounds like everything is ok. This is my first time really maintaining a bike so I’m still learning what the norms are.
Perhaps you’ve ridden the one cog soooooo much that it’s worn more than normal.
Hugh
I definitely ride in gears 3-4-5 a lot, almost always starting out in 3, so that seems plausible.