Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Wearing out Equipment

+1

Not having a car for 7 years has allowed me to travel as much as I have, and return to University to get my degree. Plus a custom-built bicycle. :)

+ .5

I have a car but at $9 of gas a commute, riding the bike everyday to work is funner, thriftier and gets me some good training in (I'd ditch it but then there would be nothing to pull the camping trailer with, or get me to brevets 65 miles away).

Campy brifters are rebuildable? That is one very good reason to go Campy even if it is a bit more expensive.

Paul, here is the link to where you can buy the rebuild manual for Campy. Branford also sells parts for the shifters.
http://www.branfordbike.com/cgi-bin/perlshop/perlshop.cgi?ACTION=push&thispage=campy/campy.html&ORDER_ID=299476781#Manuals

This newer 18 speed and beyond stuff doesn't last as long because they have to use thinner chains and gears. My old 84 Trek 660 is a 14 speed and those chains last about 13,000 miles (give or take 2,000 miles) and the freewheels last about 30,000 miles! I have over 150,000 miles on that bike and it's only seen 5 freewheels.

And about 5 years ago I had a bike shop mechanic in Bakersfield CA test ride my bike because I thought with all the miles the steel frame it would be dead, but after he got done he said it felt very responsive and having owned a 660 himself with only 20,000 miles he couldn't tell the difference.

The bar tape is another story, they last about a year.

I too have down tube shifters on the Trek and barend shifters on the Mercian (the Mercian doesn't have very many miles on it about 800), but the Trek downtube shifters have been extremily reliable and are the original shifters that came with the bike when I had it built. This is also the case with the hubs, bottom bracket, derailleurs and brakes; the front derailleur was replaced about 5 years ago when the thin attachment band rusted through and snapped; otherwise the components have been extremily reliable and I think I got more then my moneys worth out of this Suntour stuff.

+ .5

... or get me to brevets 65 miles away).

Ride your bike to them.

This newer 18 speed and beyond stuff doesn't last as long because they have to use thinner chains and gears. My old 84 Trek 660 is a 14 speed and those chains last about 13,000 miles (give or take 2,000 miles) and the freewheels last about 30,000 miles! I have over 150,000 miles on that bike and it's only seen 5 freewheels.

9 & 10 sprocket cassettes need thinner chains. AFAIK, 7 & 8 sprocket cassettes use the same width chain.

So your premise is wrong, I'm afraid.

The wear on the chain depends more on the conditions it is used in than the width of the chain.

9 & 10 sprocket cassettes need thinner chains. AFAIK, 7 & 8 sprocket cassettes use the same width chain.

So your premise is wrong, I'm afraid.

The wear on the chain depends more on the conditions it is used in than the width of the chain.

Pardon?

My greatest interest is long distance cycling. I bought a steel Reynolds 520 frame in 1993. It served me for like 8 years. Conservative estimate is I put like at least 70,000 miles on it. Couple years ago, I decided to change out the components onto a new frame. It was not shifting perfectly. The shop tested the frame, it was slightly warped. 70,000 miles. I guess it served me well. It provided me with some great trips. I hated to have to part with my trusted stead.

9 & 10 sprocket cassettes need thinner chains. AFAIK, 7 & 8 sprocket cassettes use the same width chain.

So your premise is wrong, I'm afraid.

The wear on the chain depends more on the conditions it is used in than the width of the chain.

I thought the 10 speed chains were thinner. That is kind of why I was cheesed at Shimano and Campy for going that route as it was a move in the direction of disposable components. But I could be wrong.

Ride your bike to them.

I would but having 4 kids under 9 and being happily married, Time becomes a bit of an issue so an extra 3.5 hours added on for getting to and back from an event is not an option. Aside from the fact I am a bit religious and Sunday riding is something I don't intentionally do (occasionally bad weather on 400ks force this but usually I can get back around midnight or shortly thereafter. 600k's I ride the week before and help out the next Saturday to get around this).

9 & 10 sprocket cassettes need thinner chains. AFAIK, 7 & 8 sprocket cassettes use the same width chain.

So your premise is wrong, I'm afraid.

The wear on the chain depends more on the conditions it is used in than the width of the chain.

Pardon is right!!! When I said 14 speed I meant 7 speed rear sprocket combined with a 2 speed front gives you 14 speeds. Thus 9 and 10 speed cassetes need thinner chains as you stated then the older 5, 6, 7 and 8 speed systems, thus the thinner chains and gears wear out faster.

You answered you own question using what I said then said I was wrong...HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH, at least you made me laugh about it!!!!!!!!!!

My bike has 15000 miles on it. Both dereailers shot, both shifter pod return springs broken. Cassette, chain & rings shot. Both brake levers starting to wear. I had been keeping up on maint. too. New chain & cassette, also new cables & housing and brake pads evry 2000 miles. New rear wheel due to crash, new front wheel due to wear. Time for new bike.

Pardon is right!!! When I said 14 speed I meant 7 speed rear sprocket combined with a 2 speed front gives you 14 speeds. Thus 9 and 10 speed cassetes need thinner chains as you stated then the older 5, 6, 7 and 8 speed systems, thus the thinner chains and gears wear out faster.

You answered you own question using what I said then said I was wrong...HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH, at least you made me laugh about it!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, you're right. Nothing like arguing oneself into ignorance, lol.
I actually assumed you were talking about triples with cassettes. So 18spd=3x6, and the next step up would be 8spd. Hence my post. And my dumb assumption that you used a triple (just 'cause that's what I have).

I've not noticed chains wearing out faster (I run 8-spd), but have noticed sprockets and chainrings going very quickly. chainrings all seem to be made to suit 9/10spd, and hence have very thin teeth. Sprockets, ditto.
I use Shimano IG chains, and they seem very well made.

OTOH, I think modern rims are much, much better than older ones. ditto mtb hubs. My current Mavics are streets ahead of the MA2s I used to use, and the XT hubs are lovely.

Some of the new stuff is over-engineered/complex/pricey.
Fought with Dura Ace brifters on our Zona tandem for 3,000 miles; at stoker's suggestion replaced 'em with barcons. Works fine; less $$, less complexity, smooth shifting.
Tried clipless pedals, but they created foot problems for stoker so switched back to o toeclips.
Use what works best for you.
On frames, we have owned custom tandems that lasted us as follows, before we sold them:
Assenmacher: 64,000 miles. Reynolds 531 racing bike tubing.
Colin Laing: 56,000 miles. Mix of R531 racing and tandem guage tubing.
Co-Motion: 57,000 miles. Tange Prestige tubing.
Current 2-seater is a Zona: all carbon fiber with 17,500+ miles on the odo.
Quality pays off in the long run!
Keeping equipment clean/lubricated is key to longevity. Doing the majority of your own maintenance is a huge +!
If you need to go to a bike shop, find a good one with good mechanics . . .

11,000.8 miles in 2 3/4 years on my 2005 Lemond. Components are fine, but I think I might have wore out the frame. Does that count?:D

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/broke.jpg
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/broke2.jpg

They going to warranty that? That's not "normal" for a quality steel frame...

They going to warranty that? That's not "normal" for a quality steel frame...

Shop and Lemond say it's covered. Guy at shop says not sure which frame I will get as it's 6066 aluminum. This year's Tourmalet is aluminum with a carbon fiber rear triangle. The step down is now the equal to my 6066. I think I will get that one but if they throw in the cf, I won't fight about it!:D

I contacted Lemond to find out if there was a problem with us 240 big riders on this alum frame. The rep says he has never seen this before. Then said the frame should be more than safe for a rider my size as they are one of the best produced frames in the world!

Shop and Lemond say it's covered. Guy at shop says not sure which frame I will get as it's 6066 aluminum. This year's Tourmalet is aluminum with a carbon fiber rear triangle. The step down is now the equal to my 6066. I think I will get that one but if they throw in the cf, I won't fight about it!:D

I contacted Lemond to find out if there was a problem with us 240 big riders on this alum frame. The rep says he has never seen this before. Then said the frame should be more than safe for a rider my size as they are one of the best produced frames in the world!
Oops, my bad. Aluminum breaks like that all the time. You're lucky you got 11,000 miles out of it. Or 11, for that matter. :p

If you need to go to a bike shop, find a good one with good mechanics . . .


Ah, the mythical "good mechanics" in a bicycle shop!! Sort of like snipes and blue moons. You hear about them, you might be sent out to catch one, or hear songs about one. But they don't actually exist outside of campfire stories and folklore.

Shop and Lemond say it's covered. Guy at shop says not sure which frame I will get as it's 6066 aluminum. This year's Tourmalet is aluminum with a carbon fiber rear triangle. The step down is now the equal to my 6066. I think I will get that one but if they throw in the cf, I won't fight about it!:D

I contacted Lemond to find out if there was a problem with us 240 big riders on this alum frame. The rep says he has never seen this before. Then said the frame should be more than safe for a rider my size as they are one of the best produced frames in the world!

You know, that is a good news story, even though it's a bear that you have a broken frame. The fact that everyone is taking their responsibilities apparently without a single qualm speaks highly of the shop and brand.

Ah, the mythical "good mechanics" in a bicycle shop!! Sort of like snipes and blue moons. You hear about them, you might be sent out to catch one, or hear songs about one. But they don't actually exist outside of campfire stories and folklore.

There happens to be 2 of them in my LBS. John has been a mechanic on the Tour de France and he trained Jay. Both are excellent in all aspects of bike repair. I feel very lucky to have them around after hearing some of the horror stories about bike mechanics.

"good mechanics" . . . usually older . . . well, at least past the pierced & tat stage !
Hey we've even got a great female wrench in Tucson!

The thing is, Steve, who I mentioned in my first post, logs an incredible number of miles each year ... if I'm not mistaken I think it's somewhere in the 25,000 to 30,000 mile range. Well, I do a lot of miles, but it takes me 4 or 5 years to do that ... so it wouldn't surprise me if he burns through equipment in a year or less while the rest of us (even though we ride long(ish) distances) burn through it in a few years.

I finally got hold of Steve. He says he doesn't do that mileage. He's had a couple of years where he rode 26 - 28 000m in the year. From 1996 - 2000 he didn't ride less than 20 000 in each year.

Last audax season he thinks he did 28 000miles.

I finally got hold of Steve. He says he doesn't do that mileage. He's had a couple of years where he rode 26 - 28 000m in the year. From 1996 - 2000 he didn't ride less than 20 000 in each year.

Last audax season he thinks he did 28 000miles.

Is this miles? When I use to race I only averaged about 10,000 miles max while some of the guys who didn't have to work averaged 15,000 miles...WOW, 20,000 miles a year is incredible; maybe when I retire I can average that...I doubt it!

There are a few Brits who fairly consistently do more than 20,000 miles a year. Pat Kenny is another one, a former End-to-End record holder (on trike). He was another full-time worker, until he retired recently.

Is this miles? When I use to race I only averaged about 10,000 miles max while some of the guys who didn't have to work averaged 15,000 miles...WOW, 20,000 miles a year is incredible; maybe when I retire I can average that...I doubt it!

Miles. All on fixed. Steve A is nuts! He works shift work, btw.

I've managed about 12 000 miles in the last 12 months. I think 20 000 would kill me (or my partner would).

My experience suggests that the crack(s) is of undetermined nature. Certainly, the stress associated with riding caused the seat tube portion of the crack. Whether or not that is "normal" or not I have no idea.

But I find it odd - as to how the crack proceeded to the down tube instead wrapping around the entire seat tube. I've never seen anything like that. I can't see how or why ride-stress would have caused the crack to proceed to that area. This frame failure looks fishy to me.......

Go ask "aluminum experts" in the frame forum........

Add one cracked seat post to the failure list. Al post, cracked at front just above seat tube.

Ok, add two rims onto the list. I only noticed the rimwear after replacing the back wheel for a pulled spoke hole (thank you invisible pothole and city of Tempe for not bringing your water access lids up to street level). So, I have worn off a mm of rim and it's time to order a new rim for the front wheel (would have ordered one for the back wheel too but time is too short before the 300k this weekend, as is so I am going to baby the front wheel a bit and descend slower than usual although I should be good for another 1000 miles or so I figure as there is still no flex between the sides of the rim when squeezed).

http://bp2.blogger.com/_D_Htz28uhow/R64tAv-cs2I/AAAAAAAAAOI/7Z0L7-RlUFw/s1600-h/SpokePothole.JPG

Quality equipment lasts, but you have to take care of it!
Following mileages on custom tandems we have owned:
Assenmacher: 64,000 miles . . . broke frame at 50,000 and again at 56,000 miles. Phil Wood hubs and one Phil bottom bracket lasted for the full 64,000 miles; one Phil bottom bracket was replaced after 30,000 miles with another Phil, that went another 34,000 miles. Suntour barend shifters did duty for all those miles. Scott Matthauser brake pads lasted 50,000 miles.
Colin Laing: 56,000 miles. Broke experimental fork at 15,000 miles. Suntour barend shifters lasted for all those miles.
Co-Motion: 57,000 miles. Front wheel lasted the full 57,000 miles. Mavic MA40 36H rim, Phil Wood hub and DT spokes (Never broke a spoke on that wheel!). Barend shifters lasted for 57,000 miles
Zona c/f tandem: currently 17,000+ miles. Broke one alloy nipple on front wheel @ 17,000 miles.
Components do wear out and do need replacing; however keep 'em clean/lubricate as needed.
Hi-tech STI brifters are nice, but prone to wear and have too many moving parts. Lo-tech barend shifters are simple/foolproof and have never failed us!
After well over a quarter million miles of cycling, have never regretted buying quality.
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem