Bicycle Mechanics - time for new chainrings?

I have ordered some new chainrings....the photo tells the story!

Brendon

ok....

impressive, I'd say. good riding, man. we know that at least someone has been putting their base miles.

Had the bike 12 months now and put 8,600km on it. Plus a wee bit on the ol MTB.

Aiming for 13,000km - 15,600km this coming 12 months! (thats 250-300km/week average)

I am pricing up a custom build for my next bike....just need to find a nice frame and the money!

Brendon

finding the frame won't be diffecult, it'll be finding the cash...

I have found sintesi.... http://www.kiwivelo.co.nz/product_list.lasso?catId=17 does anyone know if they are good??

Brendon

P.S. I have 2 price-ups for a cheaper performance buildup, and a not so cheap!

Cheaper one:
Ultegra 9spd Groupset 1390
Mavic Ksyrium Elite Wheelset 980
Sintesi Whistler Frame+Fork 995
LOOK PP247 Pedals 130
Ritchey Road Comp Slicks 80
Tubes 18
Ritchey Comp Road Bar 70
Ritchey Pro Stem Black 75
Bar Tape 20
TA Bottle Cages 30
Carbon Seatpost 100
Selle Italia Trans Am XO 75


3963


More expensive one:
Dura-Ace 9spd Groupset 2100
Mavic Ksyrium SSC SL Wheelset 1650
Sintesi Oxalis Frame+Fork 1600
LOOK PP396 Pedals 220
Michelin ProRace 156
Tubes 18
Ritchey Comp Road Bar 70
Ritchey WCS Stem Black 155
Bar Tape 20
Carbon Bottle Cages 90
Carbon Seatpost 100
Selle Italia SLR Titanium Saddle 225


6404


Brendon

To maximize the life of your chainrings, keep the chain well-lubed and clean, and replace it when it elongates by 1/2 percent. Choosing the large chainring over small ring / small cog combinations helps, as well.

Nowadays I keep the chain very well lubed and fairly clean. I do replace the chain often (this is third one)

As to the items i posted earlier on a new bike perhaps...to get the cost down I could eliminate the Ksyrium wheels, and use the Ultegra Hubs provided and get some Mavic Open Pro rims...and use my current crap pedals.... and bottle cages and tyres!

Brendon

I do replace the chain often (this is third one)

From the looks of the teeth on that ring (I can only imagine what the cogs on the casette look like....), that last chain you put on died an early death, due to having to mate with worn teeth.

I've actually managed, with concientious lubrication, to get 5k miles out of a chain. I've never worn out a set of rings the way you have on any road bike, even ones with 4x the miles you have on yours. I'm assuming these rings are Sora, or something else in the low-end steel camp?

I'm assuming these rings are Sora, or something else in the low-end steel camp?yup.....SORA that isn't soaring....

The cassette is relativeley new with maybe 2000-2500 kms on it? should I stop riding these chainrings until I have a new chain and rings? it's starting to make weird noises......meshing problems i guess....

Brendon

Choosing the large chainring over small ring / small cog combinations helps, as well.

I am familiar with chainlines:D I normally dont go past 5th in the small ring, or normally 4th in the big ring (sometimes stretch to 6th(rarely)and sometimes into 3rd i nthe big ring....need the ratio at times.)

Brendon

Sora. OK.

My ultegras went 7000 miles before I replaced them and only to go to 9-speeds.

My ultegra 9-speed went another 12000 miles before I replaced with dura-ace and I only did that because I felt Ideserved the new crank :) and the BB was worn out :)

I hope to get 12000 miles out of the dura-ace rings.

I too keep the chain/rings free of crud and nicely lubed. I tend to replace the chain around the .75 mark indicated by the park tool. Typically this means I can get around 12000-14000 miles out of a cassette. Typically two seasons for me though this year is a 9000 mile year.

I hope to get 12000 miles out of the dura-ace rings.

You won't. D/A is built for light weight, not for durability. Ultegra rings and cogs last the longest.

From my experience with D/A cogs, chains, etc, they'll last about as long as unhardened steel Sora components.

Yikes!

So much for "shiny DuraAce rings must mean harder than the dull-looking Ultegra rings".

Oh well... I will still keep the DA cranks and just mount Ultegra rings when these DA rings go kaput!

I run Ultegra cogs because I don't see paying 2x for 40 grams. Esp on components that have a rated life of around 8000-10000 miles (one season).