If you change the chain more often, you won't have to change the rest of it as often. I change the chain every 1800 miles, and I go through about 4 chains before I need a new cassette, and I have yet to need a new chainring. Given that chains cost < $10 and cassettes are more like $30, I think it's a better idea to go through 4 chains and 1 cassette in 8000 miles than 3 chains, 3 cassettes and 3 chainrings in 9000 miles.

If I change at 1800 miles, I get no skipping with the new chain until I've been through at least 3 or 4 chains. At some point, of course, you will need a new cassette anyway.


As soon as I forget and leave my chain go more than about 2200 miles, I'm boned. I need both a new chain and cassette.

A few years ago I had a worn out cassette (skipped with a new chain) and I asked my LBS owner/mechanic and he agreed: just put the old chain back on and ride it into the ground. After all, it works fine and you've got nothing to lose anyway. Once I give in and do this, I generally push my chain+cassette to 4500 miles or so. In fact even then it wasn't causing me any trouble, I just figured I had the parts already so I'll put them on.