Originally Posted by
shelleyspins
this thread just caught my eye - I don't want to hijack it but I have a related question. You can always tell me to go get my own thread but the ambiance is so nice here...
Today I was told that I need to replace my chain and cassette - the chain is totally believable but I held off because it seemed unlikely that the cassette was that badly worn. I bought my bike up 7 months ago from a friend who had put less than 50 miles on it then hung it on her wall to gather dust. Since October I've put about 1300 miles (it's been rainy) on it and have been not totally bad about cleaning and lubing the chain; I've taken apart and cleaned the cassette once.
So anyway I'm accepting that I need a new chain and not convinced about the cassette, especially after reading this thread. I was thinking though that when I do replace it I want to get something that makes more sense than just whatever came stock. I have a triple (30/39/50) with a 12 - 27 in the rear. I pretty much never use my 30 (but the times that I do use it I am very glad to have it) and I rarely find myself in the 39 - 27 or 39 - 24. I do on occasion begin to spin out the 50 - 12 (yes, on a flat road) - not saying I can hold that pace for long put it does happen, a little more each month.
But if I'm going to be replacing the cassette anyway is there a cassette that would be better suited for me?
I only replace the cassette if it starts acting up once I install a new chain (was posted in another post recently). The reason riders say to replace the cassette is because the teeth may form to the old chain and not agree with a new chain. You'lll know because the chain will skip around on teh old cassette. IF it doesn, THEN replace the cassette.
IF you take care of the system (clean/lube) the chain will last longer along with the cassette. Some riders replace the chain every 2,000 miles. I do every 4000 and haven't had any problems but I keep it clean and lubed. IF I did encoutner a problem, I did once, I replace the cassette.
I had a bud that insited on replacing his DA cassette and chain every 2,000 miles cause the shop told him to do so (waste of money IMO). I never understood that as my bike always ran just as well as I kept it finely tuned!
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You could use a 12/23, might be nice but if you need that 27, you'd have to go to the 30 front ring for the lower gear combo to ease the climb.
Which my opinion, is that I use my 30 and the mid cogs in rear rather than cross my chain in the 39/25 (my cogset). I do my best to eliminate any crosschaining though. SO really, I don't need the 30, I use it to avoid crosschaining adn keep my chain mid cogs in the rear.