Originally Posted by
79pmooney
I replace as needed. Chains when they reach 1/16" "stretch" in 12". Cassettes when new chains no longer run well on them. Chainrings when issues star. Rear derailleurs when crash trashed or shifting becomes sloppy (unless I can pick up a used similar one to rob for parts). Aluminum hangers when bent. Steel I just straighten. Brakes? Rarely. Good ones go a long ways. I start considering it when the pivots get sloppy but some of my favorites are still very good stoppers after years of slop. Now if you are talking pads and cables, that's a different story. Pads are obvious. Look. Cables should have no kinks, no broken strands and run freely.
I also live in the PNW. Used to commute 25 miles/day, 3-4 days/week, year 'round. Did most of it fix gear in part to save on bike wear. Used brakes and watched them wear rims to unsafe in less than two winters. Summer rims often last me 10-15,000 miles.
Thanks for the response. I'm doing more and more of my own maintenance so it is nice to get a sense of how long certain parts should last. For the chains, you said that you replace them when they stretch 1/16" in 12". What is your process for measuring this? Do you just measure the new chain to 12" as a baseline and then take a ruler to it a year later to see the change in length?
I have a chain gauge where you hook one end to one link and then the gauge at the other end drops between the links. If the gauge goes in all the way ( > 1% wear), it tells you to replace the chain. But the last time I replaced the chain, I ended up needing to replace the cassette as well. I wonder if I need to replace the chain twice per year as opposed to annually (which seems like a pretty short lifespan to me). Of course I only clean my bike 2-3 times per year. Maybe I will see longer service life if I do a monthly cleaning instead?