Originally Posted by
surreal
Keep it [derailleur] cleaned, keep it lubed, replace chains, cassettes, and rings as they wear. Not exactly back-breaking, right?
The thing that put me off derailleurs (and Shimano) for life was an experience quite a few years ago, when I went to my local bike shop for a replacement sprocket for my rear block (Shimano XT 6-speed). "Oh, we don't sell individual sprockets any more", the man said.
"How much for a new block then?" I asked.
"Well, the new blocks aren't compatible with your hub", he replied.
"So I've got to build a whole new wheel because one of my sprockets is worn???"
"Um... you'd also have to buy a new derailleur. And shifter."
Add to that the cost of re-tooling the workshop to cater for the 'new' Shimano equipment, and the total cost to replace that one sprocket was about the same price as a whole new bike. Utterly daft.