Originally Posted by 2manybikes
I have a bike that stays pretty clean and I have 7500 miles on the drive train including the chain and rear cassette. It is a shimano RSX group vintage 1998..It makes me wonder...
Have you run drive train parts (chains, cogs, chain rings.) for many thousands of miles (or years)? As opposed to changing chains etc. at a set mileage (or time)? Do you notice that fenders keep the drive train clean a lot longer, Enough to make parts last longer?
I guy I worked with thinks he may have close to 30,000 miles on a chain and cogs. I am begining to believe him. On a good quality road bike.
I've never changed my cogs or chain rings or other drivetrain parts on any of my bicycles. Those are all original. My chains last roughly 5000 miles, maybe a bit more.
I've only got fenders on my Marinoni, so I don't know that they make much of a difference. But I do make a point of cleaning my bicycles regularly.