General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Chain and cassette worn out at 1500 miles? Rss Feed  
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2009-06-11 4:21 PM

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Expert
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Subject: Chain and cassette worn out at 1500 miles?
My LBS says my chain and cassette both need to be replaced, but I only have 1500 miles on them. Is this typical? My gears switch with a 'chunking' sound, now. I read on an old thread that that could be an indication that my chain is worn.

Any thoughts?

This is on my 1 yo Javelin, if that means anything to anyone.


2009-06-11 4:34 PM
in reply to: #2211659

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Subject: RE: Chain and cassette worn out at 1500 miles?
There is a lot that goes into this at this point. The quality of the components, the type of riding you do, the conditions you ride in, do you stay mainly in one gear or are you frequently switching? I could definately see a lower end chain wearing out after 1500 miles. I could see even a great chain wearing out over that distance if it was ridden in bad/wet/gritty conditions. Do you regularly clean you chain and drive train? My chain on my trek was stock low end and it wore out after just over 1400 miles even with regular cleaning. Luckily my Cassette was still good so I just replaced the chain. Also understand that a lot of times an LBS recommends changing the cassette and chain at the same time to ensure equal wear as an old chain on a new cassette or vic-versa can cause quicker wear on both...

The other option, learn how to do the work yourself 
2009-06-11 4:38 PM
in reply to: #2211659

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Pro
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Subject: RE: Chain and cassette worn out at 1500 miles?
Shortly after I got my bike, I took it into my LBS for service, and they told me I had too much lubricant on the chain.  I had no idea there was such a thing.  They said that if you put on too much, it will collect more dirt, causing it to wear out prematurely.  Is that a possibility in your case?

2009-06-11 4:39 PM
in reply to: #2211659

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Subject: RE: Chain and cassette worn out at 1500 miles?
I can understand a chain being worn out, if only because it wasnt properly cared for, and theres been some damage.  But the cassette should last longer than that, unless theres been some physical damage to it.  Have you been in any crashes, or otherwise done anything that could have impacted the cassette and damaged it?

If you trust your LBS, then trust that they will not lie to you, otherwise find a new place.
2009-06-11 5:02 PM
in reply to: #2211659

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Master
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Subject: RE: Chain and cassette worn out at 1500 miles?
At 3000kms (which is about 1800 miles) and my Ultegra chain was getting worn/stretched. The bike shop said I could keep using it and then replace both the cass and the chain, or just do the chain now since the cas was still ok.  I cleaned my chain every 2nd ride.

I think 1 chain a year isn't too bad but it's sure quicker than I was expecting.

2009-06-11 10:54 PM
in reply to: #2211659

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Master
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Subject: RE: Chain and cassette worn out at 1500 miles?
Shoeless - 2009-06-11 3:21 PM
Any thoughts?


1500 miles is a ridiculously low number of miles to have to replace either. I have about 8000 miles on my cassette and it's still pretty much perfect. But it's Dura Ace and my bike is always properly tuned.

Edited by breckview 2009-06-11 11:01 PM


2009-06-12 9:43 AM
in reply to: #2211659

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Elite
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Subject: RE: Chain and cassette worn out at 1500 miles?
It's possible your chain could wear after 1,500 miles but highly unlikely unless you never take care of it and never lubed it and rode in the rain all the time.

Cassette after 1,500...now that is HIGHLY unlikely. IMHO
2009-06-12 9:53 AM
in reply to: #2211659

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Chain and cassette worn out at 1500 miles?
I replace my chains every 1000-1500 miles as I swap cassettes and wheels so having fresh chains keeps things working better.

I'd ask them to show you how the cassette is worn..if it is you can visibly see it.

Did you clean and relube your chain on a regular basis? If not that would make it wear faster. What level parts do you have on your bike as the lower quality parts don't last as long as ultegra or Dura Ace or even 105s.
2009-06-12 10:48 AM
in reply to: #2211659


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Subject: RE: Chain and cassette worn out at 1500 miles?
You can get a Park tool that measures chain wear or use a ruler to check it yourself. I check my chain (Shimano Ultegra) about once a month after it has 1000 miles on it. I clean and lube my chain about once a week or after riding in the rain . I find that my chain last around 2500 miles. I change when indicates wear beyond accepatble range. I change out the cassette about every second chain change out.

It is important to not only clean an lube the chain, but keep everyting in adjusment as well. I practice shifting early before being under major load. Not sure if it helps, but I like to think so.

1500 mils seems low end of normal.

2009-06-12 11:54 AM
in reply to: #2213074

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Subject: RE: Chain and cassette worn out at 1500 miles?
Steve- - 2009-06-12 10:43 AM It's possible your chain could wear after 1,500 miles but highly unlikely unless you never take care of it and never lubed it and rode in the rain all the time. Cassette after 1,500...now that is HIGHLY unlikely. IMHO


Unless it was poorly adjusted from the get-go by the LBS. You could wear out both in 1500 if the drivetrain wasn't well adjusted to start with, like the chain was scooting down the gears and kicking the teeth off sprockets.

That being said, a chain should last a couple thousand, and a cassette 10,000+. I've done minimal maintenance to two of my drivetrains, averaging 2-3000 miles per year. One's 3 years old (DA), and I've done nothing other than clean it.  The other's 10 yrs old (105), and shifts like clockwork, again, only with cleaning and one replaced chain.

I'd find a new LBS, or at least a new wrench.

So I agree with Steve. You should be worrying about chain replacement every couple thousand miles, and 10,000 miles on a cassette.
2009-06-12 12:02 PM
in reply to: #2213535

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Subject: RE: Chain and cassette worn out at 1500 miles?
rkreuser - 2009-06-12 9:54 AM
Steve- - 2009-06-12 10:43 AM It's possible your chain could wear after 1,500 miles but highly unlikely unless you never take care of it and never lubed it and rode in the rain all the time. Cassette after 1,500...now that is HIGHLY unlikely. IMHO


Unless it was poorly adjusted from the get-go by the LBS. You could wear out both in 1500 if the drivetrain wasn't well adjusted to start with, like the chain was scooting down the gears and kicking the teeth off sprockets.

That being said, a chain should last a couple thousand, and a cassette 10,000+. I've done minimal maintenance to two of my drivetrains, averaging 2-3000 miles per year. One's 3 years old (DA), and I've done nothing other than clean it.  The other's 10 yrs old (105), and shifts like clockwork, again, only with cleaning and one replaced chain.

I'd find a new LBS, or at least a new wrench.

So I agree with Steve. You should be worrying about chain replacement every couple thousand miles, and 10,000 miles on a cassette.


I think you are sort of getting to the point. What we really need to do is hear from the OP again about quality of components. If they are riding around with SRAM Red or Shimano DA components then Yea something fishy is going on. If they are riding around on brandless $2 parts or even something like Tiagra then 1500 miles is a complete possibility for a chain/cassette to be replaced especially if there was no regular maintenance or riding in a lot of grit/dirt etc... Also if, as was mentioned above, the bike is adjusted poorly from the get-go then it could cause wear and tear in that short of time as well.

I really think there are to many variables to really answer this question in any definitive way without more information (well as definitive as a forum diagnosis can be...)


2009-06-12 8:48 PM
in reply to: #2213562

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Expert
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Montana
Subject: RE: Chain and cassette worn out at 1500 miles?
Hey, sorry I was away for the whole day. There is only one local LBS. The next would be 65 miles away. Since I know very little about bikes, I'll have to spend time questioning the owner and see if I am comfortable with his answers. Going to dig up the specs, now, and see if I can answr that part of the question.

Upon relfection, I may not be cleaning it often enough, and, yeah, I could be using too much lube. (Rock and Roll).
2009-06-12 9:24 PM
in reply to: #2211659

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Subject: RE: Chain and cassette worn out at 1500 miles?
I take a lot of care of my chains, still only get about 1500 miles during the winter (lots of nasty gritty stuff happening to the chain) and about 2000 miles on the bikes that see only dry days. The only cassettes I've trashed were used for Cyclocross racing and training.

I have a Parks tool chain wear tool, I find when I start to get noise and miss shifts I check and yep the chain is stretched out. I pick up what ever nice chain is on sale, I have SRAM 1090 on my road bike now, replaced a DuraAce chain that had around 2000 miles on it. I do a lot of climbing and weigh in at 185lbs so I'm sure I'm putting hurt though the chain. I do find that my 9sp commuter bike during the drier season gets longer chain life over my 10sp road bike.
2009-06-23 6:45 PM
in reply to: #2214846

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Subject: RE: Chain and cassette worn out at 1500 miles?
Okay, my faith in the LBS has been wavering, and today it has hit bottom. I stopped to talk to the owner about the cassette he wanted to order for me. Then he checked my chain and said it isn't stretched out at all. Then he said that I'm having a shifting problem because my deuraileureureur (just kidding, as I have no idea how to actually spell that) hanger is bent. It has been taking a minute to get into my smallest gear in the back. Today he gave the screw a little adjustment, and, amazingly, it now shifts fine! I never could pin him down about how I can tell if the cassette is worn. He doesn't even recommend I replace the cassette now.

The next nearest LBS is 65 miles away. I guess I'm going to just have to learn all this stuff for myself.

Thanks for the input.
2009-06-24 11:11 AM
in reply to: #2211659

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Modesto, California
Subject: RE: Chain and cassette worn out at 1500 miles?
I took my bike in for a cable changout and bottom bracket tune up at the store I bought my bike from, the owner started lecturing me on how off my bike fit looked. After informing him that he was the one who fitted me and continued to argue with me, I have also decided to take up bike maintenance!
2009-06-24 11:39 AM
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General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Chain and cassette worn out at 1500 miles? Rss Feed