After 5,400 miles it is reasonable to replace the rear cassette and chain. The front chainrings may need replacing if they have been ridden with a wornout chain. The rest of the crank: the spindle cranks and spider should be fine. Sometimes it is cheaper to replace the whole crankset.

When should you replace a crankset?

My rule of thumb is to replace it at 75 per cent wear (as measured with a chain-wear indicator). If you stick with this guideline, your cassette and chainrings will last a lot longer. A cassette, in most cases, can last for approximately two to three chain replacements if they are done at the right time.

How long should a crankset last?

As long as crank arms are checked regularly for tightness they should last for years and years. I have vintage Sugino Aero Tour (AT) crank arms that I have used for over twenty-five years without any wear to the square tapers. I've installed and worn out four or five chain ring sets using the same crank arms.

Do I need to change chain when changing crankset?

Your new crankset will have new chainrings so you'll be set on that front. It's also possible that you need to change your chain, cassette, or both. Generally speaking, as a chain stretches the cassette stretches with it.

Can I change crankset without changing cassette?

You certainly don't need to change the cassette and chainrings every time you swap the chain, though, it's just that you should check out the health and performance of these other drivetrain components as soon as you've installed a new one.

How To Know When To Change Your Chain, Cassette And Chainrings

21 related questions found

How many miles should a chainring last?

A steady rider who stays on the big ring, keeps the drivetrain clean and doesn't let the chain get too long before replacing it, and started with good quality components can get 60,000+ miles out of a chain ring.

Why are chainring teeth different?

The number of teeth on your chainring(s) is a deciding factor in your bike's gear ratio, with a greater number of teeth meaning a higher (harder to push) gear, and fewer teeth meaning a lower (easier to push) gear.

How often do you need to change your cassette?

As mentioned, you will want to replace your bike cassette at least once every three years, even if you are not riding super regularly. However, if you are riding your bike a high mileage each year, you will want to change the cassette each season.

How often should you change your bike chain?

To avoid this accelerated wear of your cassette and chainrings, a general rule of thumb is to replace your bike's chain every 2,000 miles. Mind you, this is just a starting point. No two chains will wear at exactly the same rate because no two riders treat their chains the same.

Will a worn chainring wear out a chain?

Often a chain that is long worn out will have grooved itself into the chainring in such a way that it all still works (mostly), but if the chain is replaced, the new one will not function well.

How important is crankset?

'Shorter cranks will almost certainly help most riders be more comfortable on a bike,' he adds. 'They help soften the impact of cycling on the body. Think about it: the equation is 2πr, so crank length changes that circle significantly, and going shorter appreciably reduces the range of joint movement.

Do cranksets go bad?

A crank -- axle, bearing, cups, and arms -- will last decades and 10s of thousands of miles if the bearings are not somehow damaged and the crank arms are not allowed to loosen.

How often should I lube my bike chain?

Bicycle Tutor recommends cleaning and lubricating your bike's drive chain at least once every month to maintain optimal performance and protection. The chain and drivetrain are typically the dirtiest parts of your bike, and this dirt is bad news for bike longevity and performance.

How many miles should a bike cassette last?

Very Roughly: bike cassette can last between 4000 to 6000 miles, and some can last up to 10,000 miles, an equivalent of 3 to 4 chains, it depends on the quality of the cassette itself, maintenance, and riding conditions.

What causes chain skipping?

Most of the time, a skipping chain is caused by cable stretch. In the first half dozen rides on a new bike your shift cables stretch the most. ... Hippley explains, “It takes cable tension to open a derailleur, which shifts your chain between gears. To solve cable stretch, you have to add tension to your cables.”

Can I put a road crankset on a mountain bike?

The condensed answer is: Mountain bike frames aren't designed for road cranks. The chainstays are wide to accommodate fatter tires and often create clearance issues.

What does a crankset include?

The crankset, also called the chainset, consists of crank arms, bottom bracket, and chainrings. Cranksets come in three main formats, single, double, and triple. The introduction of huge rear cassettes in recent years has improved the viability of single chain rings.

Can you replace crankset?

Cranks may be removed to replace cranks or chainrings, service the bottom bracket bearings, or to clean the chainrings. ... To know the service options you will need to know the type of crank and type of bottom bracket bearing system installed in the bicycle.

Is crankset worth upgrading?

If you like what you have, there's no reason to upgrade. Higher end cranks are typically lighter, but sometimes the difference is more in the rings than the crank arms, but not always. If the rings are worn, sometimes it's cheaper to buy a new crankset.

Are shorter cranks better for knees?

Crank length can be used as a tool to improve fit related issues impacting comfort, power, and aerodynamics. Moving to a shorter crank can improve: Comfort: A shorter crank length reduces range of motion at the knee (extension and flexion), hips, and low back.

Does changing crankset make a difference?

Upgrading your crankset typically means shedding grams, improving stiffness, and often getting much better craftsmanship and materials. Usually resulting in improved performance both under load and not under load.

What does a worn bike chain feel like?

If a chain is worn, the tool will drop into the link and sit flush along the chain. Or if it's not worn, the tool will sit above the link, as shown in the lead photo. For our own bikes running the good stuff, we'll replace a chain at the . 5 marking.