pwa wrote:In a bit of a rush now but will look later. If the gears are working fine now but you are thinking of changing the freewheel (or cassette as the case may be) why not just maintain and continue to use until things don't work so well? I don't measure for wear and I get lots more wear out of gear parts and chains. I reckon those chain measurers just get folk to bin things sooner than they need to and don't make the chainrings last much, if any, longer.
In days of yore I didn't check chain "stretch" either. Inevitably, the need soon arose to replace not just the chain but also the chainrings and the freewheel. This happened at least once a year; sooner in the racing-training years of 1000+ miles per month. And how much efficiency had I lost riding those items until they were all knackered?
Nowadays I measure the chain and chuck it at 0.75% wear. This costs a new chain but they can be had for £15, or less if you shop about for a sale somewhere. They still last circa 2000 miles if looked after. The chainrings and sprocket cogs seem to last forever under this regime. I haven't changed any on any of the 4 bikes I have, from 10 to 4 years old. I've done tens of thousands of miles in the past 10 years.
Cugel