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I need advice about replacing my cassette, chain, and chain rings — Parallax Forums

I need advice about replacing my cassette, chain, and chain rings

Capt. QuirkCapt. Quirk Posts: 872
edited 2012-03-30 23:32 in General Discussion
I have a 24 speed road bike with Shimano Sora Derailleurs.

Will any 8 speed cassette, and chain rings fit my bike? Or do I need to stick with
the Shimano brand? or possibly a certain cassette width?

I believe my cassette is a 12/26 tooth, with 6 fixed gears, and 2 gears that slide
onto the hub. Is this normal? My chain rings are 48/38/28 tooth.

Also, what generally wears out first, the chain, or the sprockets. If the chain stretches
out first, perhaps there is a chain available that will allow me to get more miles on
my new chain and sprockets?

Thanks

Bill Mazzacane

Comments

  • LawsonLawson Posts: 870
    edited 2012-03-30 17:51
    Any set with a Shimano spline will fit. Basically this means stay away from Campolongo compatible parts. (they're more expensive anyway) http://sheldonbrown.com/k7.html has the gritty details on all this and anything else bike related.

    6 sprockets riveted together with 2 that easily slide off is normal for a cassette. On an upright, the chain generally wears out first. If you catch it soon enough you can just replace the chain. If the chain is too worn it wears out all the sprockets too, making everything a matched set. At this point, replacing just the chain will cause the (new) chain to skip.

    Lawson
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,259
    edited 2012-03-30 20:27
    +1. Shimano 6-7-8 speed all use the same width chain. 9 speed & higher use narrower chains. Other than a knowledgeable visual inspection, its hard to say whether your cassette is worn. Try a new chain first. High gear will generally skip first under load, so there are "degrees" of acceptable wear, depending on how much of a masher you are.

    Mashing big gears at low crank RPM, that is...!

    Chainrings last a LOOONG time.
  • Capt. QuirkCapt. Quirk Posts: 872
    edited 2012-03-30 23:32
    Thanks Lawson & Erco,


    Erco; I would have replaced the ring gears if you didn't say anything. I am use to motorcycles, and
    replacing both sprockets at the same time.

    I try to spin as much as possible, but I I think I am nearly as big as Shrek, (6'5" & 300+ lbs).
    And I frequently ride up a local mountain, and I tend to really mash the pedals when I push myself


    Lawson; http://sheldonbrown.com/k7.html was a great resource, I learned about long and short cage derailers.
    Now I need to figure out what kind I have. Since I have 26/12 cassette, I am hoping they used a long cage derailer.

    I want to install a 30/11 cassette because the "down road" on Mt Rubidoux is to steep for me to climb
    in first gear. It makes me feel like a rolling physics experiment! Either I need a few more teeth or
    loose 100 lbs.
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