cassettes

Question
QUESTION: i'm wondering if you could estimate for me how long a xtr cassette will last if you ride in the largest gear 50 miles a week on average?thanks

ANSWER: Hi Rodney,

It is extremely likely that it will last many years. I ride about 25-40 miles a day. I bought my bike lightly used (about 800 miles) and have put several thousand miles on it, the cassette is still good, I have put racing and road miles on it. A reasonably good quality cassette will last a very long period of time.

I have had my Giant OCR 2 for 3 years and ridden several thousand miles on it, there is no reason that you should expect any less.  At the number of miles you are speaking of you will very likely never have to replace the cassette, you will tire of the bike and get a new one before the cassette wears out.

Keep it lubricated well, keep the chain lubricated well, and keep the chain and cassette clean of dirt, it should last as long as he bike.

Have  a great day

Jerry

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thanks for the prompt and helpful response.let me get this right,you are saying that if you keep the xtr cassette well taken care of it will last many years even if you ride in just the largest gear 50 miles a week on average,thats up steep hills and everything?thanks

Answer
Hi Rodney.

Yes, that is exactly what I am saying. 50 miles a week on a reasonable quality bicycle you should be able to use the same cassette for the life of the bike.

I am not sure why you would want to stay in the big cog all the time, It just makes pedaling harder and really does nothing to help you increase speed, nor does it give you a better workout. By just running in the big ring, you are using your bike as a single speed, or if you change gears on the front set hen you make it a 2 or 3 speed depending on how many chainrings you have.

Anyway according to what you ask in  the first place, if you ride your bike in the big cog of the cassette (rear) and you ride a meer 50 miles a week, keep the chain lubed, keep the cassette cleaned and lubed etc, your cassette will last probably as long as the bike.

Hope this helps

Have  a great day

Jerry