The local bike shop said that when you replace your chain you should also replace your cassette? True or False

However, after inspecting the cassette, none of the teeth are shark finned.

The local bike shop said that when you replace your chain you should also replace your cassette? True or False
Yes, they are correct.





The chain and cassette wear at the same rate.





If you replace your chain, you should replace the cassette. If not, your chain will skp over the worn gears of the cassette. Also, you'll wear your chain down faster too!





The other way around is more acceptable, but still not recommended. If you replace your cassette with an older chain, it won't skip, but the rate of wear on the chain will increase.





Until you can pick up a cassette at the level of quality you want, just ride the old chain...





I'm in the same boat right now. Chain is worn, saving for the cassette I want.





Good luck
Reply:What? I worked in a bike shop too.





You don't have to change the cassette _all the time_ when you change the chain. ONLY when the chain is super worn, and a new chain skips on the old cassette. Report It

Reply:Definitely true, unless you replace your chain every 100 miles, then you'll still have to replace the cassette with every 3rd to 5th chain, depending on what conditions you ride in.
Reply:the theory is that they wear in together. i suppose if you have more money than you know what to do with you could. for me, i just do the chain until i notice that the chain alone doesnt solve the issue. your chain wears quickly, not so for your cogs. it seems an unneeded expense to me. i have gone through three chains now to one cogset.
Reply:MadMonkey is exactly right. The chain and the sprockets wear down together and keep meshing perfectly, but if you change one and not the other, you will usually find the chain slipping over the sprockets and not engaging properly, especially if they've had a lot of use. This slipping can be pretty unpleasant if it happens when you're putting all your weight into the pedals in a climb or a sprint, for example.


Unfortunately, it won't help to inspect the sprockets. You won't notice anything. The wear is not that obvious.


Of course, as he also said, you could save yourself some expense, by changing the chain more frequently. If there hasn't been much wear, a new chain should still mesh well enough with the sprockets. You might get away with a few chain changes before you have to change the cassette too. Test the set-up carefully with the new chain every time though, and as soon as there's some slippage, get a new cassette. This should save some expense on cassettes.


The other option is to use the chain and cassette until one of them is falling to bits, then change both.
Reply:It depends on how worn the chain is. This is what I do:





I have a tool to check chain stretch. When the chain is 50% worn out I install a new chain and it will not skip. The second chain will quickly wear in to match the cassette. I will use that chain until it is 75% to 100% worn out or untill it shifts poorly. At that point the cassette is worn out and the chain rings may be worn out also and the entire drive must ususally be replaced.





That way I buy less cassettes. If I wait until the chain is worn to 75% or more it will usually skip and I will need a new cassette and chain. And, the longer you let the chain wear, the more wear you put on your chainrings. Eventually all the cogs will wear in to match the chain wear.





If you want to keep that 'new' shifting feel, you must replace everything at once.
Reply:FALSE. If you have money to blow do it - it's the best. Seasoned riders that know a little about taking care of there machine will replace about 3 chains to one cassette.





How often to replace a chain? If you are talking road bikes and ride on smoot, dry roads 1500 to 3000 miles. If you ride very hard, sprinting, hill climbing etc. and weigh 200 lbs. 1500, if you are light and ride easy 3000. If you never clean and lube your gears and chain even sooner.





If your mountain biking (I mean dirt, dust and mud) and maintain your bike well (clean and lube often) 1000 to 2000 miles.





I've been riding and racing many years and a lot of guys go longer than what I recomended. I forgot to mention I was a bike mechanic for 5 years as well. A few anal guys get a new chain every spring even with 500 miles or so on em. I don't know anyone who replaces their cassettes with every chain.





Bottom line you have $$$ buy a new bike every year that's even better! Seriously, a cassette is probably good for 10,000 if well cared for and not raced with by a heavy strong rider.
Reply:You don't say what kind of riding this is. Is it road or MTB? Do you ride in dry weather typically or do you go out rain or shine? It really depends on the type of riding you are doing.


You typically DON'T have to replace your cassette with every chain replacement, especially if you swap out your chain in the 1500-2000 mile range.





You SHOULD inspect your cassette for wear and replace it if it is showing signs of age. I have 9-spd cassettes that have over 30000 miles on them with (10K miles/season of racing/riding) that have gone through a few chain swaps.





If you inspect your equipment and clean it after a rough ride in dirt/mud/rain, you will get maximum life expectancy out of it.



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