Ultimate Bike Thread....

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

To be fair, I bought the bike new in 1995 when I was still very actively riding. I put an awful lot of miles on it over the course of the next ten years, commuting on it in addition to riding recreationally. I think I replaced the chainrings maybe twice at the very most. Then I pretty much stopped riding until two years ago.

When I started again, I went through the whole bike, of course. The chainrings looked great. Two years later they were shot. I ride 3-5 days per week, averaging maybe 150 miles per week. Is that about the normal wear rate?

These things are, of course, relatively cheap, readily available, and very easy to replace. I probably shouldn't worry about it. Seems to me, though, that I could buy a set of steel chainrings and not worry about it literally for the rest of my life. As an aside, it's a little distressing that I'm thinking about things like this in those terms...

Depending on the year, almost all of the later (after 90ish) shimano have shifting ramps on their rings for better shifting. They work.

If you are wearing front ring, that's means you are working, getting in shape. Buying a new ring is a great thing

[LEAKYSEALS951]

I've got some steel front rings.
Very Heavy, and no shifting detentes. Get good NOS and be happy.
Steel rear cassette rings can work fine. Front steel rings are cumbersome and dull.
Nothing like new rings.

[Jeff Higgins]

Ok, thanks guys. I'm obviously worrying about something I should be proud of - wearing out chainrings. Not a big deal, for sure.

I do have to say, between the new chainrings and the new chain, it's like I bought a new bike. Much, much improved shifting. It's amazing, sometimes, how bad things can get under a "slow creep" , before we do something about it and experience this "cloud parting revelation" demonstrating how good it could be, when in reality it's just back to how it was supposed to be all along.

[look 171]

Old worn ring is no fun to have around. I am glad it works and felt like a new bike again. Funny how just some little things can transform how a piece of equip feel. Worn tooth isn't too bad but a wrap large chain ring usually happens much faster then worn teeth. The wrap ring will rub against the front shifter every pedal revolution can drive not jsut the owner but others around insane and want to throw the damn bike into the river.

[Racerbvd]

[Baz]

LOL....is this true?

[sc_rufctr]

^^^ Actually.... Legit. Lol

[Racerbvd]

[Baz]

"On the Road again..."
~ Canned Heat

[Racerbvd]

[LEAKYSEALS951]

bling monday:

[greglepore]

Jeff, I've never worn out a chainring in 35 yrs of cycling, but then again I have a bunch of bikes. But normally what happens is that someone lets a chain go a little bit longer than is optimal - the chain and rings/cassette wear in together, and then when you slap on a new chain with correct tolerances it suddenly shifts like crap.
I have a 1990's Colnago that I rode the crap outta, my son then raced, then I rode it some more, and it still has the original rings...

[gregpark]

I've never worn one out either. I checked my 16 year old rings after reading this thread, they look fine and I have no shifting issues. I weigh 200 lbs and do a lot of climbing. If I were going to change out a chain ring I would change out both plus the cassette and chain

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Ive worn out a couple***. What I'd notice was the front large chainring teeth would wear down, but look "ok", and then one day under power (standing/sprinting) the chain would skip, like if a rear derailleur was out of adjustment, or there was a stiff link, or worn out cassette or something.
I'd go through the entire drivetrain looking for a bad cassette, stiff links, etc.. but no luck.
What was happening was the entire chain was expanding over the worn teeth and the whole chain would "skip" back a tooth or two and recatch. Maybe you could say it was the chainring "jumping" forward. Chain would jump over all the front chainring teeth simultaneously. The chain would never jump off the ring laterally or fall off, only jump straight back over the worn teeth. You could feel it, but couldn't see it happen, even if you looked down at the chain. It was pissifying. New chainring made it all good.
Over the years, I've learned to check the front chainring whenever it skips. They work until they don't.

Never left me stranded, just annoying when sprinting. I could always just sit and spin and get home to deal with it after the ride.

***This was also probably a result of riding stretched chains too much, usually mtb, with lots of grit and dirt over the miles, not massive wattage.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

haha!!!!







and WHY am I keeping this in my spare parts bin?!?!?

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

haha!!!!

...

and WHY am I keeping this in my spare parts bin?!?!?

You certainly got you money's worth from that one!

[LEAKYSEALS951]

I'll trade it for that white swift saddle!
That thing is NICE~I really want it!

Latest FB marketplace score:

I converted the rear cassette plastic bushing to one of my hubdoctor sealed bearing conversions. It will last forever!

[gregpark]

Touch those teeth up with a file and that chain ring is born again!

[LEAKYSEALS951]

^LOL!

I really was thinking about a Brooks cambrium or a swift for the Nishiki.
Also Rivet makes some nice saddles:

https://rivetcycleworks.com/shop-rivet/

[herr_oberst]

Nice score on the Ksyriums. Which of your many bikes will be the recipient?

Chainrings. I bent, then broke off a tooth on the SRAM Red 46 tooth c/r. Don't know how., but it cost way too much for a new one. The 'nice stuff' tax on SRAM is obscene.

On the commuter bike that I rode to work rain or shine, winter or summer for years and years without proper maintenance - i.e. NO maintenance - at least until the shifting and braking was so abysmal that it was just constant frustration, then I'd shoot the parts cannon at the bike with new bottom bracket, cassette, chain and a new big chainring (the small chainring was used very little on that bike, (46/34 and 11/36 - not much need for that 34!!). Invariably, by the time things had gotten to that point, the big chainring teeth pretty much had hooks like sharks-teeth and it was an easy decision to throw a cheap, generic 46 onto the crank.
Nothing like a fresh, new drivetrain and brand new brake pads and brake discs. It's like putting brand new socks on and slipping your feet into a brand new pair of comfy shoes.