Quote Originally Posted by OakLeaf View Post
Okay, I used to race years ago, burned out and didn't ride at all for 12 years, and I'm back to cycling as of a year and a half ago. I think I have a decent handle on this stuff, but I have one question.

When I replace the chain, should I also replace the chainrings? On a motorcycle, you always replace chain and both sprockets together. What I'm reading here is that, for the same reasons, you should replace the chain and the cassette together, but no one has mentioned chainrings.

My chainrings actually look more worn than the rear cogs at this point (1500 miles or so on the new bike), which is logical since each chainring sees more use than each individual freewheel cog.

Input, maintenance pros? TIA Oak
The answer is if you want to be absolutely sure, then go ahead.

Lisa was dead right about the chain, if it's stretched, then replace it. But also, chains have more opportunities for wear. Apart from stretch, there is wear in the individual links, and where the pins go in.

My advice is to replace the chain as needed. If the new chain works fine on the old chainrings and cassette, don't worry about it. I've put 10,000 miles on a cassette and 15,000 on a set of rings.

A lot of bike shops will recommend you replace things that might need replacing in the next year because once they touch your bike, they are liable for anything that could possibly go wrong with it even if they didn't actually do anything to that particular component.