Frequency of replacing parts

[aicabsolut]

It really annoys me that many shops these days consider hubs throw-away components, when they would actually last for years if maintained properly. Any serviceable hub should be repacked with great at least once a year, more often if ridden in wet or gritty conditions. UK, ask your shop guy if only the cones are worn, or the cups also. Cones are replacable, but too often shops won't bother to look for or order replacements. New cones and bearings and fresh grease would likely make the hubs like new again.

I have a wheel my shop keeps telling me is near death (though at first, they kept putting incompatible freehub bodies on it after the original freehub bit the dust !!!). They repack it and all, but they have problems with the cone meshing properly with the new freehubs. Even the one that doesn't make my wheel sound like grinding metal still doesn't spin as smoothly as it should. It's a cheap wheel, but should be completely serviceable. I've also complained that in the past 3 attempts to fix the freehub, they've made the rim untrue....and it is STILL untrue. Not badly so, but much worse than when I turned it in the first time.

I want to scream. Yeah, it's a wheel off a >$500 wheelset, but I need these beater wheels.

Ok, rant over.

As for your parts, I would at least go ahead with the chain/cassette replacement. As for the rest, the rear derailleur would need to have unusual damage (not normal wear and tear, but maybe the bike was dropped or something). I think it's a little weird to be replacing the front rings so early, but if you take your chains way past their life, then yeah, you could wear out the rings prematurely. You might have done this since you wait until shifting gets pretty bad before taking it in for service.

[uk elephant]

Just a short update...

I decided to try doing some work myself, to save a bit of cash. So today I gave the bike a good clean and replaced the chain. Turns out the new chain the LBS sold me was one link shorter than the one I had. And with the new chain, the previous shifting problem instantly went away. Unfortunately, the chain now skips in the middle gears (the ones I use the most), so I'm thinking the cassette also needs replacing? It is as if the chain slips and doesn't engage properly. I'll stop by the shop tomorrow and see what they way.

[DebW]

Just a short update...

I decided to try doing some work myself, to save a bit of cash. So today I gave the bike a good clean and replaced the chain. Turns out the new chain the LBS sold me was one link shorter than the one I had. And with the new chain, the previous shifting problem instantly went away. Unfortunately, the chain now skips in the middle gears (the ones I use the most), so I'm thinking the cassette also needs replacing? It is as if the chain slips and doesn't engage properly. I'll stop by the shop tomorrow and see what they way.

Yes, you'll need to replace the cassette too because of the skipping.