How many miles can I expect to get out of my components?

[indysteel]

I'm surprised you didn't get more miles out of your cassette, Westtexas. Please tell me that your shop didn't convince you that should replace it at the same time you replace your chain. IMO, put a new chain on first. If it still skips on the old cassette, then replace the cassette, too. Otherwise, there's no need to replace it.

[Melalvai]

My bike is nearly 10,000 miles old.

I clean my chain every 100 miles (once every week or two), or if I ride on wet roads.

I replace my chain every 1500 miles.

I replace my cassette every 4500 miles, every 3 chains.

Those numbers are rough. I wouldn't replace something that didn't need replaced. But my mechanic was surprised I was able to get that many miles out of my cassette with the type of riding I do (all weather, sometimes on gravel).

My rim lasted 8000 miles.

My tires lasted 4000 miles. (I'm on my 3rd set.) I think I've replaced my cables twice as well.

It does depend on what kind of conditions you ride in, how frequently you clean it, and the cassette lasts longer if you replace your chain on time.

[Sky King]

okay ladies, I can't help but smile. Wow, I have no idea how many miles I have on anything. I just try to pay attention and check everything out on a regular basis. If my chain starts to skip I know it is time for a new chain and if the teeth on my cassette begin to wear, and the new chain doesn't help, then I replace it.

Can you tell I am not a racer

[indysteel]

I know at least one of my cassettes has approximately 11k miles on it. It ended up getting swapped when I switched between a Campy triple to a Campy compact, but when I did the swap, the cassette was running just fine. I don't know that there's any hard and fast number that applies across the board to any given component; there are too many variables. So, for that reason, I approach it like Sky King. If it ain't broke, I don't generally fix it. I understand the appeal of replacing things a bit more proactively, but with twelve bikes in our stable, we replace things mostly on an as-needed basis. Plus, we don't keep track of mileage on every one of those bikes, so we can't go on just mileage.

[Melalvai]

I'm not a racer. I just commute. And go for some recreational rides.

Between the 3 of us we have 4 bikes and only 2 of them are ridden regularly. I keep my bike and my daughter's bike in good shape. Keeping track of mileage and when things are "due" to be replaced helps make components last longer-- the main thing is that if I replace the chain at regular intervals, the cassette will last 3 times as long.

I check my air pressure daily but somehow I never think to look at the tires so I'm always caught by surprise when I discover the tread is worn through. Keeping track of how many miles since I bought new tires helps me remember to check on that.