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

[Megustalaplaya]

My bike is an entry level Trek with Shimano 2300 components. I'm just wondering how many miles I can reasonably get out of this bike before needing to replace anything.

Actually, I want a new bike so I'm wanting to use the information to my advantage.

[indysteel]

Every drivetrain--no matter how good--will need to be replaced to some extent over time. Chains, followed by cassettes and brakepads, cables and housing, are probably the quickest to wear. How long each of these items, along with the rest of your drivetrain, will last depends in part on how well they are maintained and on the conditions in which you ride. How well the drivetrain performs is also a question of regular maintenance. If you never get a tune up, your shifting and braking will get sloppy, but that doesn't mean the drivetrain itself is toast.

So, the short answer is that I'm not sure there's a good answer to how long your drivetrain--as a whole--will last. In my opinion, if you want a new and better equipped bike, get a new and better equipped bike. I wouldn't rest your case on your drivetrain simply failing. It won't fail on you--at least in any catastrophic way--unless you just take really bad care of it.

[Owlie]

My bike is Giant's equivalent of yours. It's closing in on 2000 miles and I think it still has plenty more in it before anything needs to be replaced (and upgraded). I clean everything semi-regularly, and have it annually tuned-up. The only thing that's been replaced is a shifter cable.

[Kathi]

12,000 for mine.

Cables, chain and brake pads only components replaced.

[Bike Writer]

I'm glad you asked that question because I have wondered the same thing myself. I've logged just over 1500 miles on my bike and have not replaced anything except inner tubes and last week I replaced my pedals because I broke one of them. It was kinda a freaky thing how it broke.

I keep my bike cleaned up pretty decent and had it tuned up last year after the original couple hundred miles I put on it. I'd say right about now it's ready for another tune up just because. I am not experiencing any shifting or braking problems but it's just time for it.

[goldfinch]

I bought a Cannondale Quick 4 a bit more than a year ago and have maybe 2000 to 2500 miles on it. Recently I replaced the chain and cassette due to wear. I ride it in sometimes wet and sometimes dusty conditions, it is my grunge bike. But I do keep the chain clean and lubed.

One brake cable also broke on this bike, out of nowhere.

[westtexas]

I have Ultegra parts and got 3000 miles out of my cassette, cables and chain before replacement. I clean every 100 miles or sooner if riding in wet or dusty conditions.

[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.

[Dogmama]

My bike is an entry level Trek with Shimano 2300 components. I'm just wondering how many miles I can reasonably get out of this bike before needing to replace anything.

Actually, I want a new bike so I'm wanting to use the information to my advantage.

Keeping it clean & tuned - many many miles.

Not keeping it clean & tuned - limited.

There you go. Use it to your advantage!

[Megustalaplaya]

Thanks ladies! I have about 1200 miles on my bike so far. I didn't even start thinking about any kind of maintenence until around 1000 miles. Since I plan to hand this down to my daughter and I'm going to keep her maintained like I should.

I'm still planning on a new bike by next spring.

[velo]

Who needs a reason to get a new bike! Isn't "want" a good enough reason? Well, I'm sure you and your daughter both will be thrilled when you get your new bike next year.

I'm surprised nobody mentioned that rider experience/ability also plays quite a major role in how long your components last. I remember back in college when I got into cycling in a serious way, some twenty-mumble, mumble years ago. My first road bike was a schwinn, with downtube shifters, but good components for the time. These would have been friction shifters, not the indexed shifting that is standard today. I went through a couple of drive trains and many chains learning to ride well. Even with indexed shifting today, newer riders have a hard time finding the right gear, grind them, hammer too high gears on hills, shift when there is a lot of pressure on the cranks, etc. The hillier the terrain, the more damaging, too. I found that after I became an experienced, competitive cyclist, even though I was riding more, my components lasted longer because I was naturally more gentle with them. So there is yet another factor of "user error" that plays into it beyond quality, maintenance, and riding conditions.

I agree with Indy... there's not a good answer because there are too many variables, including how quickly you learn to ride smoothly.