So first it was gears, and now the time came to do something about the
mightily abused chain/sprockets.
You know you really should have done something when the chain starts
skipping. An unpleasant feeling when you stand up to honk up a short
rise and find your power has been usurped by gravity..
So off to the LBS because I wanted to change the bits NOW and not wait
for Wiggle etc. to ship them.
So I got my 8 speed megarange shiny cassette and a PC48 chain. Being
cheeky I asked if they did a discount for CTC members and was told "as
it's you".
getting back to the lab I checked the prices.. pre discount they were
the same price or cheaper than Wiggle.
So I took the rear wheel off and started to remove the skewer to get the
cassette off. After much swearing and application of a pair of pliers,
the adjusting nut and spring came off. But the skewer had rusted into
the axle and wasn't going anywhere. For the last xxxx months I had been
riding around on a wheel that was only held in one side (fortunately it
has vertial dropouts.)
Got the cassette off. The spokes looked seriously mangled (though the
wheel is still true) and the hub (LX) has seen better days. If I could
disassemble it I'd do the bearings but I can't so they'll have to just
suffer. Extra resistance training.
The chain had stretched. I didn't measure the stretch accurately but it
was approaching an inch over the full length of the chain. Didn't even
bother checking the cassette, just binned it.
The rims are wearing through as well, a distinct groove appearing which
will signify the end of the wheels as we know it.
So I have some choices to make..
Do I get new wheels, brakes, front forks/headset/stem, or do I just buy
a new bike and swap over the special bits (162.5 mm crankes etc), my new
XT derailleur and shifters, lights etc. to the new one.
I suppose it will all come down to cost. A new pair of decent wheels
will be around 100 quid. Add in 50 quid for brakes and levers, forks,
headset and stem, and it comes to quite a pile of cash.
Why do all these things go wrong at the same time?