Road bike components. (lifespan)

[jonny jeez]

I caught a surprising comment on the lifespan of a rim just now and its prompted a little concern for me.

So, guys how long can I expect a standard Spesh allez elite to last me (in component terms especially rims, groupset, cables and drivetrain)

How many miles do you lot get between rebuilds?

 

[jdtate101]

Look after your kit and it should last a lifetime. Treat it like cr*p and it will break........simples. As long as your not pothole riding or jumping ditches should last many, many years. Just get it properly serviced once per yr (or better learn to do it yourself), keep it clean and lubed and replace worn parts like tyres and pads as needed. Occasionally bearings may need replacing, but they aren't expensive.

 

[Trevrev]

I'm on my second back wheel and third front. Bike is nearly 5 years old. Rims wear through braking,(Unless you have disks)hence the reason the rims have wear grooves.
Chains, i've lost count, Cassettes, three. Cables loads. Brake blocks, loads.
Bottom bracket one.
Saddle two.

 

[gaz]

Part of cycling is that things have to be replaced, things are built light to make cycling easier but this affects durability.

 

[MattHB]

It's also a good excuse to upgrade!

 

[gambatte]

just got one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BICYCLE-RIM-GAUGE-DEUXIEME-GAUGE-/290581931984

 

[Soltydog]

I caught a surprising comment on the lifespan of a rim just now and its prompted a little concern for me.

So, guys how long can I expect a standard Spesh allez elite to last me (in component terms especially rims, groupset, cables and drivetrain)

Was it my comments? My wheels lasted about 2 years & then I noticed splits appearing in the rim, around each spoke. It didn't affect the ride, but I noticed whilst cleaning. I am a larger than average rider ok, I'm fat. 6'5" & 17 stone, so that may be a contributing factor, but I'm not a pothole rider, I try to avoid them whenever possible. I replaced them with a pair of FSA (RD60s I think) which weren't too expensive, but have lasted 3 years now with no signs of giving up anytime soon

 

[BentMikey]

gambatte you rimmer!!

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

On my road bike after 19000 miles commuting in the last 30 months, the only things not replaced apart from the frame are
Front Mech
handle bars
brakes

and thats it..............

 

[gaz]

On my road bike after 19000 miles commuting in the last 30 months, the only things not replaced apart from the frame are
Front Mech
handle bars
brakes

and thats it..............

ignore me. I read it wrong.

 

[HLaB]

I can only go with my own experience of rims, the rear quasar wheel on the road bike lasted 12,000 miles to failure through all weathers but the more abused rear wheel on the Ridgeback town bike just over 6000miles to failure and the current rear wheel on the road bike mavic aksiums got around 6000 miles before the rim marker wore out and it has lasted 2300 more miles without failure, but it is very concave and when I get it back from the LBS (its in for a new BB) I'll put the new wheels I have on before it does fail.

 

[400bhp]

Part of cycling is that things have to be replaced, things are built light to make cycling easier but this affects durability.

^^^
This.

Back in the day (late 80's/early 90's) I had a bike that was probably in excess of £1k new at the time (bought it 2nd hand). I must have cycled 7k ish miles or so. I don't recall anything wearing out. Fast forward 2 years later and the big difference appears the drivetrain which doesn't last long. However the way it [drivetrain] works these days it doesn't surprise me.

I'm gutted I sold that bike on Fleabay about 8 years ago.

 

[Maz]

So, guys how long can I expect a standard Spesh allez elite to last me (in component terms especially rims, groupset, cables and drivetrain)

How many miles do you lot get between rebuilds?

On my Allez Elite, the rear hub went kaput before the rim did (close to worn out), so I changed the whole rear wheel (replaced with a Shimano R500). Don't know how many miles it did, but it was used year-round in all weather, so I guess 3-4 yrs, at that time.

 

[jonny jeez]

Part of cycling is that things have to be replaced, things are built light to make cycling easier but this affects durability.

yebbut, my old MTB is 15 years young and has literally had one chain replaced, one rear cassette and one gear lever.

rims original, crank original...all bearings etc all original.it was all top gear when new so I guess that helps but MTB's sure are built to last. I was worried my roadie was considered "fragile".

I am pretty meticulous (its still new) in cleaning and lubing (I still wipe down the chain to a polish and drop one dot of oil per link every few days...if that helps to illustrate) cassette gets equal treatment and is cleaned out every few days. frame is kept shiny, all rub points are taped.

but I hope I get more than a couple of thousand miles from a set of rims.

 

[jonny jeez]

Was it my comments? My wheels lasted about 2 years & then I noticed splits appearing in the rim, around each spoke. It didn't affect the ride, but I noticed whilst cleaning. I am a larger than average rider ok, I'm fat. 6'5" & 17 stone, so that may be a contributing factor, but I'm not a pothole rider, I try to avoid them whenever possible. I replaced them with a pair of FSA (RD60s I think) which weren't too expensive, but have lasted 3 years now with no signs of giving up anytime soon

nope sorry it was here
http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/which-wheel-for-commuting.97746/#post-1765240