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How do you know when to change your groupo
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Hey! I'm just wondering when my groupo needs changed. I recently took my bike to the bike shop to get a tuneup and the mechanic said I need to change the whole group set. A male friend of mine after hearing this said they are probably trying to take me for a ride. I know something needs changed because even after the tuneup my bike isn't shifting right, and my shifters have some lax in them (compared to how they use to feel). When do you know your group set needs replaced?
Thanks for reading, Andrea
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Re: How do you know when to change your groupo [emmaelvis] [ In reply to ]
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What groupo and how old is it? And what other maintenance have you had done lately (new chain, new cables, new cassette)?

I find it hard to believe you would have to replace everything at the same time but if I know a bit more I may be able to provide a better opinion.
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Re: How do you know when to change your groupo [instigator] [ In reply to ]
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My bike has original components on it. I change the chain every season, the cables got changed about 2 years ago, the cassette I changed about every season also, breaks I do about every other season.
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Re: How do you know when to change your groupo [emmaelvis] [ In reply to ]
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I forgot to mention my bike is 5-6 years old.
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Re: How do you know when to change your groupo [emmaelvis] [ In reply to ]
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I would find it hard to believe that the entire groupo failed at the same time especially since you seem extremely diligent with routine maintenace. I would get a recommendation from a second mechanic before purchasing a whole new groupo.
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Re: How do you know when to change your groupo [emmaelvis] [ In reply to ]
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Start with the cables...if you're changing the rest of it that often there shouldn't really be anything else that dies within 5-6 years. I had a bike with Shimano Sora on it with well over 4k miles that was still going strong when I sold it.....the bike shop originally told me to expect about 1,000 miles before swapping it out.

You seem to have a good mind for maintenance, I'd start with the cables & see if that helps. It's also typically the cheapest fix!

AW
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Re: How do you know when to change your groupo [emmaelvis] [ In reply to ]
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I'll echo the other comments that it's unlikely that you need to replace the whole gruppo. I have a Campy Veloce gruppo that I have had installed and active for 12 years and 50-60,000 kms on it. Only things I've changed? 2 chains, 1 cassette, 2 sets of cables.

Shifters lax? Recable them.

First off: give your bike a really REALLY good clean & lube, then see how the shifting is acting...

Try another shop or buy yourself a copy of Zinn and learn to adjust your shifting yourself. Lots of things can cause poor indexing from der misalignment to cable degradation to dirt & rust.

Good luck!
AP

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"How bad could it be?" - SimpleS
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Re: How do you know when to change your groupo [AndyPants] [ In reply to ]
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Thanks for all the input. I will check with another shop.
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Re: How do you know when to change your groupo [emmaelvis] [ In reply to ]
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'not shifting right' and 'lax shifters' to me point to shifter cables needing replacement (just did mine a few weeks ago and my mtb went from super crappy rough shifting to 'perfect' shifting, without changing anything else).

I don't think I've ever heard of anything causing a 'replace your gruppo' scenario, I don't want to point fingers at the shop but if somebody told me that the only way to get my bike to shift well would be to spend 1-1.5k to replace the whole drivetrain I would find a new shop pronto...
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Re: How do you know when to change your groupo [emmaelvis] [ In reply to ]
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While I haven't been on here in a long time, I do read daily. I find it hard to believe that you need a new gruppo. Although it is possible. However it sounds like just a shifter problem? Thus you don't need the brakes, hubs, etc. that come with a gruppo. Like mentioned before change the cables. More importantly the housing. A bit of frayed end on the housing can make a complete mess of shifting. I find a trim of housing ends is more important than changing cables. Another shop may also be in question? However, I did just spend more than a couple of hours on a bike this week changing out cables, chains, casettes, der, all more than once. Frustrating to say the least. In the end it was the shifter that did need replacing. I also find spraying Clean Streak in the shifter helps clean out the dust and crap that accumulates over the years.



Scott McNamee
Cranks Bicycle Shoppe
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Re: How do you know when to change your groupo [cdnbiker] [ In reply to ]
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This shop doesn't sound reliable...

I'm not sure what group you have, but I've had problems with my Shimano shifters gunking up after some years. If you try to shift, but it doesn't do anything for a few clicks or you click and feel no resistance you might want to try cleaning it out. You can google this problem or what everyone else seems to recommend is use WD-40 to loosen the hardened grease and then shoot it with some wet lube. Good luck!
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Re: How do you know when to change your groupo [emmaelvis] [ In reply to ]
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You are being taken for a ride. You may need some drivetrain replacement, chain, cassette, and chainring, but not a whole groupset. Cables could be gummy and that could lead to some wonky shifting. Before the tuneup all of these may have been working fine because they wore together. after a tuneup and cleaning, stuff doesn't mesh together quite as well and problems become more noticeable. Have another shop look for wear on the chain and cassette, then expect to pay between 100-120 to replace them. more if you have to do the chainrings.
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