I have been racing, training, and indoor training on the same wheels for a while. I have finally worn down my chain and casette (and my chainring for that matter.) and since it is winter I will probably do a lot of riding on the indoor trainer. Since I’m not going to be doing a ton of shifting during hard riding and will probably stick in the same few gears, does it make sense for me to stick my worn casette on a crappy old wheel that I will then use just for the indoor trainer. Then come spring, I can put on my new chain, cassette, and chainrings on my good wheel and race/ride on them.
Does it make sense to just let my old stuff keep wearing out?
Ben…sounds like a damn fine plan…if it still has some life left in it drive it until it breaks…then you’ll have no guilt when it all goes in the recycle bin at the same time…think I might need to do that myself.
I say trash the old stuff this winter than start fresh in the spring. No point changing over now.
Having a dedicated trainer wheel is a great idea. If you can do it for free it is a no brainer but even if you have to buy a cheapo wheel and put a new cassette on it is still worth it. Not having to worry about tearing up your good tires or, heaven forbid, changing them out, is a big relief. It is particularly great this time of year when indoors during the week but still outside on the weekends.
If I were to pick up a cheap rear wheel and cassette for the trainer off of EBAY, would I be able to slap the cassette on myself with no problems or would it have to be redished/spaced etc. and better off taken care of at the LBS? Although I handle most of my own maintenance, by no means am I a wrench and I’m concerned more work may be involved than it appears. Thanks.
EBay’s is a good idea but don’t give up on the LBS without checking. I got a new wheel at my LBS a couple of years ago for my old bike for less than $100 and they had cheaper ones. Wheels are not expensive once you don’t care about how much they weigh.
You just need to make sure the wheel has the same sized hub as you are running now and that it is compatible with the cassette you are using (campy or shimano). It is not as complicated as it sounds. Basically, sometime several years ago, hubs got wider to accomodate more gears and you need to make sure you are getting the same size you have now. If you run the same hub and type of cassette you don’t need to do anything to the wheel.
To remove/install a cassette you need a “chain whip” to keep the cassette from turning, a special socket to fit the lock ring on your brand of cassette and a wrench to turn it. The whole package is about $25 to $30 but if you don’t want to make the investment any LBS will install the cassette for free if you buy it from them and it is easy enough that they may not even charge you if you just bring one in with your wheel if you are a regular customer.
Nashbar has a great deal right now on a Aerion (sp?) tool kit with about $200 worth of tools for only $40 !!! (including tools for casettes, chain whip, bottom bracket, crank puller, etc.) I just bought one and overhauled my whole bike and it was a piece of cake. (I also used Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Repair book, $13 on amazon.) I switched the casette from an old bike to my new one, pulled off all the components which I then dissassembled and cleaned greased, even the bottom bracket. I have never done this bofore and it was a blast. Plus, now my bike is SOOO smooth. I say do it yourself. The only problem is that your friends will find out and you have to do their bikes too.