I know it might looks a bit geeky but I was curious to see how much kilometres I could do with each of my bicycle parts ans especially how much money I’ve spent on my bikes along the way. It shows me also how much I’ve improved the way I’m cycling and lengthen the life duration of my components. Finally, It proves how much stronger is my second bike compared to the first one. You might like this page or not, but it’s here if you need it :-)
Belt
I love it! I used to ride around 3000km with a single chain before changing it. With this first belt, I’ve ridden from Sydney to Cambodia. I’ve read that some travellers did 34000km before it broke! Amazing! But in my case, the first belt lasted ~15.000km as the rear sprocket worned anormally fast. When you realise that the price between a good 10 speed chain (I paid sometimes over 100NZD for an XTR) and a belt (75USD) are pretty closed, that’s definitely worth it.
Carbon drive belt illustration | |||||
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Model | Changed | From | distance | To | price |
Carbon Drive CDX center-track | 2015 Jan 06 | Sydney (Australia) | ~15.000km | Siem Reap | / |
Carbon Drive CDX center-track | 2017 April 28 | Siem Reap (Cambodia) | ~3000km and counting | Siem reap | 90USD |
Rear Sprocket
So far so good. I don’t how long it’s going to last but it does a good job since Sydney too.
Rear Sprocket illustration | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Model | Changed | From | distance | To | price |
20 TOOTH CDX SPROCKET (for ROHLOFF on carrier v1) | 2015 Jan 06 | Sydney (Australia) | ~15.000km | Siem Reap (Cambodia | / |
20 TOOTH CDX SPROCKET (for ROHLOFF on new carrier v2) | 2017 Apr 28 | Siem Reap (Cambodia) | ~3.000km and counting | Siem Reap | ~70USD |
Front Sprocket
Same for the front Sprocket, maybe I will finish my trip with this one. It would be very cool and cheap! No more thinking, testing, cleaning, worrying, it just works!
Front Sprocket illustration | |||||
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Model | Changed | From | distance | To | price |
50 TOOTH CDX SPROCKET (5 BOLT) | 2015 Jan 06 | Sydney (Australia) | ~15.000km | Siem Reap Cambodia | / |
50 TOOTH CDX SPROCKET (5 BOLT) | 2017 Apr 28 | Siem Reap | ~3.000km and counting | Siem reap | ~80USD |
Rohloff Carrier
There is 3 versions of the carrier which I call v1, v2 and v3:
– V1 was released in the same time as Gates launched its Carbon belt system. In this version the carrier was screwed on the Hub. The Gates Sprocket was also screwed on top of the carrier. The problem, in my case at least, is that both the carrier and the sprocket got stuck together when I tried to unscrew the Sprocket only to change it. Only then I realised that Rolhoff released a new version which did not need any specific tool for the sprocket to be mounted on but a tool (Art. #8508 – sprocket removal tool ~$40) was needed to take out the carrier v1 and mount v2.
– V2 was released somewhere in 2017 I guess. In this version, the sprocket is also screwed on the Rolhoff but the difference comes from the way the Sprocket is mounted on it. It’s a similar way like cassettes. The issue, in my case at least, is that a play remained between the carrier and the sprocket which result with a grinding noise and feel in the pedal as the two pieces of metal would rub against each other under the pressure of the belt. Also, the inside ring of the sprocket would worn off.
– V3 was released in 2018 and should be the ultimate version (Art.#8450L) which tightens the sprocket with an extra ring. The downside (for travellers) is that this new system requires another extra tool (Art.#8518 – Lock-ring tool ~$50).
Model | Changed | From | distance | To | price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
V1 | Jan 2015 | Sydney (Australia) | ~15.000km | Siem Reap (Cambodia) | / |
V2 | Apr 2017 | Siem Reap | ~3.000km | Siem Reap | ~65USD |
v3 | Jan 2020 | Siem Reap | 0 | the end! (normally) | Free |
Bottom Bracket
I’ve done more than 11.000km with the original bottom bracket of my first bike. Is this one going to be better? The future will tell me :-)
Update: Yes! The bottom bracket of that second bike is holding on pretty well :-)
Bottom Bracket illustration | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Model | Changed | From | distance | To | price |
Original | 2015 Jan 06 | Sydney (AU) | ~18.000 and counting | Siem Reap | / |
Road Tires
Since 2012, I sticked with the Schwalbe tires. They seem to be the best for the job. And I feel like the Marathon are stronger that the Marathon plus. The rubber seems harder. However, After only 3 months using my new pair, I got some issue with the side of the tire which cracked. I fixed on the go and bought a new one in Adelaide. Then later on in Singapore, a cyclist monk fixed it in a stronger way so I kept using it. Then a second tire had the same issue and I fixed it too myself. So far, 5 years later, I’m still using those 3 tires I bought in Australia and will finish them to death!
Road tire illustration | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Model 27.5″ | Changed | From | distance | To | price |
x2 SCHWALBE MARATHON | Jan 2015 | Sydney | ~12.000km | … | 150AUD |
x1 extra SCHWALBE MARATHON | Apr 2015 | Adelaïde | ~12.000km | … | 75AUD |
MTB Tires
I’ve always been travelling with the original pair of mountain bike tire. I did not use them often right but I keep them as a possible backup in case one of my road tire gets damaged (except that the damage happened but I could fix the tire so still, I did not use a lot that pair).
Mountain bike tire illustration | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Model 27.5″ | Changed | distance | price | ||
x2 Schwalbe RACING RALPH | 2012 Jun 21 | ~300km | / |
Trailer’s Tire
I’ve tried 3 brands and the last schwalbe model I’ve bought is going to last a lot more than 7000km!
Trailer’s tire illustration | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Model 16″ | Changed | From | distance | To | price |
original | 2012 Jun 21 | Auckland (NZ) | 3934km | Christchurch | / |
Maxxis | 2013 Jan 22 | Christchurch | 6981km | Sydney (AU) | 35NZD |
Schwalbe Marathon | 2015 Mar 21 | Sydney (AU) | ~15.000km and counting | Siem Reap | 50AUD |
First bike
Road Tires
After having looked on the web plenty of time I sticked with the Schwalbe tires. They seem to be the best.
Road tire illustration | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Model 26″ | Changed | From | distance | To | price |
x2 Schwalbe Marathon Plus | 2012 Jun 21 | Auckland (NZ) | 8067km | Auckland | 140NZD |
x1 SCHWALBE MARATHON (FRONT) | 2013 Jun 18 | Auckland | 5651km | Sydney (AU) (bike sold) | 29NZD |
x1 SCHWALBE MARATHON PLUS (REAR) | 2013 Jun 18 | Auckland | 5651km | Sydney (AU) (bike sold) | 40NZD |
MTB Tires
I’ve always been travelling with the original pair of mountain bike tire. I did not use them often right but I keep them as a possible backup in case one of my road tire gets damaged.
Mountain bike tire illustration | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Model 26″ | Changed | distance | price | ||
x2 Schwalbe RACING RALPH | 2012 Jun 21 | 617km (bike sold) | / |
Chain
The first time I broke my chain I was so surprised. I did not know that was possible, seriously! I did not plan on my budget to buy a new chain every 3000km. New Zealand is quite expensive regards technology stuff. 90$NZD one chain! Arf!
Chain illustration | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Model | Changed | From | distance | To | price |
Shimano XT | 2012 Jun 21 | Auckland (NZ) | 1511km | Kawakawa bay | / |
Shimano XT | 2012 Sep 04 | Kawakawa bay | 1811km | Somewhere | 89NZD |
Shimano XT | 2012 Nov 18 | Somewhere | 1854km | Christchurch | 90NZD |
SRAM PC1050 | 2013 Jan 23 | Christchurch | 1994km | Hokitika | 90NZD |
SRAM PC1031 | 2013 May 10 | Hokitika | 2410km | Cairns (OZ) | 90NZD |
Shimano XTR | 2013 Sep 07 | Cairns | 3031km | Sydney | 90AUD |
Shimano XTR | 2014 Jun 23 | Sydney | ~3500km (commuting) | Sydney (bike sold) | 49AUD |
Cassette
Same for the cassette. When I bought my first new chain the guy from the workshop explained to me how it does work. Once the chain is too long, it starts ruining the other pieces of the drive train. You can use about 3 or 4 chains with one cassette. After that you will realise that it does not fit anymore and the chain gets court in the system.
Cassette illustration | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Model | Changed | From | distance | To | price |
Shimano XT | 2012 Jun 21 | Auckland (NZ) | 3322km | Napier | / |
SRAM PC1050 | 2012 Nov 08 | Napier (NZ) | 3848km | Hokitika | 165NZD |
SRAM PC1050 | 2013 May 23 | Hokitika (NZ) | ~7100km | Sydney (AU) (bike sold) | 220NZD |
Chainring
And that the same for the chainrings. I’ve spent so much money on drive train with that bike. Of course, because it was a light mountain bike, almost everything was XT or XTR. That’s good, that’s light, but it’s not designed to last… This is what I’ve learnt and I’m so glad I have a belt today.
Chainring illustration | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Model | Changed | From | distance | To | price |
Shimano XT | 2012 Jun 21 | Auckland (NZ) | 7170km | Hokitika | / |
SHIMANO XT | 2013 May 23 | Hokitika (NZ) | 5395km | Sydney (AU) | 307NZD |
FSA K-Force | 2014 Jul 11 | Sydney (Commuting) | ~3500km | Sydney (bike sold) | 80AUD |
Free hub
I was no that surprise when I had to change the free hub. Actually it did a very good job, all NZ! The next one, same model, would last the same but I’ve sold my bike in Sydney.
Free hub illustration | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Model | Changed | From | distance | To | price |
Shimano XT | 2012 Jun 21 | Auckland (NZ) | 9711km | Cairns (AU) | / |
SHIMANO XT | 2013 Sep 07 | Cairns | ~4800km | 50AUD |
Bottom Bracket
Another piece that needs to be change one in a while. Maybe, the freehub and the bottom bracket could be change at the same time to avoid any bad surprise.
Bottom bracket illustration | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Model | Changed | From | distance | To | price |
Shimano XT | 2012 Jun 21 | Auckland (NZ) | 11049km | Woolgoolga (AU) | / |
SHIMANO XT | 2013 May 23 | Woolgoolga | ~4250km | Sydney (bike sold) | 80AUD |
This is definitely not the part I am interested but I am quickly finish reading and I just forget what I have read,haha~