Picking between a new chain or a whole cassette for my worn drivetrain

My bike started skipping under load, so I had to choose: replace just the chain for about $25, or the chain and cassette together for around $70. I measured the old chain with my ruler and it was stretched way past the mark. I went with the full swap, and the shifting is perfect now, no more skips. Anyone have a good way to tell for sure when you can get away with just a chain?

2 comments

2 Comments

patricianguyen13d ago

Feel your pain on that one. The chain checker tool is the only thing I trust now. Saves you from guessing and ending up with a skip anyway.

schmidt.troy12d ago

Patricianguyen is right about the chain checker. I had that same skip, and my old chain was toast. I tried just a new chain first, but it hopped on the old cassette teeth. Had to go back for the cassette anyway. Now I use the checker every few months, and if it's in the red, I just swap both to save the headache.