Someone was laughing at the age of my bike and I said I only replace what breaks or wears out. The debate turned to what ALWAYS breaks on bikes or wears out really quickly and I felt quite left out.
I have snapped both frames on my bikes but they were both replaced/upgraded without issue.
I have bent the non-driveside pedal arm on a set of Saints cranks.
I have worn out a set of forks and rear shock after 10 years without maintenance.
I have twunted a few rear mechs on trees and undergrowth
Apparently I am meant to have:
1) Snapped my chain
2) Replaced my headset every 6 months
3) Replaced my bottom bracket every year
4) Rebuilt my suspension and sent it off to be tuned at least once a season (winter, summer?)
5) Bled my brakes regularly and changed the model each spring
Does anyone have a list of things they think of as standard product failures / rapidly wearing out components.
I've a couple of older m8's (in there 50's & 60's), who can run a drivetrain for years at a time - seriously. The one just asked me to look at a bike he bought before we went to Morzine in 2005, the forks are knackered but he's not complaining about the gears (though they do look well worn).