The drivetrain, and the order things wear out
A drivetrain wears as a system, and it wears in a predictable order: chain first, then cassette, then chainring. Understanding that saves real money.
The chain is the sacrificial part. Replace it before it stretches past about 0.75% and the cassette and chainring survive to see several chains. Leave it too long and the worn chain reshapes the teeth it runs on — at which point a new chain skips under load, and you are buying the whole lot at once.
That is why a chain checker is the highest-return tool a home mechanic can own, and why we would rather sell you a chain early than a cassette late.
Speeds, and why the number matters so much
The single specification that has to match is the number of sprockets on the cassette. An 11-speed chain is narrower than a 10-speed chain; a 12-speed cassette needs a 12-speed shifter pulling a 12-speed derailleur through the right cable ratio. Mix them and it will not index, no matter how carefully it is adjusted.
We carry Shimano chains from 6/7/8-speed up to 12-speed, and the SRAM Eagle 12-speed range including their T-Type and Flattop chains, which are not interchangeable with the older ones despite looking similar.
Mechanical or electronic
SRAM's AXS range shifts by radio rather than cable, which removes cable stretch and housing friction from the equation entirely. It also means a battery to charge and a pod to pair. Both approaches are here — see the SRAM drivetrain range for the AXS parts, and the Shimano chains for the cable side.
Common questions
How do I know what I have?
It is usually printed on the parts. Count the sprockets on the rear cassette, then look for a model name on the rear derailleur — Deore, XT, GX, NX, Rival. Bring the bike or a clear photo to our bike shop in Hout Bay and we will identify it. Bottom brackets are the one part you genuinely cannot identify from a photo.
Can I fit a bigger cassette for the climbs?
Often, but the rear derailleur has a maximum sprocket size it can physically wrap, and the chain has to be long enough. Both are checkable before you buy. Worth asking rather than guessing.
Should the workshop fit it?
A chain, usually not. A cassette and derailleur together, probably — indexing and hanger alignment are where home fits go wrong. Book it through our workshop.
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