I am restoring this nice Merida Albon Tech 500 from the 90s.
I need to change the chain since it's pretty worn. By looking at the pictures, should I replace the cassette? What about the front chainrings?
Also, in case they need to be replaced, any advice on what to get on a budget?
Thank you 🙂
by SamviseGangia
6 Comments
If It was me – I’d get a chain on there see how it runs first
almost zero chances of determining if cassette needs replacement by just looks. Put a chain on it and ride. If it slips under load – replace and check chainrings the same way.
Cassette look nice, but front chainrings not so good – i would replace. You can search on AliExpress “prowheel” company, if you low budget, like on pick
https://preview.redd.it/yi2q5ncsgakh1.jpeg?width=1220&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fbd4d1085685c289b4b22332510d655b7613e047
man if you listen to those high performance bikeys they will tell you those are toast. they probably change their chainrings once per year.
I would guess you don’t plan to ride time trials with that.
Also in resent years there is this trend to pamper the shit out of bikes.
I’m not one of them.
I only bought a new chainring once: and that was because the old one was stuck (because of corrosion) to a broken hub and even with all the gadgets I had I wasn’t able to get it off.
I wanted to reuse it, but it didn’t let me.
if you’re tight on budget, there is no reason to replace
Nothing looks that bad to me, cassette is fine, chainrings look normal also. The short tooth is part of the normal profile on the middle ring, BTW.
Sick bike.