After discovering that my lower jockey wheel is almost completely fubar (after putting a new chain on and having it jump on and off) I'm wondering how long they should last?

I've only have the Rear Mech since June and haven't ridden the bike that much.

And what replacements are best?

how long's a piece of string?

Longer than that.

What's wrong with it ? If its worn - i.e. ninja throwing star stylee then you want to take a look at the chain.

Otherwise, I've found the jockeys tend to go a chain or three.

only cheap to replace, atleast you can with LX, which is why I went that way.

My Deore, developed to much play and was doing the same, or something.

Gone LX, new Mech as it was cheaper than Deore.

Kato: Thiiiiis Long ;-)

m@ - I thought so.

Sloboy - one of the teeth has gone a bit ninja the others are just seriously sharke toothed and just aren't gripping the chain (or at least they are bouncing in and out). I've reversed it and that works as a stop gag for now. I'm going to order a new LX one I think. Only £3.99 from Wiggle so can't moan too much.

Just seems weird when I rode 2,000 miles (and about 3/4 chains) on an Acera rear mech with the original jockey wheels.

Mind you I am running an 8speed chain on it (a 9 speed LX mech) so maybe that has something to do with it?

Stop gag! Stop gap even.

I get through a set of Jockey wheels a year, that's about 2000 miles I reckon

That is on a SRAM 9.0 mech

And, of course, when you change a one year old chain, most people think it's a good idea to change the cassette as well.

But that's just popular opinion.........

I change my chains at about 50% worn. Get 3 chains to the cassette that way at least.

I finish the chains off on an old scrapper I use around the village for taking kids to school and going to the pub/shop etc

Charlie, the chain isn't a year old (its the second on the cassette since I bought that in Jan (so each chain - 3/4 months replaced before they get really knackered).

Everything is cool now though (or will be once the new jockey wheel arrives).

I'm finishing the upgrade to 9 speed in the new year so I was at pains to buy another speed cassette for only a couple of months use.

(8) speed cassette

Stick to 8speed, save your money Ollie, it's stronger, shits better, and the increased clearances mean they work better in the mud to.

I've got 9speed, I'd swap, but like my Rocket Shifters to much :)

"save your money Ollie, it's stronger, shits better, and the increased clearances mean they work better in the mud to"

'shits' better eh?

Funniest thing i've seen in a long time that Dylan, cheers..

'shits better' hahahaha :)

I still run 8 speed happily

Only downside is you can't get a cassette with more than 32 teeth on the biggest ring

Just have to build stronger legs instead

Doh!!!!

32's enough anyway Alan.

Get some of these new fangled 9 speeds with dinner plates for a big ring on the cassette

LOL @ shits better!!

I am tempted to stay 8 speed for those reasons Dylan, but I have kacky integrated shifters and the only 8speed shifter units I can find are really quite XT's (about £45 for the pair). Maybe I'll look for some second hand ones.

Would quite like to go from 30 teeth to 34 on the rear too. But maybe 32 would do.

I know about the Shifters, already looked into it, as I said, rather attached to my new SRAM Rocket, loads better action that Shimano's ever where, and I thought they where fine.