Upraging advice for a Newbie!

RussAlf

Hi Guys,

I bought my bike a good couple of months ago with the intention of using it for fitness when there is no wind and i cant go kitesurfing which is my primary hobby (subject to change). I have riden a fair few miles now and have found myself getting more and more into it. So much so ive been going out with some of my work mates who are mad about MTB. They have had me out on all the trails around the North Downs and its got me hooked. I bought some spds and they have really improved my riding but i think the rest of my bike could do with a bit of an upgrade for what im subjecting it to.

Anyway, my Bikes a Giant Yukon, the frame seems very good and from the reviews ive read they all state the same. But ive had a few issues with the brakes. Its currently got Hayes gx2 Mechanical discs on it, ive had a few issues with them from overheating and making wierd grinding noises and loosing alot of braking power. Would upgrading to a set of Hydraulics make a vast improvement? Ive seen these and wondered if they would be a good upgrade?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=7038

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=7039

If not could any one advise better?

Also my brake and shifters are a one peice jobbie so im going to be needing to buy new shifters aswell, my dareilleurs are Shimano allivio being a newbie i cant find any shifters apart from the all in one jobbie that will do alivio or if the Shimano xt range or any other make work with my derailleurs?

After the brakes and shifters upragde i plan on upragding my forks and hopefully that will supply me with a bike that will last a while untill i desire a better bike?

Thanks for your time

Russ

jayson

Shimano Deore hydro discs would suit ur purpose fine, and if u buy these u wont need to buy new shifters either.

U can get the levers seperate but that will mean buyin a set of new shifters which will bump up the cost of things that little bit more.

RussAlf

Those do look good thanks and would save me having to buy new shifters but i do like the idea of having seperate shifters and levers. Would any shimano shifters work with my derailleurs?

jayson

If u have a 9 spd transmission then yeh any 9 spd shimano shifter will work with the gears u have, at the end of the day it comes down to how much ur willing to spend.

dav1

the Yukon only has an 8spd rear block so you would have to upgrade the drive train to use the integrated leavers.

I also have a Yukon and the same upgrade is something I have looked at for a future buy (forks are going to be changed first). You can buy a pair of avilo shifters for around £20 on crc which isn't really a massive jump, its still an upgrade for less then £100.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... delID=7806

hmm looks like the option to buy them as a pair has gone

My thoughts with mine are going to be to buy an avilo pod when i do the breaks then go over to 9spd later when i have the spare cash to do it (probably when the 8spd block has to go due to wear, ill upgrade the lot and be done with it)

RussAlf

Just ordered some Hayes 9 discs and a pair of Shimano XT shifters! Went for the better shifters so when i break or wear out my deralleur i can upgrade them also.

Sounds like a good plan Dav, im defaintely looking to upgrade my forks aswell sometime soon, i find they bottom out easily on the rought stuff. Maybe a hint to the girlfreind for a chirstmas present is in order. How do you find the bike? Have you changed the awful pedals yet?

Russ

supersonic

XT shifters, unless 8spd, will not work with yopur bike.

RussAlf

I ordered the 8spd ones, these ones:

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/acatalog/info_432.html

Will they work?

Thanks

supersonic

Yep, they'll be fine! 9 years ol lol, but great product!

dav1

yeah pedals went in 2 weeks, i killed the bearings on my first wet ride!

other then that i love the bike, i find the same issues you have with the forks and breaks though but being a newbie that was the least of my worries till now.

I'm doing my forks next as they filled up with water a little while back and i know they will be killed over the winter given that I will be riding in the wet. As far as the breaks go a good adjusting before I ride seems to see me through (and on a long ride the multi tool half way), its not ideal but its something I can live with until I can upgrade.

Have you made any other changes to yours? Wider bars are another thing i'm thinking about atm for mine.

RussAlf

Excellent, thanks super. they should last me out on this bike!

Dav, not experienced them filling up with water yet, im sure i will as ive heard of that before actually on these forks. Think the forks will survive me a while yet, untill i begin to out perform them or they break ill replace them.

So far ive changed the pedals to spds and ive changed the grips to some Raceface ones. Id like to change the seat as it begins to get uncomfortable and rub after about 15miles as its so wide.

Russ