New derailleur on a budget

Joonyer

Hi all

Got a Trek 4300 Disk (2007) and the crappy Shimano Alivio on it actually broke the other day (only had the bike a month) when one of the cogs broke off.

I've had the Shimano LX/XT range recommended to me but I have no idea wtf I'm buying here as I'm new to the whole MB scene.

I wana spend up to £35 ideally, no more, preferably less, bearing in mind I spend most of my time riding it for fun around town and casually tearing through the woods (well I say casually, I've managed to mong my derailleur twice, and now I've broken it) though I am intending to start riding it properly soon (when I have more time) so I want something better than basic, but not semi-pro. I'm sure you know the sort of budget I mean.

For those who don't know, the Trek 4300 spec can be found at the following link. http://www.thecyclepeople.com/productdetails.asp?id=1680

My downhill enthusiast mate informs me that I need to know something about ratios (2:1 or 1:1 etc) before buying, so I wanted to ensure I get the right bits. I don't wana take it into a bike shop as I know from building computers that I can save loads by learning and doing it myself.

So, any recommendations please? Price, justification, and pros/cons please

Cheers, happy riding (if only the mrs would say that).

/J

nicklouse

i would pop into the LBS and first check if the mech can be fixed with a new jockey wheel.

if not a deore mech and a new inner cable.

and dont worry about ratios as you dont have and will not be buying Sram kit at this time.

Ciaran500

You can't really go wrong with anything from the deore, LX or XT range. 2:1 and 1:1 doesn't matter for you since you're sticking with Shimano parts.

Its really worth moving on from the Alivio even if it can be fixed, I used to have one and it didn't feel that sharp when changing gears and I was never able to set it up so it changed gear correctly every time across the whole range.

You will come across options when looking through derailers, you want a long cage and not a rapid rise one.

supersonic

New cog cheap as chips. Alivio is a decent mech!

35 quid on a mech is more than 10% of the bike value, gotta put things into context lol. Money saved could go towards better tyres for example, which really make a difference.

Joonyer

Aye but I'm intending to gradually upgrade the bike anyway - I bought a low end one but a fairly upgradeable one thankfully. I'm considering just buying a new derailleur as mine is pretty battered now and has been straightened out with pliers more than once (I also had to replace the rear hanger as it was trashed recently).

What's the advantage of the Deore/LX/XTs over Alivio? Also what's long cage vs rapid rise? I'm gona get reading soon so I don't just keep asking questions. If you don't think I need to spend £35 then fair enough.

Cheers again,
/J

Larok

If it can't be fixed, one of these

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=produ ... egoryId=76

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=produ ... egoryId=76

supersonic

As you go up the range they get lighter, better made, and last longer. The 'snappy' new feeling lasts a bit longer, but from new you'd be hard pushed to tell the difference.

Long cage is needed if you run a triple chainset (so the derailer can stretch round all the gear combos) rapid rise reverses the spring, so the shifter levers work the other way round!

If making gradual upgrades, then maybe the XT is the way to go. If a one off, just get a cheap Alivio or Acera.

Is a nice frame.

supersonic

That XT is a bargain!

Larok

Alivio

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... delID=5088

grumsta

For £25 just get the XT one from Merlin in the link above imo.

Larok

Would be worth checking of the XT is ok with an 8spd, anyone know? That bike is 8spd right?

supersonic

Yep, absolutely fine!

Joonyer

Absolute legend - £10 less than my budget max, and looks pretty sweet! 8 speed indeed, cheers for that folks. Now I'm gona read up on how to fit it haha, looks fairly simple though but I need to make sure it's set up right.

Thanks again everyone for your contributions!

/J

*edit*

Just bought the mech - didn't realise it's free delivery too, bonus! There's no way I'd get it anywhere near this cheap in my local shop, that's ace. I know it's expensive considering the overall cost of the bike, but I'd rather have decent parts and not be replacing constantly. Excited now haha, it's like when I used to order computer parts...

Ciaran500

Replacing it is very easy, going to take more time trying to set it up.


Full guide how to fix/replace every part of a bike on here: http://www.parktool.com/repair/

Joonyer

hugz ;D

buzz1

I run the XT mech on my Orange HT, cant fault it, for future upgrades can I suggest this...
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=13207
it,s the only Sram shifter that works with Shimmano deraileurs, and is as smooth as silk!