Help a confused bloke out.

Sarnian

During the summer I had a sort out of bikes, sold a lot of my stuff and I am know down to two ride able bikes, a commuter, on-one Inbred and I have my FS frame on Ebay for sale.I sold my xc aluminum frame and put all the parts on the Inbred (It was a ss) as much as I love riding this bike It does weigh In a bit on the heavy side 32lbs. Now I have about £200 If my frame sells for what I want then £300.

I know you can't make up peoples minds for them but what would you do, take the cash and throw It at the Inbred, lighter wheels and stuff (what else I am not sure) and how light can you make a steel bike. Or by a new frame (was looking at the Dirty Jo) swap the parts around and turn the Inbred back to a ss.
I am looking at doing more xc racing next year so the bike Is for that.

This ones like being stuck between to lovers

Splasher

The inbred frame will account for a pound or two at most over the weight of a lightweight aluminium frame. By my reckoning, you still have 6 extra pounds to lose on the other components to get to a respectable hardtail weight of 24lbs.

Why don't you list out the spec and people can make helpful suggestions. Usually tyres are the cheapest way to lose weight, wheels make a big difference because they are rotating weight so you feel the benefit in two ways and forks would another obvious weight saving. However, the last two are not cheap and without the actual spec it's all speculation.

Sarnian

Now 24lbs would be spot on I will try and put up my spec the best I can.

Wheels, I sold my good ones so I am using something a mate had In the back of he's shed, I have know idea what they are but I can tell you they come In at about 2100g together without QR, cassette or tyres.

Tyres, Maxxis Larsen Mimo

Crank, Shimano LX Chainset HollowTech II

Front mech, Shimano XTR

Rear mech, Shimano XT Shadow

Pedals, DMR V8

Brakes, juicy 3

Bars, FSA XC Riser Bar

Stem, RaceFace Ride XC 90mm

Seat post, DMR

Cassette, Deore 9 speed.

Shifters, XT

Headset, cheap Tioga

Forks, Magura odur they come In at 2000g

supersonic

what forks?

Sarnian

I thought I had missed something, have now added forks to the list.

supersonic

Going to be more than one way to pickle this egg!

Looking at the build you have a well balanced, pretty tough and good value machine for trails. This can make it harder top pick parts to upgrade - sometimes it is easier to upgrade a bike with a mixture of light and heavy parts (even if the overall weight is the same!) as you straight away know which parts to do.

One option is sell the lot and but a new bike. Boardman XC bikes can be had for 600 that weight 26lbs or so. This would be the simplest thing to do on a weight basis.

If you plan to make more future upgrades, maybe consider replacing the frame now. In time it will become the weak link for XC racing.

If you want to lose the most weight for 200 quid, then I would have a look at the following three parts - wheels, cassette and pedals. XT hubs, 717 rims, or crossrides will drop over half a pound, and as Splasher says, losing rotating weight is a good thing. I don't know how much the tyres weigh. The deore cassette is about 450g, while XT is 250g or so. If sticking with flats, try the MG1 - 170g lighter than V8. What does the seatpost weigh?

Sarnian

The seat post Is around 260g, as for the pedals I switch between them and Shimano M647.

supersonic

Seatpost not bad, not worth at this time upgrading for a lighter model. Saddle? My old one weight a portly 410g, knocked 200g off in one swoop!

littleandy0410

Super - 410g? What did you have, one of these?:

supersonic

Lol, wasn't far off! A Selle Tempo, wit little elastomer rings. So comfy, very tough - but weighed more than my dog. So a Gobi was installed!

Sarnian

I don't think the saddle Is to bad, It Is a old Selle Italia of one of my old tri bikes, I think It Is probably on It's sixth bike now.

Sarnian

I can't see how I am going to shed enough wait to get It below about 27-28lbs

supersonic

Neither can I to be honest - not for sensible money. In a way it is a credit to the well balanced spec you picked to start!

I have to say I would sell the bike, put the 200 quid on top and get a new one.

Sarnian

I would probably go for buying a new frame and better wheels then swaping the parts over and turning the Inbred back to a ss.

supersonic

A very good option too! Like I said to start, more than one way to cat this skin ;-)

Some very good alu frames can be had for cheap, same with wheels. Infact 300 quid would get some very good kit.

Sarnian

I do still like the look of the DIrty Jo xc frame I then could probably manege up to £250 for some wheels.

supersonic

Looks good for 95 quid - not too sure on weight, I guess possibly a smidgen less than 4lbs for a medium. I'd contcat them just to make sure!

250 quid should get you a wheelset approaching 1500g.

I quite like this frame though ;-)

http://www.sunsetmtb.co.uk/shop/index.p ... gory_id=22

Sarnian

Yep I like your choice, I had a, well what I think was a 1996 zaskar (I brought It second hand) very nice.

The weight of the Dirty Jo xc Is 1.6kg

supersonic

1.6? Very impressive!

Yeah, mine is a 96!

Sarnian

Mine was not as well polished as yours I still see around from time to time the guy who brought It off of me uses It as a pub bike, bloody sacrilege :evil:

supersonic

Yeah, I see a few too, testament to the strength of the things! Suppose frame is a bit heavy by todays standards, but at just over 22lbs for the build, not complaining ;-)

Sarnian

supersonic wrote:

Yeah, I see a few too, testament to the strength of the things! Suppose frame is a bit heavy by todays standards, but at just over 22lbs for the build, not complaining ;-)

You can't ask for better then that.

supersonic

Cheaply too, lots of sale parts and stuff. Got bars second hand for 25 quid, they weigh 175g, the stem is 115g for 20 quid (ebay). Combo under 300 for 45 quid!

I bet in a year or twos time yours will be as light, if not lighter.

Sarnian

I would be happy with 22lbs well I would be happy with 25lbs or under.

supersonic

Seems you will have the core parts right - light frame, very light wheels. I guess fork at some point, and drivetrain when it wears out (inevitably). I was 8 speed for ages, then it all wore at the same time so got a bargain groupset.

Sarnian

I probably should not have had such a good clear out over the summer there are a few parts that I am regretting selling now.