Choosing drivetrain components

roundthebend

I shall be attempting to refurbish my old MTB which has served me well for commuting over the past 3 years.

It's currently running the original Shimano kit that came with it 13 years ago and, although it's working OK, I am aware of a few issues which will probably cause terminal failure soon. In any case, the front derailleur is well seized and the shifter for it is intermittent at best.

So, I plan to get parts for a complete new drive train.
How do I go about choosing the ideal cassette, derailleurs and chain?

If it makes any difference, I'd quite like to use the bike for leisure riding off-road too, but that's mostly family cycle rides with the kids and nothing too serious.

Also, I don't like grip shift changers so will want to continue using a system with 2 levers for each derailleur - "Trigger Shifters" I believe. Like this - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=13276

My bike has flat handlebars and currently runs 21 gears. I'm happy to stick with 21 gears though I should think I'll be replacing my wheels too so there will be the option to use an 8sp or 9sp cassette should I want to.

The main question is, which component do I choose first? And, how can I match a chain to a cassette?

nicklouse

TBH with what you are wanting to change you may as well buy a new bike.


but here goes.

check your rear Overlocknut distance of the hub. 8/9spd are 135mm what is yours. (hub width)

you will need an MTB crank set. and the rear mech needs to match the rear shifter (sram with sram or shimano with shimano)

the rest just needs to be the same speed.

It is easier if you say what you want to get and we will say yes or no to it working.

roundthebend

The idea of a new bike was mostly dismissed by the forum folk on the General Commuting section. The main argument being that I'm happy with the frame I have and my budget isn't massive.

OK, so I was looking at the following. This list is simply a case of picking the shifters that look most like what I have already and at a good price, then building from there:

7sp Shimano Acera shifters - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=38723

7sp Shimano cassette - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=46861

One of these chainsets - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=46021
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=46023

This chain - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=25427

This rear derailleur - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=41863

This front derailleur - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=42319

nicklouse

ok first the "cassette" is not a cassette but a spin-on freewheel

but saying it is right for your wheels and you will not be changing wheels.


so with cables and i guess new brake blocks about 100 pounds. there are also things like the BB that may need changing.....

you mentioned wheels so another 100 poundsish

or for 299

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/gt/ ... e-ec020914

and no labour or tool costs.

gbsahne001

Just refurbished my hybrid for £120 ish, although once I'd started I did wonder why I didn't just buy something off ebay as a hack; must be for sentimental reasons

New wheels; £50
Rear Cassete; £12.5
Chain; £10
Front Mech; £14
Brake Blocks (consumable so not counting them)
BB; £15
Front chainset; £22

Total; £123.5

Bought from a mixture of LBS, Chain Reaction, Parker and SJS.

Underscore

Or Merlin do a full Deore V-brake groupset (27 speed), including wheels, for £225, if your frame/fork is worth it...

_

roundthebend

Underscore wrote:

Or Merlin do a full Deore V-brake groupset (27 speed), including wheels, for £225, if your frame/fork is worth it...

_

The frame certainly isn't worth that.
Bike cost £230 back in 1997.
I was looking at a budget of £150 which seems doable if I get some bargain wheels.

For that price I'd struggle to get a usable commuter bike new. My Dad bought a cheapo last year and it started to fall apart within weeks so I'm avoiding the temptation of these mega cheap bikes. I'd hope that buying Shimano or similar parts from CRC might get me some reasonably hard-wearing kit. The current bike is fully Shimano'd up and it's lasted this long so new components ought to have a good life span if looked after.

Alternatively, I'll be looking for a 2nd hand bike on ebay or the classifieds. But I don't know what to look for and would be afraid of buying a duffer.

gbsahne001

I've tried buying bikes on ebay and have found it to be very disappointing, in that the 2nd hand bikes there are actually quite expensive.

For instance a trek 7.5 will go for £300 or therabouts, the CX I got ended up being £450. An earlier bike I'd won for a bargain price was withdrawn by the seller, even though there was no reserve.

nicklouse

roundthebend


dont know where you are but the Police auctions can be very good.

http://www.bumblebeeauctions.co.uk/XcAuctionPro.asp