returning to MTB

Gibzy

Hi everyone, as with everyone here, i have returned from a lengthy spell off of the bik (about 8 yrs). After rifing my GT Palomar since March i took the liberty and without doing my research bought a halfords special - Carrera Vulcan V-spec. Ok its not a the all singing and dancing hardtail that some of you guys ride, but it does the job to get me a little fitter than i am now.
I am in the process fo fitting some Clarks S2 hydraulic brakes but have an issue. Will 180mm rotars fit both from and rear of the bike, or will i have to have a smaller rear unit.
Im hoping that the bike will last enough so that i can lose some weight and convince the missus to let me buy something a little more "special"

Im living in south wales and have no excusess about nowhere to ride etc, just find riding alone a bit of a bind and can mean ditching going out sometime. becuase as you know riding without mates it CRAP. !!!!!

thanks everyone

Shaun

cooldad

Welcome, can't comment on the bike, but the idea is to have fun. That doesn't depend on the value of your bike.
Suggest you look in the 'Rides'.
Have found a great bunch of friends to ride with around London, I'm sure you can find the same thing there.

Gibzy

thanks for the reply, i am enjoying using the bike, just want to see what the limits are of certain components now..... really its just an excuss to upgrade them.!!!!

I live about 20mins drive away from both Afan Argoed, Cwn carn and the brecon beacons national park. I really shouldnt complian

thel33ter

When you replace the brakes, you may need adaptors for the calipers, and adaptors for larger rotors.

What do the disc mounts on the forks and frame look like? Either Post mount (PM), or international standard (IS)

Post Mount


IS Mount

Gibzy

Hi After looking at your pics i would say that they are the IS type fittings.
I am wondering now wheather it is worth fitting these brakes to these forks. The only reason i say that is i am looking to replace them after Christmas for something a bit more substancial.
For around £250 what would be the best set of forks for me to get. Please bare in mind i am 5' 10" and 17.5 stone, i only ride light / mod XC for the moment.

Sorry for all the questions

Shaun

x-isle

The brakes will feel very different, but if you currently have IS and have buy some new forks you'll most certainly be purchasing Post mount, so worth thinking about. However, saying that, you should still be able to fit the brakes to both mounts with an adapter. Adapters are also used to mount different size discs. Just checking, does your current wheels have disc mounts as they may not be disc compatible.

To be honest, as you say about "all singing all dancing", bikes don't have to be amazing. The Vulcan is not a bad bike and it's certainly not a Halfords Special, it's much more than that! Don't feel that you need a bling bike to go out and have fun!

If you are thinking in the near future about changing your bike, I'd bank the money for the forks and put it towards a new bike. As forks can be a considerable outlay of a new bike.

Gibzy

Hi X-Isle, thanks for the info. Im going to run 180mm front and rear rotars. the wheels already have mountings for the discs so im ok on that front.
If i was going to purchase a new bike it would probally be a DH rig, then i would have a setup for both diciplines.
do you have any recommendations for forks ?

shaun

thel33ter

If you have the cash now, and the right steerer this is a bargain - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rock-Shox-Reba-Ra ... 04fef26988

These are very similar but a bit heavier.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2011-RockShox-Rec ... 04fef26988

As far as I can tell the brakes come with adaptors if you get them from Chain reaction cycles.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=47543

Gibzy

thel33ter - Many thanks for looking, its appreciated, If only i could get my hands on them rock shox in the white not black id snap them up.

I all ready have the disc brakes (180mm front and back) just awaiting new handle bars, shocks etc for crimbo and then i will be sorted, i think !!!!

thel33ter

White stuff always costs more, cheapest equivalents I can find are around £330 :roll: You're gonna end up with a great bike too. Also consider some 120mm forks, as they will slacken the bike a bit, and make it a bit more fun on the downhills.

x-isle

Just make sure the frame is ok with 120 as a lot of XC designed frames can be dangerous on anything over 100mm because of the pressure on the headtube welds.

thel33ter

x-isle wrote:

Just make sure the frame is ok with 120 as a lot of XC designed frames can be dangerous on anything over 100mm because of the pressure on the headtube welds.

All the Carrera's use very similar frames, only differences are V brake mounts or lack of, and most of the new ones come with 120mm's.

Gibzy

thats alot guys for all your help, if anyone wants to seer the upgraades taking place over the next couple of weeks check out my blog

ww.valleysmtb.blogspot.com

Cheers

Shaun

Gibzy

Guys, what are your opinions on Halo Rims. I want a set of white wheels (black spokes) and these seem to be the ones popping up all the time. As im tring to keep costs down are there any others i should concider first

Diolch

Shaun

NW Postie

I recently took the plunge and bought some wheels for my XC bike and went for the Pro-Lite Arnad's. Upto now they've taken a good battering and even been used for some trails riding up at Lee Quarry.

Got mine from Ribble, ordered online and went and collected from their warehouse as i was going to be over that way to collect them. The guys in the shop were helpful and one of the sales reps said he has a set on his bike and couldn't fault them... All in all happy with the purchase and should be ok for what you want

Pro-lite Arnad

thel33ter

Halo rims are cheap, tough, and look good, but aren't that light, not crazily heavy either though.

bwfc4eva868

I have the same bike and have done what your doing. Replaced the wheels to Mavic XM317's and have shimano deore discs front and rear. Just need to upgrade the forks and then i will start saving for a new frame

My Carrera has took a good old beating and its still wanting more Quality little frame to upgrade, alot like the Hardrocks.

Gibzy

thel33ter wrote:

Halo rims are cheap, tough, and look good, but aren't that light, not crazily heavy either though.

im not the lightest of rider and i dont think any extra grams are going to make the journey much harder. just means it will get me fitter quicker

Gibzy

If i was to change my forks to a set of fox 32 float's would the standard carrera headset have to be changed, or could i continue to use the standard one?

Thanks

Shaun

jklash1987

Gibzy wrote:

If i was to change my forks to a set of fox 32 float's would the standard carrera headset have to be changed, or could i continue to use the standard one?

Thanks

Shaun

You can use the same headset. Just make sure you buy forks with a 1.1/8" Steer tube.

Gibzy

jklash1987 wrote:

Gibzy wrote:

If i was to change my forks to a set of fox 32 float's would the standard carrera headset have to be changed, or could i continue to use the standard one?

Thanks

Shaun

You can use the same headset. Just make sure you buy forks with a 1.1/8" Steer tube.

Sorry for sounding like a noob but is the steer tube the piece that bolts onto the headset. ?

Gibzy

Gibzy wrote:

jklash1987 wrote:

Gibzy wrote:

If i was to change my forks to a set of fox 32 float's would the standard carrera headset have to be changed, or could i continue to use the standard one?

Thanks

Shaun

You can use the same headset. Just make sure you buy forks with a 1.1/8" Steer tube.

Sorry for sounding like a noob but is the steer tube the piece that bolts onto the headset. ?

Anyone?

Gibzy

Please ??