help with upgrade/stay the same

ilovegrace

I am using a Giant TCX 2 cyclo cross http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bik ... ifications, at the moment for as my winter / weekend bike .
I cover around 150 - 180 miles per week and have had the bike for a couple of years now.
After popping into my LBS on my way home from work for a quick gear indexing (cost me three chocolate brownies) they have informed me I will need , (springtime) rear cassette , chain .front gears big and little cog (what it they are called ?) and possible new derailleur.
What is the cheapest, most cost efficient way of doing this and with what parts.
All information is gratefully received .
regards
ILG
Cost conscious cyclist

keef66

If you are genuinely doing 150-200 miles every week, then over 2 years that would be -15 - 20,000 miles. If you haven't replaced the chain in that time it's quite conceivable that you'll need a new chain, cassette and chainrings. Not so sure about the rear derailleur though, unless you've bashed it, and even then you'd be more likely to bend the hanger rather than the mech itself.

If you've been replacing the chain more frequently then I'd just try a new chain and cassette, and only replace the chainrings if the new chain skips under load.

A photo of the chainring teeth would help.

keef66

And the most cost-effective way to do it is to shop around on line for the cheapest parts and fit them yourself. Unless you already have them (I'm guessing not) or can borrow some you'd need some tools though:

Chain whip to hold the cassette while you undo the lockring
Cassette tool (and a large adjustable spanner or socket handle to turn it)
Chain tool to shorten the new chain to the desired length (and rejoin it if using eg the Shimano joining pin)

I'd suggest the cheapest SRAM or Shimano 9 speed cassette with the ratios you want, plus a
KMC 9 speed chain; should come with a joining link to make things easier once you've cut it to size.

If you find you need to replace the chainrings then you'd also need allen keys (or possibly Torx bits) plus a chainring bolt tool.

richard_farrant

keef66 wrote:

Chain whip to hold the cassette while you undo the lockring
Cassette tool (and a large adjustable spanner or socket handle to turn it)

I got these when I swapped wheels, bargain I thought

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/TOJWLT/jobsworth-cassette-lockring-tool
http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/TOJWCW/jobsworth-chain-whip

boydster76

Pick up the parts at a fraction of the RRP by keeping an eye on the sales, the classifieds section on here and on eBay.

You have a choice of upgrading to 105 (for example) as you do it, or sticking with direct replacements of the stuff you currently have. You'll probably find you can pick up 105 stuff online for the same price (or less if you are careful) as your LBS sells the lower range stuff.

Swiching those items over is a pretty straight forward job - a chain whip and lockring are the only specialist things you'll need and they can be found online pretty cheaply. There are plenty of 'how to' videos on the web if you've not done it before.

Anonymous

I feel a little bit sorry for the LBS.
They are giving an income free gear indexing and free advice then having their customer (if you can call someone who pays in brownies a customer) buy stuff online and DIY.

If the OP goes down the DIY route I think he should make a cup of tea and enjoy the brownies himself while he youtubes how to index gears.

If he fits all the kit himself he will have to know how to index gears anyway. either that of face having the second batch of brownies thrown at him

keef66

Richard Farrant wrote:

keef66 wrote:

Chain whip to hold the cassette while you undo the lockring
Cassette tool (and a large adjustable spanner or socket handle to turn it)

I got these when I swapped wheels, bargain I thought

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/TOJWLT/jobsworth-cassette-lockring-tool
http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/TOJWCW/jobsworth-chain-whip

No need for the spanner / socket handle with that cassette tool!

wandsworth

boydster76 wrote:

You have a choice of upgrading to 105 (for example) as you do it, or sticking with direct replacements of the stuff you currently have. You'll probably find you can pick up 105 stuff online for the same price (or less if you are careful) as your LBS sells the lower range stuff.

Perfectly good advice, especially in the context of potentially upgrading, but then who's going to be around to do small jobs for the price of a coffee or a couple of biscuits? My LBS is the same. Half the stuff they've done on my bikes hasn't cost me more than a cup of coffee. Also, if you're not confident to fit the parts yourself, your LBS will likely fit them for you for free if you bought the parts from them - mine does. The internet won't do that. I'm not saying never use online retailers, but if the price difference is relatively small, why not support your LBS?

Anonymous

My problem with LBS is more whether or not they do the job properly, rather than how much they charge to do it.

Maybe see if they will price match the parts or fit your own parts if you find them cheaper on wiggle etc.
At least you are giving them a chance if they are trying to charge you list price.

boydster76

wandsworth wrote:

boydster76 wrote:

You have a choice of upgrading to 105 (for example) as you do it, or sticking with direct replacements of the stuff you currently have. You'll probably find you can pick up 105 stuff online for the same price (or less if you are careful) as your LBS sells the lower range stuff.

Perfectly good advice, especially in the context of potentially upgrading, but then who's going to be around to do small jobs for the price of a coffee or a couple of biscuits? My LBS is the same. Half the stuff they've done on my bikes hasn't cost me more than a cup of coffee. Also, if you're not confident to fit the parts yourself, your LBS will likely fit them for you for free if you bought the parts from them - mine does. The internet won't do that. I'm not saying never use online retailers, but if the price difference is relatively small, why not support your LBS?

I just learnt to do it all myself. The time it takes is relatively little and there is degree of satisfaction to be had from doing it yourself. I know it goes against all things cycling, however my LBS is over-priced with an average/poor website and often has to rely on ordering in fairly straight forward items. As a result I have found I can get things much cheaper and as quickly online, can find a better range online, often find better advice online, don't have to put up with slightly arrogant service and have learnt a ton about my bikes along the way.

Yes it's good to have a warm feeling that you have supported a local business, however in this day and age when expected service levels have risen and DIY is easier - my LBS have done very little to help themselves.

I am not advocating others to follow my approach, and perhaps I need to move to somewhere with a better LBS, but I just don't buy into the 'LBS is best' line anymore.

wandsworth

boydster76 wrote:

wandsworth wrote:

boydster76 wrote:

You have a choice of upgrading to 105 (for example) as you do it, or sticking with direct replacements of the stuff you currently have. You'll probably find you can pick up 105 stuff online for the same price (or less if you are careful) as your LBS sells the lower range stuff.

Perfectly good advice, especially in the context of potentially upgrading, but then who's going to be around to do small jobs for the price of a coffee or a couple of biscuits? My LBS is the same. Half the stuff they've done on my bikes hasn't cost me more than a cup of coffee. Also, if you're not confident to fit the parts yourself, your LBS will likely fit them for you for free if you bought the parts from them - mine does. The internet won't do that. I'm not saying never use online retailers, but if the price difference is relatively small, why not support your LBS?

I just learnt to do it all myself. The time it takes is relatively little and there is degree of satisfaction to be had from doing it yourself. I know it goes against all things cycling, however my LBS is over-priced with an average/poor website and often has to rely on ordering in fairly straight forward items. As a result I have found I can get things much cheaper and as quickly online, can find a better range online, often find better advice online, don't have to put up with slightly arrogant service and have learnt a ton about my bikes along the way.

Yes it's good to have a warm feeling that you have supported a local business, however in this day and age when expected service levels have risen and DIY is easier - my LBS have done very little to help themselves.

I am not advocating others to follow my approach, and perhaps I need to move to somewhere with a better LBS, but I just don't buy into the 'LBS is best' line anymore.

Yes, doing it yourself is better if you can. Even the very small bits of maintenance that I've managed to do myself have given me great satisfaction.

And I agree - my comment above assumes that your LBS do a good job and have a good attitude etc. My most local one, London Cycle Workshop, are excellent and very friendly, not at all patronising, no ironic 'taches etc.

ilovegrace

Thanks for all the replies chaps.
Always interesting as usual.
I am worse than useless with anything mechanical , (joinery is my trade !) so I would probably go down the LBS route.
Mind you I had a little giggle with (Carbonators ?) post re Chocolate brownies.
I must have spent at least a £1000 or so at the shop over the last few months and I regularly drop in at dinner time with a cake or three for the staff.
So when I call in in distress on my ride home from work for them to have a look at my gears (a five minute job to them )
and I ask how much I owe them , the reply was "a cake will do" then I buy a cake.
I am just unsure as to if I should upgrade to say 105 gear or stick with Tiagra as I say I rack up a few miles on my commute etc and need some hard wearing gear.
thanks again
regadrs
ILG

boydster76

I would imagine that 105 will offer a reasonable weight saving and better performance combined with a good level of endurance. I would say it's probably as expensive as you'd want to go but worth the step up.

penguin_of_death

When you do upgrade get a chain checker to stop you having th esame problem so soon