What would you upgrade first?

MTBDanno

My new bike is on order, the spec looks fairly good to me, but what would you upgrade first? I'll mainly be doing trail riding and a bit of beginner downhill.


Forks: Manitou Minute Comp, 130mm Travel, 15mm Thru-Axle, Tapered Steerer

Groupset:

Chainset: FSA Comet Modular 175mm 1x Direct Mount Mega Exo 32T
Shift Levers: Sram NX 11 Speed
Rear Derailleur: Sram NX 11 Speed Long Cage
Cassette: Sram 1130 11 Speed 11-42T
Chain: FSA – 11 Speed CN-1102N

Wheelset:

Rims: WTB STP I23, TCS, 27.5”, 32 Hole
Front Hub: Novatec D811SB-15 Disc 100mm x 15mm
Rear Hub: Novatec D812SB-A4S Disc Rear 135mm QR
Front Tyre: WTB Vigilante TCS 2.3 – 27.5” – Light/High Grip Compound (Tubeless Ready)
Rear Tyre: WTB Trail Boss TCS 2.25 – 27.5” – Light/Fast Compound (Tubeless Ready)

Components:

Front brake: Shimano M506 Deore 180mm
Rear Brake: Shimano M506 Deore 160mm
Handlebars:Ragley – 740mm Wide, 15mm Rise
Grips:Ragley Single Lock On
Headset:FSA 57e
Stem:Ragley – 50mm Reach, 3 Deg Rise
Saddle:Ragley Tracker
Seatpost:Ragley 400mm, 31.6mm

MTBDanno

oxoman wrote:

As its a new bike change nothing, ride it and see what needs changing first. You might not like the saddle, the tyres might be up to the kind of trail you do etc. The biggest change you can do regarding your new bike is YOU, get fit and if you don't have the skills already learn them. I wouldn't be doing downhill on it either, trails and bikeparks, enduro etc but not proper downhill.

Thanks, this is actually really good advise. I think I'm getting myself a bit carried away with specs! I've never done any serious MTB riding, so really I'll be starting from scratch.

Danieljephcott

As mentioned above, don't change anything. Get comfy on it first and if you can't get comfy they change parts to get comfy. Saddle and pedals make a world of different.

Some grippy pedals will help with confidence while hiting the trails and a saddle that is comfy is a god send.

Apart from that the spec will be fine.

MTBDanno

Danieljephcott wrote:

As mentioned above, don't change anything. Get comfy on it first and if you can't get comfy they change parts to get comfy. Saddle and pedals make a world of different.

Some grippy pedals will help with confidence while hiting the trails and a saddle that is comfy is a god send.

Apart from that the spec will be fine.

I was thinking of getting some Nano-X pedals from Superstar components as I've heard good things about them and theyre a great price. Never really thought about saddle pref before...

What do you think of the tyres and hubs in this spec?

Crazyjenkins01

Nano-X are awesome, I love mine to bits, but luckily they aren't IN bits yet!

Danieljephcott

Nukeproof evos are insanely grippy and a good price.

Honestly if you new into mtb I wouldn't worry about hubs etc. Just get comfy and ride lots. If you feel like you have then got to a level that requires a better bike then change it.

Upgrading major components can become expensive when a new bike can work out better.

Oh tubeless is also a fantastic upgrade

poah

get the bike fit sorted and go for a ride first but I would run the tyres tubeless if they aren't already and get a dropper.

MTBDanno

all good advise guys, I appreciate it.

My friend is selling an externally routed dropper which I'm going to buy and the rims and tyres are tubeless ready, so that might be a nice easy upgrade to go for.

The frame is a Ragley Marley 1.0 with plenty of upgrade potential, so hopefully I can keep hold of it for a few years and turn it into a monster!

MTBDanno

oxoman wrote:

I should have mentioned her good footwear to suit pedals, no good wearing soft sole trainers they get shredded easily and your feet will hurt after a bit.

I don't have any specific MTD shoes, I was planning to wear vans? I hear five tens are good but how much better are they than a pair of vans considering the price difference?

Can you guys recommend a MTD maintenance kit / what tools will be most important for simple repairs?

Crazyjenkins01

Vans wont cut it.
You need a stiff soled shoe so no loss of power in the pedal stroke. Vans/skate shoes will be far too flexible and they'll also be too soft so will get chewed up by the pedal pins.
Any MTB specific shoe is a god start but five tens are one of, if not the best. I wear Impacts with the Nano-x and the grip is insane.

Danieljephcott

Five ten free rider canvas or elements are amazing. So comfy and grip is crazy. Easy to clean, strong and they look good

MTBDanno

Danieljephcott wrote:

Five ten free rider canvas or elements are amazing. So comfy and grip is crazy. Easy to clean, strong and they look good

I'm hearing good reviews from everyone about five tens... maybe its worth the investment. Theres just something inside me that doesn't want to splash out on decent shoes, just to get them caked in mud the first time I go out riding in them

Hinaultscrapcousin

Don't bother with a dropper at first, learn to ride the bike properly. Just get a reasonable set of pedals and use your Vans to start with. 5:10 freeriders are about as stiff as cooked spaghetti anyway.

Danieljephcott

MTBDanno wrote:

Danieljephcott wrote:

Five ten free rider canvas or elements are amazing. So comfy and grip is crazy. Easy to clean, strong and they look good

I'm hearing good reviews from everyone about five tens... maybe its worth the investment. Theres just something inside me that doesn't want to splash out on decent shoes, just to get them caked in mud the first time I go out riding in them

I was at your place about 6 months ago. I bought some van type shoes which were ok but did slide about a bit while at Cannock. Then I tried the nukeproof evos and the five tens and the grip was like night and day. It's confidence inspiring which is the most important part for a beginner. It's all about gaining confidence.

Regarding the comment about a dropper not needed, if your going to be going to trail centres then again a dropper is an amazing thing. I would not have a bike without one. Again dropping the post and being closer down on the bike gives you that control and confidence.

MTBDanno

Danieljephcott wrote:

MTBDanno wrote:

Danieljephcott wrote:

Five ten free rider canvas or elements are amazing. So comfy and grip is crazy. Easy to clean, strong and they look good

I'm hearing good reviews from everyone about five tens... maybe its worth the investment. Theres just something inside me that doesn't want to splash out on decent shoes, just to get them caked in mud the first time I go out riding in them

I was at your place about 6 months ago. I bought some van type shoes which were ok but did slide about a bit while at Cannock. Then I tried the nukeproof evos and the five tens and the grip was like night and day. It's confidence inspiring which is the most important part for a beginner. It's all about gaining confidence.

Regarding the comment about a dropper not needed, if your going to be going to trail centres then again a dropper is an amazing thing. I would not have a bike without one. Again dropping the post and being closer down on the bike gives you that control and confidence.

Does it matter that the Nukeproof evo pedals are composite rather than metal? I've always thought of plastic pedals as cheap and nasty.

Hinaultscrapcousin

Danieljephcott wrote:

MTBDanno wrote:

Danieljephcott wrote:

Five ten free rider canvas or elements are amazing. So comfy and grip is crazy. Easy to clean, strong and they look good

I'm hearing good reviews from everyone about five tens... maybe its worth the investment. Theres just something inside me that doesn't want to splash out on decent shoes, just to get them caked in mud the first time I go out riding in them

I was at your place about 6 months ago. I bought some van type shoes which were ok but did slide about a bit while at Cannock. Then I tried the nukeproof evos and the five tens and the grip was like night and day. It's confidence inspiring which is the most important part for a beginner. It's all about gaining confidence.

Regarding the comment about a dropper not needed, if your going to be going to trail centres then again a dropper is an amazing thing. I would not have a bike without one. Again dropping the post and being closer down on the bike gives you that control and confidence.

Trail centres are designed to be ridden on XC bikes, droppers really aren't a requirement for a new rider.

robertpb

After 30+ years of MTBing my priorities would be first tyres, last dropper.

Just get out and ride and don't worry about the shiny stuff on the shelf.

Danieljephcott

MTBDanno wrote:

Danieljephcott wrote:

MTBDanno wrote:

Danieljephcott wrote:

Five ten free rider canvas or elements are amazing. So comfy and grip is crazy. Easy to clean, strong and they look good

I'm hearing good reviews from everyone about five tens... maybe its worth the investment. Theres just something inside me that doesn't want to splash out on decent shoes, just to get them caked in mud the first time I go out riding in them

I was at your place about 6 months ago. I bought some van type shoes which were ok but did slide about a bit while at Cannock. Then I tried the nukeproof evos and the five tens and the grip was like night and day. It's confidence inspiring which is the most important part for a beginner. It's all about gaining confidence.

Regarding the comment about a dropper not needed, if your going to be going to trail centres then again a dropper is an amazing thing. I would not have a bike without one. Again dropping the post and being closer down on the bike gives you that control and confidence.

Does it matter that the Nukeproof evo pedals are composite rather than metal? I've always thought of plastic pedals as cheap and nasty.

I got these as the reviews were very very good. I ride Cannock pretty much every week and my pedals get bashed probably 10 times each ride. Still look new to me.

AlShack

Get some training - makes a huge difference to both ability and confidence. A group (4-5 people) session with someone good should be around the £80 mark.

I'd disagree with the comments about not getting a dropper. It makes handling the bike and feeling confidence in the bike (and you) much better. Without wishing to sound like an arse, with the seat down you feel more part of the bike as opposed sitting on top of it. It gives you far more scope for body movement (side to side and up & down), which is essential.

Just my 2p.

Hinaultscrapcousin

AlShack wrote:

Get some training - makes a huge difference to both ability and confidence. A group (4-5 people) session with someone good should be around the £80 mark.

I'd disagree with the comments about not getting a dropper. It makes handling the bike and feeling confidence in the bike (and you) much better. Without wishing to sound like an ars*, with the seat down you feel more part of the bike as opposed sitting on top of it. It gives you far more scope for body movement (side to side and up & down), which is essential.

Just my 2p.

I don't disagree with that, I just think a newbie rider is better learning how to ride properly without one first, especially as every trail a new rider is likely to ride in the first 2-3 years unlikely requires use of a dropper.

larkim

If it was me, I'd leave the dropper for a good while so that when you do get it you really notice the difference that it makes and it'll make it feel better VFM! The dropper in our stable is praised as the best buy ever, but it was only acquired 8 months after the bike itself had been put through its paces, so the rider really noticed how good and useful it was to him.

As others have said, ride it first and learn about what you start to feel are weaknesses in it. And then start with the cheap stuff which might fix those issues. Different tyres can make the same bike feel like a new bike. Grippy pedals always important, and very sensible advice here to match that with shoes that use that grip. Bar grips too can be a cheap and effective improvement that you'll notice (assuming you don't get along with the stock grips). But if you don't learn about the bikes deficiencies first of all, you won't notice the impact of the upgrades (and may even be downgrading in how it feels for you).

Steve-XcT

Hinaultscrapcousin wrote:

Danieljephcott wrote:

MTBDanno wrote:

Danieljephcott wrote:

Trail centres are designed to be ridden on XC bikes, droppers really aren't a requirement for a new rider.

Cripes.... I'd be scared of breaking by XC bike at the local trail centre.
What are trail bike for then ???

Local trail Centre

Hinaultscrapcousin

Steve-XcT wrote:

Hinaultscrapcousin wrote:

Danieljephcott wrote:

MTBDanno wrote:

Danieljephcott wrote:

Trail centres are designed to be ridden on XC bikes, droppers really aren't a requirement for a new rider.

Cripes.... I'd be scared of breaking by XC bike at the local trail centre.
What are trail bike for then ???

Local trail Centre

Yes, because that's extremely common on all trail centre trails... Where is it?

cooldad

Yeah, but that looks like Swinley, isn't finished, and may well never be, isn't part of the blue/red trails.

And not intended to be ridden on an XC bike.

Saying that I've done Wales trail centres on a canti braked rigid. That's all we had BITD.

Steve-XcT

Like everyone else .... don't stress for now...

I'd go dropper sooner rather than later... but it all depends what you ride....
Some people seem to think no dropper and a XC frame is what 40' jumps are made for but they are far better cyclists than I'll ever be. I find doing a big jump on a XC frame (like 10+ length) REALLY SCARY as it continually wants to nose dive unless you hang your bum over the back wheel... and that is somewhat difficult with the saddle set in a XC position and no dropper...

Don't get me wrong ... it's completely possible for the really gifted and dedicated to make spectacular jumps and tricks on ANY BIKE... indeed some can do it on a road bike... of course they also take broken backs and being confined to wheelchairs as an occupational hazard and when they break the bike the sponsors replace it.

Its worth noting Martyn has the saddle dropped low for this

http://www.zengarage.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Martyn-Ashton-Road-Bike-Party-The-Outtakes.jpg

I'd go for offers as they come up.... but equally as you need to replace parts you can consider an upgrade.
If you break a brake (so to speak) you might consider replacing it and upgrading at the same time.

Wheels you possibly just missed but Superstar did 1/2 price new years including reduced items so I got a pair of new wheels for £100 from £360 or so)

poah

Hinaultscrapcousin wrote:

Don't bother with a dropper at first, learn to ride the bike properly.

my son would disagree with you on that one

MTBDanno

Lots of varied and valid opinions, but that's why I asked! Its all really helpful guys, I appreciate it.

As my friend has a 2nd hand dropper for sale, I'll probably take it, but I'll bear in mind that its important to learn to ride properly as well.

Steve-XcT

Hinaultscrapcousin wrote:

Yes, because that's extremely common on all trail centre trails... Where is it?

As cooldad say's thats Swinley.... almost open now.

There are plenty of other reasonable sized jumps at Swinley specifically towards Axle Run and Red 24 has the highest death count at Swinley...

Guisburn Forest Leap of Faith is a similar size.. and indeed a fair amount of Guisburn Forest has jumps and drop-offs like Hope Line I'd not like risking my XC frame on and riding saddle up would be chancy.

My 7yr old rides this but with his saddle down as he's too light to use a dropper but we stop before he jumps and lower the saddle so he can concentrate on landing not keeping the front wheel up.

Steve-XcT

POAH wrote:

Hinaultscrapcousin wrote:

Don't bother with a dropper at first, learn to ride the bike properly.

my son would disagree with you on that one

As would mine ... what weight is Lewis now ???

Ollie can't get the dropper down with his weight... (either on my Rockshox or the TSMARS which would fit his frame)

Angus Young

Hinaultscrapcousin wrote:

Don't bother with a dropper at first, learn to ride the bike properly.

I'm having trouble processing this statement...

Hinaultscrapcousin

Steve-XcT wrote:

Hinaultscrapcousin wrote:

Yes, because that's extremely common on all trail centre trails... Where is it?

As cooldad say's thats Swinley.... almost open now.

There are plenty of other reasonable sized jumps at Swinley specifically towards Axle Run and Red 24 has the highest death count at Swinley...

Guisburn Forest Leap of Faith is a similar size.. and indeed a fair amount of Guisburn Forest has jumps and drop-offs like Hope Line I'd not like risking my XC frame on and riding saddle up would be chancy.

My 7yr old rides this but with his saddle down as he's too light to use a dropper but we stop before he jumps and lower the saddle so he can concentrate on landing not keeping the front wheel up.

That's a pretty XC looking bike in that photo. Yes trails are being built for the bigger bikes that are more prominent and I'll happily re-phrase and say the majority of trail centre trails are designed to be ridden on XC bikes.