Big Bike Thread

SpudMaster · 3 Jul 2007 at 11:08

I always thought the problem with halo was that their wheel builds were awful, the rims on there own were ok but very heavy but as a build people were breaking them left right n centre.

I still say stick with the 721 personally on proII's if u can stretch that far. Also if your gonna skimp out on of the hubs make it the front as they do much less than the rear. Better quality rear hub is more important imo

collisster · 3 Jul 2007 at 12:47

SgtTupac said:
36 Hole is enough. I got 36 hole and i give my bike some SERIOUS abuse

I meant my alex rims.

LordSplodge · 3 Jul 2007 at 17:47

Hiya.

I need to upgrade the wife's GT Avalanche 3.0 so it can take discs at some point in the near future. This mean a new wheelset. I am looking at Merlin Cycles - Custom Made Wheels but I am confused with all the terms. All I want is a Disc Ready XC Wheelset that isn't crappy Deore. Can some more seasoned bike experts advise, please?

Also, her forks are rubbish too, so what forks do you recommend, or should I be cheeky and upgrade my J3's and put them (well ask the LBS too

) on her bike?

Cheers!

Jonny ///M · 3 Jul 2007 at 18:49

LordSplodge said:
Hiya.

I need to upgrade the wife's GT Avalanche 3.0 so it can take discs at some point in the near future. This mean a new wheelset. I am looking at Merlin Cycles - Custom Made Wheels but I am confused with all the terms. All I want is a Disc Ready XC Wheelset that isn't crappy Deore. Can some more seasoned bike experts advise, please?

Also, her forks are rubbish too, so what forks do you recommend, or should I be cheeky and upgrade my J3's and put them (well ask the LBS too ) on her bike?

Cheers!

My workmate has mavic xc717s on deore hubs and its taken a fair bit of abuse up glentress and that.....wheels are still true.

AFAIK Xt hubs are still cup and cone bearing.....so i would go for the hope Xc hubs(at a cost obviously) as they are pretty solid. Mate of mine ran d321s on hope Xc for ages on his play bike and they put up with his 180s,drops and stair sets fine.

collisster · 3 Jul 2007 at 19:49

I asked my friend about grizedale, he said its easy, so I'm probs going to do it with him he may have been bsing though.. he says that 1/2 of it is northshore about a foot off the ground

LordSplodge · 3 Jul 2007 at 20:17

Jonny ///M said:
My workmate has mavic xc717s on deore hubs and its taken a fair bit of abuse up glentress and that.....wheels are still true.

AFAIK Xt hubs are still cup and cone bearing.....so i would go for the hope Xc hubs(at a cost obviously) as they are pretty solid. Mate of mine ran d321s on hope Xc for ages on his play bike and they put up with his 180s,drops and stair sets fine.

I may get the Hope XC hubs for my bike.

Anyway, in typical woman style she has changed her mind and will wait until she has broken some stuff before upgrading and wants me to put the money towards a long weekend away in the UK (if it stops bloody raining :rolleyes:

) - women!!! :confused:

She wouldn't be doing drops and 180's anyway... lol

Another question: What would I need on my GT 1.0 to use those XTR Combined Break and Gear Leavers? And how roughly how much would this cost?

SpudMaster · 3 Jul 2007 at 21:24

collisster said:
I asked my friend about grizedale, he said its easy, so I'm probs going to do it with him he may have been bsing though.. he says that 1/2 of it is northshore about a foot off the ground

yeah not seem it myself but there is apparently a lot of xc type northshore up there

Bunka · 3 Jul 2007 at 21:31

collisster said:
I asked my friend about grizedale, he said its easy, so I'm probs going to do it with him he may have been bsing though.. he says that 1/2 of it is northshore about a foot off the ground

Yeah there is some northshore stuff, but defo not 15 miles worth, and I dunno if 30 miles is going to be 'easy'.

Jonny ///M · 3 Jul 2007 at 21:34

LordSplodge said:
I may get the Hope XC hubs for my bike.

Anyway, in typical woman style she has changed her mind and will wait until she has broken some stuff before upgrading and wants me to put the money towards a long weekend away in the UK (if it stops bloody raining ) - women!!! She wouldn't be doing drops and 180's anyway... lol

Another question: What would I need on my GT 1.0 to use those XTR Combined Break and Gear Leavers? And how roughly how much would this cost?

Well its just a shifter/brake so you end up with an xtr hydraulic brake and a shimano rear mech.....so you have two hydraulics xtr brakes and xtr shifters.
You pick what mechs you want.

LordSplodge · 3 Jul 2007 at 21:47

Jonny ///M said:
Well its just a shifter/brake so you end up with an xtr hydraulic brake and a shimano rear mech.....so you have two hydraulics xtr brakes and xtr shifters.
You pick what mechs you want.

I have LX mechs front and rear so I take it all I would need then is 2 x XTR Hydro brakes and 2 x XTR Shifters?

Any excuse to get rid of the So1es

:EDIT:

£175 for the shifters, nevermind the bloody XTR Hydros - all of a sudden the So1es don't seem so bad.

I may just buy some new tyres...any recommendations for good summer tyres front and rear and good winter tyres. All rounders as my bike goes on all types of terrain including roads

monkeypants · 3 Jul 2007 at 23:18

LordSplodge said:
:EDIT: £175 for the shifters, nevermind the bloody XTR Hydros - all of a sudden the So1es don't seem so bad.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=16941

Where did you get £175 from?

Jonny ///M · 4 Jul 2007 at 00:07

So uh i just saw my brothers new hope bits. He got the red cnc stem,red bar ends,red QR swewers and a red seatclamp. Looks quite nice with the black and red theme.

Carbon bars,Xtr cranks and juicy ultimates are his next purchases.

(not fair)

monkeypants · 4 Jul 2007 at 08:11

He should just get Juicy 7s unless he's desperate to save 160g on a set of brakes.

Jonny ///M · 4 Jul 2007 at 12:45

monkeypants said:
He should just get Juicy 7s unless he's desperate to save 160g on a set of brakes.

Well he wants juicy carbons.....as his mate has 7s with added carbon bits.

Im sure he is set on the ultimates though.

monkeypants · 4 Jul 2007 at 12:54

Aren't they just for XC though?

The Avid site says that Carbons are for pretty much anything, 7s for XC and AM, and Ultimates for XC. Probably just Avid making it up, but it's not something I've looked into.

Jonny ///M · 4 Jul 2007 at 15:46

monkeypants said:
Aren't they just for XC though?

The Avid site says that Carbons are for pretty much anything, 7s for XC and AM, and Ultimates for XC. Probably just Avid making it up, but it's not something I've looked into.

Well my brother was put off with the fact that they were Xc only but he phoned up avid or the importer and they said they would be fine for what he wants to do. :confused:

Boscher · 4 Jul 2007 at 18:53

I have the Juicy 7's, really good brakes, I recommend them. Not sure if the carbon version is worthwhile but hey if your loaded

monkeypants · 4 Jul 2007 at 19:19

Quick question: Refurbished (as new) 2003 Manitou Mars Elite worth £65?

Raymond Lin · 5 Jul 2007 at 00:05

Just got an email from Wiggles that 10% off orders over £50 and 20% off £100 orders........................Trying to tell myself I don't need new wheels !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

tom_e · 5 Jul 2007 at 00:07

Raymond Lin said:
Just got an email from Wiggles that 10% off orders over £50 and 20% off £100 orders........................Trying to tell myself I don't need new wheels !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I seen that on their site today, i just need to convince myself i dont have £80 to spend just because i get 20% off