MTB groupset selection strategy for new bike build
- open roader
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MTB groupset selection strategy for new bike build
Postby open roader » Sun Sep 03, 2017 7:55 pm
Thus far I have to play with and have spent :-
2 x pairs of pre-existing custom built TWE 26" MTB wheels various rim widths from 19mm to 32mm
4 pairs of pre- existing tyres from various slicks through to Kenda Small Block 8's & Maxxis Crossmarks
NOS 2008 size 18" all alloy frame and matching NOS shock for the grand spend of $375
'As New' condition Fox 32 120mm travel fork - paid $450
So, essentialy - without contact points included I have a close to all new frameset which has cost me $825
This bike will be a first ever dual suspension ride for me, (have ridden hardtail MTB over this stuff before) to be ridden gently, mostly solo (or with one riding mate) on my local Forrest trails, gravel tracks near home and on farmland where I work and occasional lazy social rail trail rides.
I have spent significantly less money on this build thus far and have a healthy budget if required. I'm not keen on 2nd hand for MTB running gear unless I know the source which is made of unobtainium in my case. I've had plenty of experience with a mixed Deore XT and SLX 9 x 3 groupset on my hardtail (now going onto my partner's MTB) and found the shifting excellent and brakes adequate - but that was braking on bitumen from speeds that I will not be holding on a trail.
I have two options as I see it.
1) Spend circa $500/$600 on a discounted 1 x 11 Shimano SLX full groupset
2) Spend double that amount and then some on XT or even XTR.
If I become truly enamored with trail riding chances are I'll want to upgrade my frame (& wheels) in X years time, hence I'm thinking a higher spec. groupset now might be a better long term investment. However, having said that I am fastidious about my bike maintenance and clean my bikes for sheer home time recreation and considering I intend to ride sparingly (distances) and conservatively with no competitions / no radical drop off type stuff - maybe the current model SLX level will see me through several years and transfer nicely to a nice high spec carbon dual suspension brand X frame in the future.
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Re: MTB groupset selection strategy for new bike build
Postby bychosis » Sun Sep 03, 2017 8:10 pm
IMO SLX does the job just fine and if money was an issue (it often is for me) I'd happily go SLX over XT. I've never used XTR for comparison, too much $ there for very little extra benefit.
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Re: MTB groupset selection strategy for new bike build
Postby open roader » Sun Sep 03, 2017 8:41 pm
Maybe I need to look at a mixed groupset again and deals on individual parts. There seems to be enough info on current level Shimano mix and matching although the spec. I and II a/b options with the shifters is something I'm not quite on top of yet
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Re: MTB groupset selection strategy for new bike build
Postby Duck! » Sun Sep 03, 2017 9:22 pm
To be honest though, with the 26" wheels my belief is that you're better off with a 3x10 system; you spend the majority of the time in the 32T middle ring which works supremely well with a small wheel at the back, and you treat the big & small rings as range-extenders at both ends of the spectrum. Plus having a tighter cassette gives you a much better useful mid-range spread where you need it most.
The problem with 1x is that it if you spec a mid-sized chainring you lose both ends of the gear range, or if you try to claw some back with a dinner plate cassette you get big holes in the middle; a small ring to get the bottom-end wall-climbers throws out the top-end, while a bigger ring loses the bottom end. 2x is worse, because you have one ring that's too small most of the time, and one that is too big most of the time, and a mid-range that as a result gets sprayed all over the place so you're continually shifting between rings. For "Trail" riding, which is really XC with a tad more lumpy capability, and especially around Forrest, you want as much gearing versatility as you can get. I'd be going for a M7000-10 SLX group, but with M780 XT shifters. For a bit more fine-tuning look at a previous-generation crank with 24-32-42T rings, or even an older "9-sp." model with 22-32-44T rings. The newer generation 3x cranks are geared, if you'll excuse the pun, toward bigger wheels, with a 22-30-40T ring set, so you lose that oh-so-sweet-for-26" 32T middle.
Don't spec gear on a 26er with a view to carrying over to something later. Gearing will be out of whack due to the different rollout of larger wheels, brake lines, particularly rear will be out of whack due to a bigger-wheeled frame by necessity being longer and taller, so in reality very little will carry over well.
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Re: MTB groupset selection strategy for new bike build
Postby open roader » Sun Sep 03, 2017 10:24 pm
I ride my road bikes with a Camapg 11 sp 12-27. For a relatively high cadence rider like me, it has an awkward gearing gap somewhere in the midrange cogs. I have learned to get over this hump by extending my cadence tolerance - I'm wondering if I could get over the lumps in the gearing transition in an 11sp Shimano 11-42t cassette?
However, your wheel size / roll out arguments make perfect sense..............damn it.
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Re: MTB groupset selection strategy for new bike build
Postby Duck! » Sun Sep 03, 2017 11:22 pm
I'm still riding 26" with 3x10, so can relate to a lot of what you're thinking about. I rice XC, which to my mindset means a bit of everything (but not too techy on the descents,'cos I only have 100mm travel), so I want gearing to do it all. I rarely wish I had lower than the 24/36 ratio (but an 11-38 11-sp. would be damn good), the mid-range on offer across the 11-36 with 32T ring is supremely useful, and the 42T big ring is there to open the taps on open trails.
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Re: MTB groupset selection strategy for new bike build
Postby bychosis » Mon Sep 04, 2017 7:13 am
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Re: MTB groupset selection strategy for new bike build
Postby open roader » Mon Sep 04, 2017 8:22 am
I know I use my 34t small ring on my roadies more and morethese days - (being sure not to crosschain onto the two outer rings) but as Duck points out, the helter skelter nature of a trail surface really eliminates cadence consistancy and precise gearing.
I still have my hardtail together with 3 x 9. Might have to go out and count some teeth and ride it accordingly in the back paddock to see what gives gearing wise.
I'm not a powerful rider, I rely upon higher cadence and the use of momentum to keep me going over the bumps. I'm wondering why Shimano dont make a 22t /32t 11 speed double crank because I have a hunch 32t and 12t would be rarely used in the bush and 22t would see the 34 & 36t cogs as purely bale out gears or never used.
I'll get back on the old bike and see what gearing I use over a familiar course.
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Re: MTB groupset selection strategy for new bike build
Postby bychosis » Mon Sep 04, 2017 9:26 am
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Re: MTB groupset selection strategy for new bike build
Postby open roader » Mon Sep 04, 2017 12:12 pm
My old SLX/ Deore triple set up has a 22/32/44 triple crank. I've always ridden a pair of 11-34t 9 speed cassettes.
From my Antarctic blast ride this morning I find the 22 front ring ridiculously easy pedaling up the hills - I don't think I've ever used the 34t cog on the 22 front ring and rarely the next cog up from the the 34t. I spent most time on the 32 tooth mid front ring - maybe 80% of the ride and used nearly all the cassette cogs except the 11t and the 34t. The 44 front ring is too large for anything other than the bitumen - a significant step up from the 32 tooth mid ring. I found myself back shifting a few cogs every time I lifted onto the big 44 tooth ring and never got close to using the first 3 cogs from 11t upward.
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Re: MTB groupset selection strategy for new bike build
Postby rangersac » Mon Sep 04, 2017 1:37 pm
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Re: MTB groupset selection strategy for new bike build
Postby bychosis » Mon Sep 04, 2017 3:47 pm
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Re: MTB groupset selection strategy for new bike build
Postby open roader » Mon Sep 04, 2017 8:14 pm
A 1 x 11 set up with a 11-42 cassette gives me plenty at the go fast end but falls short of the 22 tooth small chain ring with the 32 t cog at the back.
From this deduction,I I opted for a 1 x 11 set up I'd need either a larger cog or two down the end or a 30 tooth front ring. Time to surf the net and see if these exist.
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Re: MTB groupset selection strategy for new bike build
Postby Duck! » Tue Sep 05, 2017 11:15 pm
1x chainrings rannge in size from 30T to 36T.
- theMISSIONARY
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Re: MTB groupset selection strategy for new bike build
Postby theMISSIONARY » Wed Sep 13, 2017 7:00 pm
IF i was to get a new drive train for my 2016 Reign i would go Boxone or Shimano probably 1x11 or very maybe 2x11
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