SiriS Posted January 24, 2015 Posted January 24, 2015 Morning Hubbers So I've been itching to upgrade something on my bike...but unsure as to what are worthwhile options. I ride a 29" Specialised Camber Comp Carbon (cue Spez wisecracks... ). Definitely want to shave a bit of weight of my XL frame. Standard specs - REAR SHOCK Custom FOX Float CTD Evolution, w/ AUTOSAG, Climb, Trail, Descend settings, reb adj., 197x48mmFORKFOX Float CTD Evolution 29, air spring, tapered steerer, Climb, Trail, Descend settings and reb adj., 15mm thru-axle, 110mm travelHEADSET1-1/8 and 1-1/2" threadless, Hella Flush style upper with 1-1/2" lower, cartridge bearingsSTEM Specialized Trail, 6061 alloy, 4-bolt, 8-degree rise, 6-degree rise, 31.8mm clampHANDLEBARS Specialized XC Mini-Riser, 6000 butted alloy, 720mm wide, 10mm rise, 8-degree backsweep, 6-degree upsweep, 31.8mmGRIPS Specialized Sip Grip, light lock-on, half-waffle aramid-infused, S/M: regular, Others: XL thicknessFRONT BRAKE Formula C1, alloy caliper, metallic pad, S/M: 180mm, L/XL: 200mm rotorREAR BRAKE Formula C1, alloy caliper, metallic pad, S/M: 160mm, L/XL: 180mm rotorBRAKE LEVERS Formula C1, hydraulic disc, tooled reach adj.FRONT DERAILLEUR SRAM X7, 10-speed, S3 direct mount for DMD, bottom pullREAR DERAILLEUR Shimano XT Shadow Plus, 10-speed, SGS long cageSHIFT LEVERS Shimano SLX, 10-speed, triggerCASSETTE SRAM PG-1030, 10-speed, 11-36CHAINSRAM PC 1031, 10-speed, PowerLinkCRANKSETCustom SRAM S-1250, 10-speed Trail double, PF30 spindle, S: 170mm, Others: 175mmCHAINRINGS36/22, w/ alloy guard I've upgraded brakes to XT with Ice Tech Rotors, front derailleur to XT. I understand wheels can make a big difference, I've seen many suggestions for ZTR Crest with Hope hubs wheelsets (?). Currently have standard Roval 29 rims with Ground Control tyres (2.3 and 2.1). Any idea how they stack up against ZTRs for instance? Not keen to add dropper post now, something I'll do at a later stage. Also happy with 2x10 setup. Any advice appreciated!
Captain Fastbastard Mayhem Posted January 24, 2015 Posted January 24, 2015 first thing I'd do, and it's not weight related, is get a dropper. Secondly swap that POS fox fork out for a revelation. The standard roval wheelset is pretty good. You won't better it without spending stupid money,aand even then it won't be such a large difference. Ito weight savings, I'd go with a new cassette and chain... Other than that, just 1x10
SiriS Posted January 24, 2015 Author Posted January 24, 2015 first thing I'd do, and it's not weight related, is get a dropper. Secondly swap that POS fox fork out for a revelation. The standard roval wheelset is pretty good. You won't better it without spending stupid money,aand even then it won't be such a large difference. Ito weight savings, I'd go with a new cassette and chain... Other than that, just 1x10 Thanks for the clarity on the wheels. I'll tick that off then as "have to go carbon for real wheels upgrade" which as you say is stupidly expensive and my skills don't justify yet. Excuse my ignorance, but two questions: 1) What advantage would a better fork bring?2) Ditto for cassette - is it a weight issue? Thanks!
TheV Posted January 24, 2015 Posted January 24, 2015 Not much to do, but like piesface said, dropper will add huge fun/experience/perf to the bike...seriously get a dropper. Don't listen to him about the Forks, he's just jealous. But, if I was you, it get rid of the crap spez rubber and invest in some conti's or anything else. Spaz mtb tires are heavy and totally crap.Fullstop. Dropper and New Rubber and you have a pretty awesome machine.
Captain Fastbastard Mayhem Posted January 24, 2015 Posted January 24, 2015 Thanks for the clarity on the wheels. I'll tick that off then as "have to go carbon for real wheels upgrade" which as you say is stupidly expensive and my skills don't justify yet. Excuse my ignorance, but two questions: 1) What advantage would a better fork bring?2) Ditto for cassette - is it a weight issue? Thanks!Imo and in the opinion of many others the 2013 & 2014 fox forks were crap. 2015 is far better, so if you're a fox man then that's the way to go. I say upgrade your fork cos a camber reportedly performs far better with slightly more squish up front, and the uselessness of the old fox fork is a valid reason as well. Cassette - yes. Even though the 1030 is hard as nails, it's also about 200g heavier than a top of the range cassette. Don't listen to The V. He has fatties r us on his mind.
TheV Posted January 24, 2015 Posted January 24, 2015 XT cassette for weight savings, and XT shifters because you will feel the difference, mounted ispec to your brakes....these are cherry on top uupgrades, but not future proof because if you go 1x11 both become redundant
Captain Fastbastard Mayhem Posted January 24, 2015 Posted January 24, 2015 Oh yes. If you're still running tubes, go tubeless. My personal choice would be schwalbe snakeskin rocket Ron and Nobby nic
TheV Posted January 24, 2015 Posted January 24, 2015 Some people can't tune a fox to perfection because there is no sticker with a chart on it....haha... The need to see the little hare or turtle to and even that confuses them....haha.
TheV Posted January 24, 2015 Posted January 24, 2015 No...No... For rubber, conti x-king front, race king rear....And tubeless like my friend steak&kidneys says....haha
V12man Posted January 24, 2015 Posted January 24, 2015 Spend your money on upgrading skills... best return possible....
TheV Posted January 24, 2015 Posted January 24, 2015 Spend your money on upgrading skills... best return possible....Lol, where does that come from? Sometimes you are no fun....
wepat Posted January 24, 2015 Posted January 24, 2015 I have the same bike I also upgraded brakes to XT changed the wheelset to ZTR Crest with Hope Pro2 and to me they are better I don't agree I think Spez tyres are good with loads of grip and have never had an issue with the Fox fork, I do agree in terms of dropper as that's my next purchase although 4-5K its expensive and I also agree, ride more and improve your skills Also why change to 1x 10 for 100-200 grams is it not better to have the 2x10 for a little insurance??
SiriS Posted January 24, 2015 Author Posted January 24, 2015 Thanks for all the suggestions guys, appreciate. Cassette and chain seems like good idea. Tyres (I am running tubeless already)...Ground Controls have ok reviews, probably look at something else when I lose one of them. Doing Argus on them so they will probably take a beating? 2.1 at the back, worth going wider or is there a climbing sacrifice to be had. Bottom line, worth investigating for ultimately upgrading. Definitely going to do some homework on a dropper post. Bars, stem, seatpost? Any real gains to be had or more personal preference issue? Small incremental gains it seems... Spend your money on upgrading skills... best return possible.... If I wanted mature, sound advice I would've asked my wife. Agree, have done a skills course before and planning on next level soon. Also I ride often and quite a varied set of trails in the Cape.
droo Posted January 24, 2015 Posted January 24, 2015 Some people can't tune a fox to perfection because there is no sticker with a chart on it....haha... The need to see the little hare or turtle to and even that confuses them....haha. I'm afraid I'm with the pieman on this one. That Fox EVO is clanger. A cartridge upgrade will help - the 2015 FIT CTD cart can be done for about R 3.5k and you can pop the fork up to 120mm at the same time. Otherwise look at a Revelation.
Captain Fastbastard Mayhem Posted January 24, 2015 Posted January 24, 2015 having a 2.1 tire actually impedes you from a speed and rolling resistance point of view, as well as giving you less grip that, say, a 2.3 or 2.35 would. This is due to the lower pressure that you can run the larger tyre at, and the effect that has when you're riding off road - lower pressure tyres absorb a lot of the imperfections on the road, and allow you to devote your entire power to going forwards, whereas thinner, higher pressure tyres bounce off the terrain and rob you of energy. It's incremental, but severeal studies have been done, and proven that wider lower pressure is faster than thinner higher pressure, even when considering the extra weight of the wider tyre.
porqui Posted January 24, 2015 Posted January 24, 2015 "WHAT" !!! You have not upgraded to a dropper yet. No it's not really an upgrade - it's a must - an essential change - a life changing experience. A bike without a dropper is not complete !!
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