Help me budget for my upgrade: 2015 Specialized Camber Comp Carbon

[Muttley]

 

FRONT DERAILLEUR

SRAM X7, 10-speed, S3 direct mount for DMD, bottom pull

REAR DERAILLEUR

Shimano XT Shadow Plus, 10-speed, SGS long cage

SHIFT LEVERS

Shimano SLX, 10-speed, trigger

 

CRANKSET

Custom SRAM S-1250, 7050 alloy arms, 10-speed AM double, PF30 spindle, 36/22, 104/64mm BCD spider

 

All this new terminology... me and me friend google are having some serious bonding time 

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

All this new terminology... me and me friend google are having some serious bonding time 

what I'm saying is that those things don't need to change until they break from so much use, or a crash... 

[Muttley]

Hi mtb new guy.

 

So you have a fairly decent stock standard new bike.

 

Rode the damned thing the way it is for now and get a good feel for the bike and how it handles first before you start throwing money away on needles upgrades.

 

If you really want to upgrade, get yourself booked into a good skills clinic and invest in your bike handling skills first and foremost.

 

By the time you have a decent skill level you will also know more about how you ride, or want to ride, and would have a better understanding of what would benefit you as a rider.

 

In my mind, the order of importance to get right.

 

Good frame in the right size and good geometry.

Best suspension you can afford

Beat wheelset you can afford.

Best brakes

Good tyre selection

After this all drive train components are expendable items, so ride what you have till it is kaput and then buy new upgraded parts.

Thanks for this- I was considering the skills course and seriously think it's a good idea-

 

I know that you're in WC but do you know of any decent skills courses in Gauteng? I've found the following sites but not sure if the courses are decent:

 

http://www.mtbskills.co.za/

http://treadskills.co.za/ (also based in WC)

 

Oh,dropper post's rock

On me wish list 

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Thanks for this- I was considering the skills course and seriously think it's a good idea-

 

I know that you're in WC but do you know of any decent skills courses in Gauteng? I've found the following sites but not sure if the courses are decent:

 

http://www.mtbskills.co.za/

http://treadskills.co.za/ (also based in WC)

 

On me wish list 

Peach here on the Hub, aka Christopher Pearton.

[karma]

No need to change the drivetrain... XT slx is just fine

 

ehh....he could always get something that is lighter and that works...like X0 or XX....

[NelAndre]

Thanks for this- I was considering the skills course and seriously think it's a good idea-

 

I know that you're in WC but do you know of any decent skills courses in Gauteng? I've found the following sites but not sure if the courses are decent:

 

http://www.mtbskills.co.za/

http://treadskills.co.za/ (also based in WC)

 

On me wish list 

Yip, leave the bike as is and do the skills clinic. I have done the Tread Skills with Sean Badenhorst and they were well worth it. There are lots of other guys I am sure, I can only comment on my experience. The skills made a HUGE difference to my riding enjoyment (I have no BMX or Motorbike experience) and I still have the same Merida Hardtail.....it just handles a lot better now that I am more competent. Enjoy

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

ehh....he could always get something that is lighter and that works...like X0 or XX....

LOL. He needs to get rid of that noodle on the front first... 

[nonky]

The BEST money you will ever spend is to go FOR A PROPER FITTING.

As it's a spez, go to a spez shop with a proper Body Geometry fitting studio.

NOTHING will improve your riding more than a properly fitted bike.

.

Then, get a dropper post and ride the bike like you stole it.

.

I have had the 2014 model for 18months.  It's major weaknesses are the formula brakes and the pressfilt bottom bracket. everything else is fine for just about anything you'll get up to in SA, apart from a downhill track.

[EmptyB]

_{You gonna upgrade your bike 50 times over after this thread}  

[Muttley]

The BEST money you will ever spend is to go FOR A PROPER FITTING.

As it's a spez, go to a spez shop with a proper Body Geometry fitting studio.

NOTHING will improve your riding more than a properly fitted bike.

.

Then, get a dropper post and ride the bike like you stole it.

.

I have had the 2014 model for 18months.  It's major weaknesses are the formula brakes and the pressfilt bottom bracket. everything else is fine for just about anything you'll get up to in SA, apart from a downhill track.

Also on my list of things to do... Gonna chat to Peach about his courses and will then have a proper fitting done...

 

Thanks for this 

[Baracuda]

I agree, skills course first.

 

Then frame - Pyga

Then wheels - best you can afford

Then dropper post.

[Muttley]

I agree, skills course first.

 

Then frame - Pyga

Then wheels - best you can afford

Then dropper post.

Lemme first destroy my new bike- then I'll look at a Pivot 

[Popit]

I upgraded to the lighter ROVAL ally wheels .

Made a huge difference , and not too big a dent in the wallet .

[Two-Stroke]

Question out of interest for those who recommended the Wide Lightning rims:

 

Why would you opt for this wheelset over say ZTR Arch Ex on Hope2 hubs?  Do they have the same strength & rider weight limits?

 

Only asking because I went the Arch/Hope route and have found them to be very good.  Went from truing wheels once a month previously, to zero maintenance in the year I've owned the new set.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Question out of interest for those who recommended the Wide Lightning rims:

 

Why would you opt for this wheelset over say ZTR Arch Ex on Hope2 hubs?  Do they have the same strength & rider weight limits?

 

Only asking because I went the Arch/Hope route and have found them to be very good.  Went from truing wheels once a month previously, to zero maintenance in the year I've owned the new set.

for one, they're 7mm wider. That's a LOT. This has added benefits of being able to run slightly lower pressures in the same tyres, or lighter casing tyres at the same pressures, and have far more grip than would ordinarily be the case on the narrower rims. 

 

AFAIK they have a 107kg rider weight limit. Also, it depends who builds the wheels. You can have a stiff as hell wheel go off so easily if it was built badly... 

[Two-Stroke]

for one, they're 7mm wider. That's a LOT. This has added benefits of being able to run slightly lower pressures in the same tyres, or lighter casing tyres at the same pressures, and have far more grip than would ordinarily be the case on the narrower rims. 

 

AFAIK they have a 107kg rider weight limit. Also, it depends who builds the wheels. You can have a stiff as hell wheel go off so easily if it was built badly... 

Thanks - makes sense!