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@Black_Rainbow_Project
I'm quite enjoying the challenge of making a cheap, entry level bike more suitable for my needs.
Last night I moved onto the drivetrain of the Merida.
It had a mix of bottom end Shimano groups but with an XT rear mech, 27 spd.
I stripped it down to my preferred 6spd set up.
It now has a shorter cage sram 9.O sl rear mech, an x7 shifter, no front mech/shifter, and a single 32t chainring with a bash guard made from a 38t ring with the teeth filed flat. :]
This system has worked well for me in the past. I tend to ride it pretty much like a singlespeed, on one or the other of the middle 2 gears, with bigger than normal jumps to a couple of high gears for the road, and a couple of really low gears for any extreme changes in incline.
I set it up so the mech is pulled right out on the biggest cog, as I'm rarely on it, which means on the middle gears the chain is still under enough tension to not be flapping around.
After being on silent singlespeeds for so long I found this was the only setup my ears could cope with. :]
It's kind of a 'best of both worlds' setup for me...light, fairly quiet, with a bit less to go wrong, but with a bit less mashing on the bigger climbs, and a bit less spinny frustration on the roads.
Once I can afford it I'll switch to a 34t chainring.
I'll post some pics once my forks arrive and I get them fitted.
It makes quite a change from working with top of the range parts. :]