Let's offroad / mountain bike / mtb / ride dirt

if you are going for a clutch xt 10spd rear mech then just buy either the Works or Raceface thick thin chainrings. No need for a chainguide that way.

Put that set up on the missus' fatbike and it has been flawless

if you are going for a clutch xt 10spd rear mech then just buy either the Works or Raceface thick thin chainrings. No need for a chainguide that way.

Put that set up on the missus' fatbike and it has been flawless

I didn't spec a chain guide, just the chainring that Hope do with an integrated bashring so you can lump over logs. But I tried one of those rings you're talking about at the weekend on a fatbike - it worked well. Would consider using one of those.

This crankset brings it under £700, before selling the existing bits. No reason this one shouldn't work, right?

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-xt-m770-hollowtech-ii-triple-chainset/

Not that this is anything other than window shopping...

M665 comes with a bash guard already fitted
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-slx-m665-hollowtech-ii-double-chainset/

Might be a repost, but interesting article about mtb wheel sizes, not to mention some pretty tasty Nicolai set ups...

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/26-vs-275-vs-29-Wheels.html

M665 comes with a bash guard already fitted
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-slx-m665-hollowtech-ii-double-chainset/

That drops the price another £50 or so...

The money you're looking at spending on upgrades, the WHOLE of this, cost me less...

The money you're looking at spending on upgrades, the WHOLE of this, cost me less...

That was less than £600?

Frame £200 (+ postage? I can't remember)
Fork £110
group/wheels/brakes off an ebay bike that cost £300 (still to sell the frame and fork from this purchase which should raise £150-200)
Bars £25
Seatpost £30
Stem £10
Saddle £parts bin
Pedals £parts bin
Tyres £30
and just bought some new grips for a tenner.

Buying something like that wouldn't help me, though. With these parts I'm considering, I'd have 1x10 with clutch mech.

All I'm saying is that I think you could get more for your money looking out on eBay, that you're thinking of spending £600 on upgrades, to spend more down the line.. You could probably get a complete decent spec 29r for that and upgrade the mech for £50 if needed.

as far as hardtail 26rs go I reckon that cotic is about as good as it gets.

I just don't think your spec would be as good as what I'd end up with after these parts. If I wanted to buy secondhand SLX I'd just keep what I've got now; it's not that much different.

Also, I'm not necessarily going to spend more down the line: I'd like to switch to 29 but not desperate to. And my frame is entry-level, but serves me well. I'd just like to lose some weight, get better shifting and move to 1x10 because I don't often ride big climbs.

Went to Swinley for the first time, did a couple of laps on the intermidiate, good fun. now to go do the red!

I just don't think your spec would be as good as what I'd end up with after these parts. If I wanted to buy secondhand SLX I'd just keep what I've got now; it's not that much different.

You've lost me, I got 3x10 slx, hope discs and hope wheels, all barely ridden, for what works out at less than £200 through eBay buying.

t13, Swinley is great fun, the red route someone described to me as "somewhat pink, but then so are bits of the blue"

so it is not much more challenging, a few steeper sections and a bit faster rolling.

I'd just like to lose some weight, get better shifting and move to 1x10 singlespeed because I don't often ride big climbs.

Ahem

move to 1x10 because I don't often ride big climbs.

With a ~1:1 bottom gear on a 1×10 rig, you can ride up anything unless it's so steep that you'd be faster walking.

Ahem

If I had infinite budget I'd have a singlespeed MTB, but I don't, so I'll stick with gears.

With a ~1:1 bottom gear on a 1×10 rig, you can ride up anything unless it's so steep that you'd be faster walking.

True, so it makes sense. And saves weight. And adds simplicity - no worrying about two shifters when you're riding twisty singletrack.

I just don't know if those upgrades are right. Still umming and ahhing.

Headsup: Poncing around Epping with Howard at 10am on Saturday. Meet at Chingford station. Bring a shit bike so I don't feel bad :)

Poncing around Epping

Nerged.

..an idle threat

I put as much effort into my threats as I do my hill climbing ;-)

Must get some of this!

http://www.imba.com/blog/shane-wilson/bikeparkitect-factory-tour

Windy and wet out on the trails today.

It felt good.