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Ok, time for STW experience/logic/advice.
I'm loving my Genesis Lat 10, but would like to upgrade some of the parts for various reasons. However, I can't afford to do it all at once - i've got about £100 to play with. So, which first:
Wheels. The std wheels are pretty poor. The hubs are M435 which are cr%p and the freehub is already making some strange noises from time to time and they don't spin anywhere near as long as my 15yr old hopes on the other bike. For my budget some 2nd hand Mavic Cross max look pretty good.
Brakes. The brakes on there are ok (sub-deore jobbies), they'll just get me onto the front wheel whilst seated if a grab a handful, but only just. I suppose I could experiment with different pads - any advice?
Forks. In theory the Recons (coils) should be spot on, however, I find them very firm - i've only ever used 80mm of the 120mm travel.....I've got the preload wound right out....any advice? I've sent an email to Genesis to find out what spring is in there as std as i'm only 11st I could try a lighter spring? If its not that i'm going to have to change forks, perhaps some SH Rev U-turns?
Thoughts?
I think you've got it spot on, but the order of upgrades should be wheels - forks - brakes
I owuld try a new spring first. i am quite light though and could never find a coil fork that i could get on with as much as air.
Personally I would rather have good brakes than good wheels but the later will make for easier riding.
Same here with the forks: I've got 100mm coil Recons on one of my bikes, there's a standard red (medium) spring in there and I've never managed to get full travel out of them, maybe 80mm tops, normally less. They've done over 1000 miles in the Peaks, so they're definitely bedded-in. I weigh just under 11 stone.
Rehub the wheels, keep your rims on some hope hubs. Xc's come up cheap all the time.
Differnt pads for the brakes, it could be a case of fresh pads and cables to make them feel nice.
And as for the forks they can be made to feel very nice so don't give up on them just yet.
Edited to appear less patronising.
Dunno about rehubbing the wheels (not cheap unless you already have spokes of the right size and can build you own wheels & if the hubs were cheap the rims aren't going to be amazing are they), but if you only need QR wheels, then yes, definitely keep an eye on the classified for a set of cheap Hope XC wheels.
Bigger disc's would be cheap way of upgrading your brakes & could be kept for use with 'better' brakes in the future.
Recon - investigate the springs as above.
Thanks all.
Mintimperial - interesting to hear that you have similar experience of the recons. Have you also got the pre-load wound right out? It seem sto me that they hit a second stage in their travel around the 60mm mark that is very stiff?
Junkyard - New pads are def worth a go - whats the consensus on good all round pads? Std shimano? EBC? Sintered or organic? Help!
Angry ratio - I could re-hub the wheels, but I want to keep them whole - once i've eventually replaced the wheels and brakes I'm putting htem on the GF's bike to try and boost her confidence a bit (she did her first drop off last week!).
40MPG - Think you could be right. I didn't write my post in order really....Hopefully the brakes and forks can get sorted with different parts.
Z1ppy - Agreed RE the wheels I think. Bigger discs - already running 180/160s...not massive, but should be more than enough for my puny frame!
Mintimperial - interesting to hear that you have similar experience of the recons. Have you also got the pre-load wound right out? It seem sto me that they hit a second stage in their travel around the 60mm mark that is very stiff?
I could be wrong, but I don't think pre-load affects maximum travel, I think it just affects sag at the start of the fork's stroke. The spring is just as springy whether it's wound in a bit or not at all. I've ridden with the pre-load cranked up full, right out, and all over in between and it doesn't seem to make any difference to the maximum travel I get - 70-80mm no matter what. I think I have it wound in about halfway at the moment and they feel okay like that. I've considered getting the lighter spring, but I haven't got round to it yet...
Mintimperial - From my understanding you're right about the preload. Like you i've tried every setting poss, none of them are satisfactory. Have you sent yours off to the likes of TFTuned? I feel a bit agrieved at the idea of sending new forks off for a service/so that they work, but those guys do know what they're doing!
For me it would be a gradual process:
Get a decent rear wheel, keep servicing the front one every couple of months for zero cost except gease and mebbe loose bearings, softer spring for the fork, service brakes including lubing pistons, if still no good replace front first (even a poor rear disc is likely to be satisfactory with easy rear wheel lockup), replace back later if really needed.
The above can be done over a couple of months as money appears, classifieds is likely to be very fruitful.
Most important thing, you have a nice bike with decent if not stellar bits - enjoy riding it, it will still be much better than stuff ridden when I started in the 90's.