Mountain Biking - What's your favorite component?

My race season ended this weekend, so I'm doing a little evaluation of my bike; how everything performed, etc.

I've come to the conclusion that I love my XTR rear derailleur. It never missed a shift, shifted when glopped with mud and never broke.

It's the only XTR part on my bike, and the one I wouldn't be without.

I would state that my favorite component is my Time ATAC pedals. However, I don't want to start some sort of pedal war or pedal dominated post. Therefore, I'm going to go with my SID fork. It's light, tight and perfect for my XC style of riding.

Hmmm, I think I may have just started a forking war instead. ;)

FORK YOU!

ok that was bad. i think my favorite component is my cyclocomputer... i'm such a geek. enduro2 only thing that would make it better is if it had cadence

back to forks... probably isnt the place to ask this but.. what's a good 80mm fork for ~$300 ? [for XC, so light weight is important] lockout would be nice too

Hmmm..my frame. It holds up to my abuse and my weight. Nothing else matters if the frame blows. :)...

Next year I may change my mind as I am doing a big upgrade on the forks and rear hub but we will see.

I recently saw the display case of the 2003 XTR. It kinda tugs at my emotions. I think I want it...:)

My lbs has a working demo display stand of all the SRAM gear. You can fiddle with it without needing a bike - very smartly designed and setup it is. SRAM? I think I want it...:)

Difficult call... the SRAM 9 brakes were a revelation, after the previous ones, going for the 28/38/48 chainset made a big difference... erm ...

Probably (at the moment) it has to be my new wierd seatpost - the Titec DH Hellbent post - okay the bend might look a little different but the extra layback puts my knees in a better position for on-road sprinting, and descending off-road I can stay in the saddle more. Lovely clamp, tough but not a silly weight.

http://www.titec.com/items.asp?deptid=4&itemid=31

Great fun!

Richard

Hmm... that is SUCH a difficult question to answer :) My faithful old NiteRider light system with the killer taillight... my old-school full-size-drive XTR crankset... that shiny new Chris King headset on my dormant (:() road frame... aaaack! :eek:

I'd have to say my Avid discs. Went riding a few weeks ago on my old MTB with V-brakes. You don't realize how much better discs are until you go back. Also had a flat and had to pull the rear wheel off on the trail. Unhooked the brakes but still knocked them out of alignment taking the wheel off and putting it back on. Plus they had about a pound of mud on them. There are other advantages to discs other than stopping power.

That is a difficult question. I love my rear Chris King hub on my MTB, everyone knows I am coming when descending :) Although my cyclocomputer has to be my favorite. It does everything but HR for me. Altitude, Grade, speed, time, distance and datalogs on top of that. I like little gadgets though :)

It has to be my Barbie Bicycle Bell, when that thing rings I'm in heaven.:D

Favourite component?
Least favourite would be the left peddle, tension was just a little tight... Hey did I show you my wrist in a cast? LOL well I guess the season is over... wethier I like it or not... ;)

My $10 CODA seat in the parts bin... its light, and is comfortable.. Is probobly my favourite!!
Im going to be sitting on it on the trainer alot in the next month or so.......

Originally posted by Ouch !
It has to be my Barbie Bicycle Bell, when that thing rings I'm in heaven.:D

Would that be the pink one with the yellow lever, or the one with pictures of Ken and little lovehearts? j/k...

The front derailleur on my old bike lasted forever. I lost count of the number of times it appeared to be on it's last legs, when it would suddenly have a new lease of life and last another 5-10,000km. It was incredible. f@#$%ed if I can remember what it was though. :cry:

Great thread!!! :)

It's a chuck up between my Titec stem, or my saddle. I've been looking at carbon fibre saddles for a while, a little worried at how strong they are, and if they could hold up to the rigours of offroad riding.

Well, after 6 months, I'm pleased to say the saddle is still hanging in there.

I also like my Avid Mag brakes....top stopping power! :)

Rich

Still waiting for my new bike to arrive, so I can pick yet!

However, my favorite component on any of my bikes is usually the cranks. I don't know why, I just love a good set of stiff cranks with nice rings that shift well. I love RaceFace Cranks, my new bike has Profile Racing cranks that I used when I raced BMX, so I know I'll like those.

Second in my ranking would have to be the stem. I really like the Azonic shorty stems, but that new RaceFace Diablo is hot! (pun inteneded).

L8R

Hey, my first post!:rolleyes:

Anyway, it's a toss up b/n my OLD Suntour front derailure, or my pro-shift rear derailure. Complete opposite ends of the spectrum in regards to "performance", but both work exactly like I want them too. BTW, it's been a long time since I've really done any upgrading to my bikes....

I'd would have to say my CrossMax wheel set. Never had any problems and haven't had to true them in 1 year (knock on wood!). They're great conversation starters because not a lot of people are using them. The close seconds would be my CT2 carbon post and bar and also the SID 100. People are surprised at how it feels for an air fork. Great little 'favorites' to meet people on the trails. :beer:

For me, its my XTR brakes. They look nice with my ghetto Acera frt derailleur. My Selle Italia Flight Ti seat is swell, but hurts my ass. Better to look good...Oh, and I really like my Duke SL fork. I like the hiss sound ;-)

Is it my Thomson stem? Is it my LP composite seat post and bar ends? Must be that there is just something about Nukeproof carbon hubs laced to Mavic 517's in Sunburst Orange that makes my genitals tingle a bit! I love my hoops....

Hawk

My favorite is my hope brakes. Nothing gives me more courage to GO than knowing I can STOP.
hel

I absolutely adore (besides my frame) my very old M-900 XTR 8-SP crankset. Incredibly sexy.

I finally got around to adjusting the "pivot point" on my XTR Brake Levers. Now I can really use one finger on each brake while descending some really steep nasty singletrack. If you have XTR Brake Levers and haven't messed around with them you don't know what you're missing !

Same with the Avids! That's why they call them "single digits"...

My all time favorite are the aluminum nipples on my wheelset. :beer:

I would have to say that my favorite part is the place where it shows the year my bike was built.

"Your still riding that?"
"Your going to race on something that old?"

Rock it old school stylez for the broke college kids.

Originally posted by Bokkie


Would that be the pink one with the yellow lever, or the one with pictures of Ken and little lovehearts? j/k...

I'd rather you didn't mention that dirtbag, before he came along she was mine, mine I tell you.
Then he came along with his good looks and fancy clothes and swept her away, but I've got something that he hasn't;) :D

Ouch, you dont have to worry about Ken... he's well.... artistic...?

Originally posted by CrashTestDummy
I finally got around to adjusting the "pivot point" on my XTR Brake Levers. Now I can really use one finger on each brake while descending some really steep nasty singletrack. If you have XTR Brake Levers and haven't messed around with them you don't know what you're missing !

how do you do that? i see one tiny screw on mine and crank it either way and see little difference...any help?

First disconnect the brake at the wheel. Now pull the lever to the handle bar so it exposes the little plastic removable cover. Remove this little plastic cover. Now adjust the pivot point screw down towards the handle bar. I put mine all the way down. When tension is applied to the brake cable, the little "barrel" will slide down the slot giving you a better ratio on the torque multiplication. I greased mine a little bit with some judy butter and wiped all the excess off. I adjust them so at full braking they will almost touch my fingers on the bar, but not quite. One fingered action.

thanks, i'll try it!!