Introductions - Help!

I am a week or so from purchasing a brand new Giant XtC-1. The stock bike seems sweet enough for me, but I'm tempted to make a few customizations: switching the Hayes Stroker Ryde disc brakes for Cane Creek Direct Curve 3 v-brakes; replacing the 9-speed cassette with a 6-, 7- or 8-speed cassette (Who makes quality 6- and 7-speed cassettes?); and adding Shimano XTM760 hubs in place of the Formula 32H disc hubs.

I've been riding an older Giant with v-brakes and a 6-speed cassette for the past eight years and manage to get along fast enough, so I figure upgrading those parts on a new bike would work out well. It would, by my math, take the total weight of the bike from 29.3 pounds to about 27 pounds.

Any advice? Is this a sound plan?

Thanks.

Are you only looking to get rid of some weight? Cost benefit ratio?

I'm not much use for advice on mountain bike stuff--my only MTB is a vintage rigid Fuji Thrill :) . Have no fear, though, someone will come along to give you some sage advice.

Welcome to BF!

East Hill

Thanks for the quick response. I'm looking to stick with what I know, but up the quality. The XtC-1 feels great, but I'm not sold on the disc breaks and all those gears. Weight isn't a huge concern. The bike I've been riding comes in at about 32 pounds. Ultimately, I want my next bike to be basic and bad-ass. Tips? Suggestions? Demands?

Also, anyone know anything about the Kona Caldera? The Ibex Trophy Comp?

Thanks.

Thanks. Dropping weight's not my goal. I just want a basic, bad-ass bike. Although the XtC-1 feels great, I'm not sold on disc brakes and all those gears. Tips?

Also, anyone know anything about the Kona Caldera or the Ibex Trophy Comp? I haven't taken either for a test ride, but they seem all right. What other hardtails are comparable to the Giant in quality and cost? My budget tops out at $1,200.

As I said, I'm no expert, but I have heard a lot of good things about the Ibex...where are the givers of sage advice? Bums...:p .

East Hill

I don't know that specific bike, but would generally advise against most of the substitutions you plan to do.

Cassette

Nowadays, shifters are speed-specific. Which means that if you replace the cassette with a 7 or 8 speed (or 10-speed cassette), you will have to replace the shifters with different one, or resort to a gizmo such as the Shiftmate on your shifter cable. 8- 9- and 10-speed cassettes fit on the same hub; 7-speed cassettes fit on the same hub, but with a 4 or 5 mm spacer (?) behind, or on a shorter freehub.
Around here, I find that 8-speed cassettes can't be found everywhere, and that 7-speed cassettes are only easy to find in the inner city – i.e. where people use their bike for transportation rather than weekend fast rides. 9-speed cassettes can be found everywhere. And the most important factor to consider: unless you find second-hand parts, 7- and 8-speed shifters exist only in the lowest grades; less precise, perhaps.

Besides, whatever the number of gears you have, you'll get the benefits, but also the pitfalls of indexed shifting. And indexation is not that hard to adjust. So stay away from a 10-speed "upgrade" unless you have money to burn, but keep the 9-speed.

Other drivetrain improvements
I don't know what chainrings you have. If they are large and you are a slow climber, have them replace the small ring (granny) with a 24 or 26.


Brakes

There are a few advantages in having or cantilever or v-brakes :
– you may use a more flexible fork,
– there is less chance of conflict with rear rack and panniers (disc-compatible rear racks are more and more available, but still a bit more expensive than "regular" racks),
– replacement parts are a wee bit cheaper and available almost everywhere.
However, disc brakes shine in the rain because they are almost as efficient as on dry ground.

So, assuming you have the v-brake posts, a substitution might be appealing for a touring bike, but disc brakes have their advantage for commuting, trails and offroad.
If you have issues with your current rack, the best compromise would be to keep the front disc brake and install a v-brake on the rear wheel.