04' Hardrock Sport derailleur upgrade question
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Mustang, OK
Posts: 64
Bikes: Specialized hardrock sport 04
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
04' Hardrock Sport derailleur upgrade question
I've been beating on this Hardrock for the past 5 years. I ride 99% on the road doing hills and lake loops. I spent $350 on this bike and so far only upgraded the necessities.
Continental sport contacts tires
New seat
Clips
New chain
bar ends
I have a nice Cannondale R1000 I use for my more serious rides and I'm not interested in a new bike. I just want to upgrade components as I wear them out. After a tune up visit to my local LBS the guy tells me the reason I keep having issues with my derailleur is it's bent and can't be adjusted farther. He was able to get it to run true but he doesn't think it will last, he wasn't trying to sell me a replacement so I have no reason to doubt the guy. The derailleurs are Shimano Acera and from what I have researched they aren't that great.
I ride alot of local events and group rides with a couple Clydesdales so this bike suites my needs. I like this tank and would like to keep it for many years to come.
What I want to know is should I just upgrade the front derailleur or go ahead and replace both derailleurs? I'd like to hear suggestions on what would be a good solid option.
Continental sport contacts tires
New seat
Clips
New chain
bar ends
I have a nice Cannondale R1000 I use for my more serious rides and I'm not interested in a new bike. I just want to upgrade components as I wear them out. After a tune up visit to my local LBS the guy tells me the reason I keep having issues with my derailleur is it's bent and can't be adjusted farther. He was able to get it to run true but he doesn't think it will last, he wasn't trying to sell me a replacement so I have no reason to doubt the guy. The derailleurs are Shimano Acera and from what I have researched they aren't that great.
I ride alot of local events and group rides with a couple Clydesdales so this bike suites my needs. I like this tank and would like to keep it for many years to come.
What I want to know is should I just upgrade the front derailleur or go ahead and replace both derailleurs? I'd like to hear suggestions on what would be a good solid option.
__________________
2006 Cannondale R1000
2004 Specialized HardrockSport
2006 Cannondale R1000
2004 Specialized HardrockSport
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Colorado
Posts: 9,458
Bikes: Something Canadian, something Italian, something American, and something German
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 64 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 16 Times
in
10 Posts
won't hurt to do both, acera is near bottom of the line - I'd go for at least deore. LX or XT if you wanna do it, great stuff. Deore is sufficient, though.
Is it necessary to do both? Na, but you should notice better shifting with something much better.
Is it necessary to do both? Na, but you should notice better shifting with something much better.
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Mustang, OK
Posts: 64
Bikes: Specialized hardrock sport 04
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks guys, I was leaning towards the Deore's. The LX seem harder to find and have less options so I'm betting I'll go with XT. I did alot of searching and reading last night but I haven't been able to narrow down the right model. I trust the guy at the LBS so I'm going to see what he recommends in the Deore line. Now I'm psych'd, fathers day is here so I can get more toys to make me "think" I'm riding faster.
__________________
2006 Cannondale R1000
2004 Specialized HardrockSport
2006 Cannondale R1000
2004 Specialized HardrockSport
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: minneapolis
Posts: 93
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
My wife and I bought bikes at the same time, mine a Rockhopper with Deore LX and hers a Hardrock with Acera. We rode those bikes for years and thousands of miles of trails. Her bike never shifted well and required constant adjustment and tinkering. My bike shifted flawlessly the entire time I owned it (it's probably still shifting well for whoever stole it from me).
I don't know why manufacturers even bother making stuff like Acera. It's just not worth it to save a few bucks.
I don't know why manufacturers even bother making stuff like Acera. It's just not worth it to save a few bucks.
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Mustang, OK
Posts: 64
Bikes: Specialized hardrock sport 04
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Yes I had the same issue, I had to take this thing in regularly. In the end I thought it was just that I had stretched the chain out past 1/8th and that was causing the issues. I attempted many times to learn how to adjust the derailleurs but I could never get it to work right. Great bike but it definitely has some weak points.
__________________
2006 Cannondale R1000
2004 Specialized HardrockSport
2006 Cannondale R1000
2004 Specialized HardrockSport
#7
unofficial roadie
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Out in the woods you see
Posts: 1,440
Bikes: 2004 Marin bobcat trail, 2006 trek fuel ex7, 2007 iron horse road bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
derailleurs don't make a lot of difference, I'd get the cheapest front derailer I could find and maybe a deore rear or keep the acera.
I'm sure some people will disagree, but I've got a bike with acera and a bike with xt .. both shift about the same.. the shifters make way more difference then the derailer.
I'm sure some people will disagree, but I've got a bike with acera and a bike with xt .. both shift about the same.. the shifters make way more difference then the derailer.
#11
Shop Wench
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: California
Posts: 284
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts