Originally Posted by
byrd48
HI,
Sorry for not enough info, it's a 93 model with a six speed cogset. It has 135mm OLD. The original rear shifter is an Altus c-20 and the housing is broken where the cable comes in. It still works, but doesn't shift smoothly and is just waiting to break altogether. So there aren't very many good 6 speed shifters out there and I would like a few more gears. The current chainring is 28-38-48, and the rear cogset is 14-28, which is fairly high gearing for a mountain bike. I'm using it as a commuter and would like to get a 12-32 8 speed on the rear to give a little more low range and more gears to work with in between. I'm also looking at a Deore m591 rear derailleur. I picked the bike up for $75 and was hoping to stay under $200 for the upgrades. I was contemplating whether I should go ahead to 9 or 10 speed, but it seems to get more expensive when you go above 8 and I've heard the chains don't last as long.
Thanks again for the input.
Jon
Better info. Good thing about the canti brakes, if you had cheap calipers, I would have suggested to dump it and get something else. Now you need to see if you have a freewheel or a freehub. If you have a freehub rear wheel, then you have a couple more options. If you have a freewheel rear hub, I would dump the whole rear wheel and look at your local bike coop for a replacement wheel that has an 8 speed freehub and an 8 speed cassette.
If your rear wheel is currently a freehub, then you could remove the existing freehub and replace it with the longer 8-9-10 speed freehub that hopefully yoour bike coop will have in stock. Then you might have to redish the wheel but that isn't too hard and the coop should be able to help you with that.
Once you get the rear wheel situated, then buy yourself an 8 speed cassette of your choice. I just use whatever is laying around at my bike coop.
Then buy a set of 8 speed shifters and a new chain (under 10 dollars at walmart or around 12-15 new at your LBS). Do NOT get integrated shifters and brake levers. If you buy a modern combo brake/shifter setup, they will be for V-brakes and not suitable for your canti brakes. You really should get a set of dedicated 8 speed shifter pods and keep using your current brake levers for best results.
Buy a new set of brake pads, they are probably old and dried out.
Don't bother with 10 speed, too expensive. If you have the extra cash, 9 speed would be an nice upgrade but will be a little more money.
The Deore rear derailluer is a good choice. I have a bunch of bikes using Deore parts and they are all good solid reliable parts.
Are you sure your bike isn't a 7 speed? I really think that even the 93 hardrock had a 7 speed rear cassette and freehub.
Buy all new shifter cables and housings and replace them. You can get a cheap brake and shifter cable set at walmart for under 9 dollars but I strongly suggest you get true dedicated bundled wire shifter housing at your LBS for the shift cables. The walmart kit only has brake housing and while it will work, it compresses which isn't that good for index shifting.