Originally Posted by
Bosock
I appreciate the info all...Victim, why would you switch out the cassette, doesnt the specialized come with a good one. I recently tested a newer stumpy, that used the brain not that makes difference here, that had the rapid fire shifters...i think the shifting is far smoothier. My problem is that starting mountain biking last year after coming off several surgeries I use the three ranges the front derailer has to offer...yes the dreaded granny i am told...i ride single track trails in the Rockies and it seems like i have to press the lever and wait a sec for it to catch...this can be kinda distracting which isnt conducive for the trails i ride on. I have a maintenance plan with LBS and they informed me the front is about as tooned as it is going to get. Informed a friend who has done it a while and he said definitely go rapid fire or sram x if i felt that the LX was a hinderance.
I am also lookin for any other advice...like the cassette....what benefits would i see there. My first year my endurance really improved...hopefully i can recoup that after this winter we have had...if i do i want to start playing a little wilder on some of these trails...so any recommended improvements...personal likes that you dont mind sharing or anything i can do to improve my bikes handling (which so far has seemed pretty impressive to me) please share...thanks again
You have a rapid fire set up now. Like someone else said, I am suspecting of you LBS's compentecy. I think XT and XTR shifts a little crisper, but not much. And on a road bike the granny is dreaded and mocked, but on a MTB it's your best buddy. I think you like real crisp shifting so for you I would recommend XT, i think it is the best blend of price and performance from Shimano. You already have an XTR (top of line) rear der so your all set there. Nice set up IMO.
Cassette question: You can shave a half to three quarters of a pound for around 90 bucks. Hg 50 cassette is not top quality at all. Sram 990, or Xt or XTR. I tried to find an XTR on Ebay for awhile but I refuse to pay 200+ for one, but those are real light. It's a great bike but it can be made better. I preferred the Triad over the Brain, but I am in the minorty there.
Oh and one more thing, it sounds like your FD is not tuned right. Maybe use the Park site to double check it. It should not really have to "catch". Really it should shift similar to your road bike, mine does. Nice road bike BTW. Good luck.