The chain ring on my less expensive MTB is stripped and needs replaced. I was thinking about upgrading the crankset on my better MTB. Both are 8 spd Shimano, which isn't as readily available as 9 spd. I want to upgrade the good bike to XT and put the Alivio crankset on the cheaper bike. But, here is the problem...If I go with a 9 spd, I will need to change the deraillers too, and I don't exactly have the $ for such an upgrade.

Would I be better off trying to find a cheap 8 spd to put on the cheaper bike or wait until I can afford the upgrade for the other bike?

The question is if you really expect to get much more performance from upgrading your best bike to an XT - enough to warrant the expense of upgrading the lesser bike.

Doesn't sound like a good deal to me once you add up all the cost. Of course, that assumes you have to have a new derailure to upgrade the less expensive MTB. Why do you have to change the derailure?

If you go with 9 speed, you'll have to change the derailluers too. A chainring is a cheap replacement. 8 speed parts will still be available for a while. I say stick w/ 8 speed and save your cash. I personally will be avoiding 9 speed as long as I can.

8 speed chainrings are available for any BCD from Specialities TA. They are a lot better quality than Shimano ones. You can get cheapo ones as well from other companies.
"Upgrading" to 9 speed is expensive and gives you no advantage. The thinner metal of the rings cannot last any longer than 8spd.

I was looking at a Nashbar catalog and noticed the Shimano Alivio is an 8 spd. So, I guess I will replace the worn crankset with the Alivio. It was only $38, so I think that would be the best bet.

I have one more question...What is the difference between a IG and HG Shimano chain?

I wish i had never changed my 8- speed to 9- speed, i don`t like the gear ratios and it gives me no advantage anyway.
I thinking about degrading my bike to 8- speed, does anyone if
9- speed shifters can be limited to 8?
Stay with 8 Steele-bike and your gonna be a happy rider!

7 speed works for me. I've read stuff about 10 speed, now who the hell needs that? There are still XT 8-speed cranksets, I;ve seen them in the Pricepoint catalog. But if you really weant my oppinion, screw shimano, get a Truvativ crank or something. Pricepoint has(or had) one 30-40 bucks in there latest catalog.

Steele-Bike,
As one who just spent a bunch of bucks on a major upgrade, let me strongly encourage you to stick with 8 speeds. My upgrade was for different reasons, basically going from overall cheap c--p components, a couple of which were damaged or beginning to malfunction, to decent ones. In the process I went on up to 9 speeds because in my case it only cost a couple of bucks more. I would still be perfectly happy with the 7 speeds I had. I still used exactly the same gear combinations I would have used with the 7-speed, BUT I had put together my own 7-speed cassette with exactly the gears I wanted because that combination was not available in a 7. When I went to 9 it was so, as I say, I use the same gears. I think if you sit down and calculate the different gear inch combinations and compare it to what you would get with a 9 you will find perhaps ONE specific combination difference because the others will be duplications. Even that one will only be a couple of inches different which is almost imperceptible.

Now if there is a specific gear combination that you just have to have that you don't now, check the cassettes available at harriscyclery.com. They list the number of teeth on each cog. You can probably get a new cassette for $30-40 that has what you want without the expense of a full upgrade.
FWIW,
Raymond

Fubar - With an attitude like that, I see a single speed in your future!

I've been thinking--for a few seconds at a time--about single-speed, lately, too. The idea appeals to my: (1) love of the classic and elegant; (2) character of reverse snobbery; (3) abhorrence of planned obsolescence and so-called "upgrades" which are really downgrades (the bane both of modern cycling and of personal computing--can you say "Shimano" and "Microsoft"?)

I am going to look at your site, riderx, in the hopes of learning something. No promises--there are lots of hills around here...and I'm no athlete...but...(trailing off and trying to occupy mind with something else)

Yorick asked me to clarify that his original components were fine to start off with. They became pieces of c--p after a couple of crashes (bent crank, warped chainring, bent front der). But once I started replacing stuff, I couldn't stop myself.
Regards,
Raymond

I know that feeling !

Riderx,

Out of idle curiosity, what gear ratio is usually used on single speed bike? While I would imagine that it depends a lot on the rider and the terrain, I'm wondering if you tend to go with a high gear so you don't spin out when going fast, or a lower gear so you have a faster cadence at the lower speeds and on hills? Or do you just take what comes on the bike you get and learn to live with it?

Like Jon, I can see the attraction of a minimalist machine, and I think that I might try experimenting with it simply by not shifting on my next ride and see what I think of it...

c~

If you have not ridden a single speed in a while, I think you will be surprised at how easy it really is.

In the winter, I switch to old single speed bikes because I like the internal hub brakes and they don't have derailures to get eaten up by road salt.

Every season I think "groan, this is going to be tough being stuck with one gear ratio". However, once I get on the machine, it is a lot better than I imagine.

Here is a secret; if you are going to try out an older single speed, get a girl's bike. They are lighter, cheaper, and usually in better shape than the boy's bikes.

Riderx, I looked at your website and--first, let me congratulate you on its fine looks and setup! Well done.

But on the whole I felt pretty confused and intimidated by it all, which I halfway expected....

Maybe I'll do as Hog Wild thought of doing, and just try riding here and there without shifting gears for a while. If I defer the repairs to my mountain bike much longer, I'm only going to have one gear left anyway!

I guess I have been thinking, "Kids used to ride single-speed bikes as a matter of course." (My own first one was single-speed, in fact. I don't remember much about it, but I don't recall feeling limited. And I'm sure it weighed more than either of my curent bikes!)

That thought made the notion seem feasible, and add to that the clean-looking beauty of a single-speed bike, and the idea started getting increasingly attractive. Plus less maintenance!

So I'm still toying with that fantasy.

here's a great site for singlespeed info.

www.sheldonbrown.com/singlespeed.html

On my MTB (which I ride the most), I run a 2:1 ratio (34x17). Where I ride there are lots of short steep hills mixed w/ some longer drawn out ones, but you get used to it. On the pure flats you are usually recovering from the climbs, so you don't "spin out" to often. For downhills, you can get going pretty good and let gravity take over. As an example, on one of the faster sections of trail I ride I can get 31 mph on my geared bike in ideal conditions. I can do 27 mph consisently on the single speed through the same section. After a while you learn to carry your speed, pick better lines and use the brakes less.

On my fixed gear road bike I use a 2.47:1 (42x17). This works pretty good as an all around gear although some of the steep downhills cause me to spin like a madman.

Jon - Thanks for the compliments. What are you confused about? Let me know and I will gladly answer any questions or give you more info!

I'll mull over my thoughts etc. for awhile and then get back on this! Thanks for your offer to help. I'm still interested. I might like to get a used bike eventually and convert it to single-speed (with freewheel--I'm not going all the way to track-bike land!).

Jon - since you are a city rider, keep your eye out for one speed cruiser type bikes at yard sales, the Salvation Army, classifieds etc. They would probably be perfect for your application and you wouldn't need to convert anything.

FWIW, out of curiosity the other day, I counted the teeth on my old Murray cruiser. It has 46-19. Speaking of old Murray, he sure does look funny these days. Even with the seatpost and stem at maximum extension, my knees were still in my chest and handlebar too low, so I got $4 seatpost and stem extensions. The regular bar swept back so far my knees were still almost hitting my hands and I felt so upright I was almost leaning back, so I replaced it with the leftover riser bar from my hybrid, complete with bar ends. Talk about your Frankensteins! On the other hand, I doubt any thief with a vestige of self-respect would want to be seen riding him, so I probably don't even need to lock him up when I go to the store.
Regards,
Raymond

Rainman,

Pictures! We want to see pictures!

I've seen what you did with your Giant - the mind reels at the possibilities inherent in your Murray cruiser....

c~

Yes, RainmanP, you've had plenty of time to recharge your camera batteries now! ( sorry... couldn't resist...) Show us that monster that doesn't need chaining up!

RainmanP, I want to see your Monster AND your Giant!

Cold, JonR, cold.

I will see if I can get the kids to stand still long enough to take a picture or two. But I'm warnin' ya, it ain't gonna be pretty.