Just wanted to make a couple of comparisons and pick the brains of the knowlegable for a second. Hopefully some of you will have had some experiance with some of these. If so, how did you like them?

Rims - SUN Singletrack disc, double wall, 36h, eyelets -or- Alex CR18 32H Double Wall
Cranks - Truvativ Blaze -or- TruVative ISO Flow
Chain - SRAM PC-951 w/ power link -or- Shimano HG53
Hubs - Joy-Tech, disc, 36h, ground race double sealed loose ball w/ alloy QR -or- Formula 32H Disc
Shifters - X-7 triggers -or- Deore triggers

Cheers.

Only two I have opinions on are the chan and the shifters. I always buy SRAM chains. The powerlink just makes it way too convenient. As for the shifters I would go with the SRAM as well. After riding SRAM for a while I don't ever want to go back to Shimano. I rode my sister-in-law's bike a few weeks ago and it had lx shifters. I got so tired of having to take my finger off of the brake lever in order to shift.

I would go with the SRAM chain. As for those hubs, I have no personal experience with either, but I would say, stay away from the joy-tech.

I've tried Sun singletrack rims and love them. They're a very strong rim. I've also tried the Blaze cranks, they suck.

yep, i've got singletrack rims on my hardrock pro. love 'em... i've also got the blaze cranks... i had isoflow cranks on my hardrock comp disc(which got stolen) and i liked them better
as for the chain and shifters... i would also go with sram
ever since i got my hardrock pro with sram components... i'm sold
i have no clue about those hubs tho
good luck

- I'm running 32h Singletracks with XT hubs - great rims so far. I'm using them for aggressive XC - I think they were designed as a FR-type rim, but I want strong. Definitely very strong; I don't care about weight but I want a nice strong rim that isn't going to taco or flat-spot at the slightest bit of stress.

- I like my SRAM chain...really easy to remove with that powerlink. It's nice to not have to pull out a chain tool to remove the chain.

I've got no data on the others.

No experience with the Deore triggers, but I have used the SRAM X-7 triggers for a while. They are really quite good especially for the price you pay. I recently upgraded to SRAM X0 shifters, all I can say is, X-7's are good, but X0's all the way if you can afford them!!

From what ive read, it seems the suns are good, but wondering if anyone knows about the Alex rims?

Seems the sram stuff wins in chain and shifters. Kinda suspected they might. Im not really fussy about the cranks, i just want to find the one with the least flex under load. Im thinking the hubs are both pretty average. They'll both suffice for a while but will both be upgraded eventually.

Only thing I know is that Truvativ Isoflow was their lowest end crank. I don't think they make it anymore and it was replaced by something else. Blaze is probably better in that case but not sure. Maybe it's the low end replacement.

Could be.

Being a truvative, even a low end one, i would expect decent quality anyway?

Or am i being naive?

I like the Powerlink--go with the SRAM especially if you take the chain off and clean/rewax (in my own "proprietary" wax mixture) once a month like me. As for the hubs, I've got a joytech on my backup rear wheel, and I've had the FH mechanism slip once or twice, and it is not removeable. I'd go with the Formula as they make hubs for some very reputable companies.

I hate to point this out, but you do know that if you go with the X-7 shifters you also need a new derraileur, right? X-7 no worky worky with Shimano r.d.

here goes my biased personal recommendation

Rims: Sun Single track
Cranks: Truvativ Blaze Worked better for me
Chain: I prefer SRAM drivetrain components over Shimans, So, power link is recommended
Hubs: Go with formula
Shifter: Sram X-7 (to me it is significantly better than comparable shimano shifters, and definitely better than regular Deore)

Comparing those two wheels is like comparing apples and oranges. I have owned both brands and the Alex wheels are crap while the singletrack rims are pretty darn good.PLus 36h over 32 makes a difference in durability IMO.

for me i would go with the:

-singletracks
-ISO Flow, (if you're thinking of getting a new crank and aren't too terribly attached to TruVativ i'd also suggest looking into RaceFace or FSA. Also, i've never owned one but i've heard good things about Shimano LX cranks)
-SRAM chain all the way (I'll never go back to Shimano chains)
-Formula hubs
-SRAM triggers

If it's any note, my KHS dealer was assembling a new Alite 1000 (mid-range) that had just come in. It was equipped with a SRAM x.7 drivetrain/shifters and the SRAM chain, which is a departure from the Shimano/KMC that KHS usually comes equipped with.

Rims - SUN Singletrack disc, double wall, 36h, eyelets

Cranks - Truvativ Blaze

Chain - SRAM PC-951 w/ power link

Hubs - Joy-Tech, disc, 36h, ground race double sealed loose ball w/ alloy QR -or- Formula 32H Disc
Toss up

Shifters - X-7 triggers -or- Deore triggers
I run Deore triggers on my commuter and they work fine, however the X.7's are the nicer of the two.