Help the noob!
 

Hey all...
I have a GT Avalance 3.0. My problem is I'm ready to take the dive into FS but I want to keep a hard tale around. The problem is the GT skips gears like crazy. There is nothing like climbing a hill on a trail and feeling the gears slip out from under you. Mmm painfull grinding haults...All of my buddies keep telling me to change out the front/rear deraillure and crank. I've had the bike tuned 2 times aready at the LBS and they give me the "man why do you keep dumping money into this thing" look. SO...my question is....what is a good solid affordable front/rear deraillure and crank to get for a $300 hard tail. I'm looking at the HiFi for the next bike...probably the pro. Still waiting on the LBS to get a 17.5 in for me to test. Maybe the answer is to just ebay a hardtail? Ideas?

What's on the gem now you ask?
Shimano CS-HG3081 Sproket
Shimano Acera Rear Derailleur
Shimano Crank? SrSuntour Derailleur

Perhaps shimano alivio combo for derailleurs (if your shifters are shimano) with a 42t crank such as truvativ's blaze maybe?

The Shifters are Shimano rapid fire.

Years ago, I survived my "intro to hardcore xc" with a GT Backwoods and 24-speed Alivio. This included the infamous Slickrock Trail, Porcupine Rim, Behind the Rocks, and Gemini Bridges trails in Moab, UT. I rarely had any issues with "skipping" gears or missed shifts. When I did, it generally corresponded to shifting under load. The LX setup I upgraded to a year later "skipped" gears and missed shifts almost as often as the Alivio did (once or twice per epic ride) but it did shift much better under load. My current XT hardtail does better but my latest LX full suspension does not.

My experience from tuning and maintaining the old steed would be to check if:

1. The chain is an OEM piece of dog doo-doo that has some sticky links.
2. The derailleur hanger is ever so slightly bent giving you five good cogs and three bad ones.
3. The mechanics at your LBS are complete morons that should be removed from the gene pool.

I ended up spending $50 on a bike maintenance class and started fixing my own rig after the LBS mechanics missed the first two items as well as some bad rim tape on the road bike. I have since found a better LBS but still prefer to do most of my own work. BTW, I also had a Bianchi hybrid where the shifter cables continued to stretch for an entire summer since the weren't sufficiently "pre-stretched" prior to installation. New inner wires can work wonders and only cost $5-$10 if you can figure out how to adjust the cable tension yourself.

See http://www.parktool.com for a few tips on how to check for these things. Be careful though. Getting adventurous can get you into more trouble than you're in.

Are the cogs on the cassette worn out? Replace the cassette and the chain.

I sounds like you just need new chain, cassette and front rings. That should take care of your skipping problem.

Sometimes a tight link in the chain causes a skip, have you checked rogue?

sounds like you're ready for a new chain, cog set, and chain ring...its best to replace the bottom bracket when you do this as well.

Sounds like you've been doing some serious climbs over the years, or not downshifting enough to prevent extra wear on the drive train

woah
 

thanks for all of the replies.....
I have replaced the chain once already as I had a frozen link.

Probably. You need a real mechanic, not your friends to diagnose the problem.

Why? This is just like the bad advice his friends gave him. If the bottom bracket is ok, there is no need to change it, and it certainly isn't going to make your bike skip gears if it is bad.

Are your current chain rings the ones that came with the bike? I had a problem with the chain skipping and it turned out that I had managed to bend my middle ring. My LBS explained that often the stock rings aren't the highest quality. I traded out for a set of Race Face chain rings and haven't had a problem since. Well, until I took a fall and bent my derailler hanger.

if your bikeshop gives you that look. its most likely that they are trying to make you buy a bike from them. if I were you I would go to a different bike shop, if possible. A respectable and honest bikeshop would not look down upon an any bike...cause thats against the spirit of biking......remember the best bike for you is the one that fits you: your body, your pocket, and your riding needs. If someone is happy with a X-mart bike...so be it....its all about having fun......isnt it. so you should ask yourself that are you having fun.....and that should not include peer pressure.....being yourself is the coolest thing you can do....just by being like "others" you will become one of many....

GT Avalanche 3.0 is a nice bike for entry level riding. Mountain Bike magazine gave a good review of its bigger brother Avalanche 1.0 (1.0 and 3.0 uses the same frame but different component groups, so they are at different price point). So, if you swap a few parts around you should have a pretty good bike for XC and trail riding.

now if you decide to change the front and rear derailleurs here are some really cheap deals:

Front:

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/produ...r+M510+Oe.aspx

Rear:

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/produ...illeur+Oe.aspx

Crankset:
http://www.jensonusa.com/store/produ...ankset+Oe.aspx

Cassette:

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/produ...tte+05+Oe.aspx

there are some other great prices in this website too. Also check the www.pricepoint.com, they have some good prices on components. Finally, before you buy anything please check that whether your wheels will be able to fit the cassette and RD (8/9 speeds)....

Upgrading components on a bike that already fits you is great. specially if the upgrade is gradual, it does not cost you a lot at one time. I think, if you upgrade to the full deore set up, you would have a great and smooth shifting system.

good luck.