Comparison of Deore, SLX, XT, XTR shifter

Wheels of Happiness

According to the author, SLX and Deore are grouped together on price points and performance, XT and XTR are on one group.  Deore/SLX could cost $15, while XT could be double the price at $30.

But the xt has the advantage of having 4, 3, 2 clicks on the downshift (larger gears) and 2 on the upshift (smaller cogs)   You can push or employ trigger pull (bi directional shifting) which are quite an advantage.

Just like campy shifter.    

So go for the XT.  Fortunately I have xt on my mtb.     

Important things to remember in rd and hub assembly disassembly

Wheels of Happiness

When I diassembled the rd and hub  of the TI mtb, this post forgot certain key points:

1.   For the RD: (Deore XT 8000) no clutch

     1.   When you reinstall the rd, there is a stopper that must be at the bottom and the rid cage must slant 180% not 90 degrees.  When I did not observe this the consequences were:

           1.  The central pulley bumps into the chain stay and the 11 cog dfoes not shift;

           2.  The limit screw does not work,

           3.   You cant remove the ws assembly

 2.  For the RD again   When reassembling the spring assembly, you must turn the cage 180 degrees.   Watch the YT video well, adn you can clear the cable attachment by playing with the parallelogram.  It may look like an impossible puzzle to you (but that is whre thinking out of the box in space topology works)

  2.   The axle lentgth  -  It must be longer at the non drive side and not at the drive side, otherwise, again, you cant shift properly nor get the WS out

   

Conversion of ball bearing to sealed bearing in a Deore hub

Wheels of Happiness

I have been thinking of converting from ball bearing (as is often with Shimano hubs) to sealed bearing.  They say it is longer lasting, less prone to bearings getting loose, and getting grit, and affected by water causing their early failure.

The sealed bearing number is RS 6000.

The challenge are with the axle.  4 options:

1.  A anew axle with stopper for bearing (that should fit RS 6000

2.  Put nuts inside the old shimano inside as bearing guide and stopper.

3.  Put a tube shim inside;

4.  Do nothing with the axle.  Just hand tighten the outside cones.

What do you think?   Choose 1 or 4.

h

Starting practice rides for Baguio climb on Holy Week

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
February 24, 2016

I started my preparation for Baguio climb this morning.  I rode the SARS bike with Ultegra group set however with big gears at the back (up to 36) and Deore triplet in front.  On the way, I acquired a biking companion in Tayuman.  He has a Cannondale road bike with Ultegra group set and an P18t SIDI shoes.   We did rubber band riding.   He overtook me and caught up with him in Island gas and then we were together.  He overtook me at Convention center, however I pulled up going up Mambog and until  Callahan.  I leave him on the uphill.   Then he overtook me downhill and then I tt up to munisipyo and I left him again.  I waited for him at the market and overtook me.

I chased him and overtook him up Namay.  He signaled to me to continue and left him again ;until Baras hill and we were together again at KM 55.   I left him again at KM 56 and up until Pisong Kape.  I again remembered he is a painting contractor in Taytay and we talked about business while having lugaw and egg;   he had coffee and two eggs.  I had to leave him because he was waiting for a companion who went up Bugarin.

I tried to speed up on the way back using only heavy gears even at Biak na Bato 44 x 13 and even at Baras hills.  Somebody overtook me downhill and I chased him and we nearly bumped a Fortunner swag vehicle of  some bikers (not the one who overtook me.  I chased him and caught up with him until KM 50.  He rode a Titanium bikee and he hails from Cubao and they have a pick up at Phoenix station in Morong.  Then his companions arrived and caught up with us.  One has a Pinarello Dogma.  However, I proved that it is not about bikes because I overtook the Pinarello guy.

What a way to prepare for Baguio ride

There is a planned ride to Baguio this Holy Week - what bike to bring?I

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
February 23, 2016

There is a planned ride to Baguio again and will include Val, Gerry, Jeff, and who else.  May be me.  It is Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Maundy Saturday.  So what bike to bring.

I asked the opinion of Armin Zapanta who joined us using a road bike, and went with his MTB friends using MTB on a tour of the north.  Would it be ok to bring an MTB which I just bought.  The MTB has enough low gears to enable us to climb the steep Kennon road.

This is what he said:   it is double the effort on the flats (because of the heavier weight and friction from the large fat tires) and even more so in climbing.   Laspagan.  So it is not adviseable.

So there I go again I tore the  53 -39 crank chain ring, the 12 - 28 gears and replaced them with Deore triplet, and 11 to 36 gear set.  The gears and combination I used for the San Felipe trip.

I guess that will be the right bike to bring?  Light for the flats with 44 x 11 at about 100 gear inches, good enough to catch the halimaw on flats and 32 x 32 for 26 gear inches at the Lions head.

My bike ride today with Vhen to Antipolo from Teresa

Wheels of Happiness

Angono Rizal
August 18, 2015

I rode today to Antipolo and Teresa today and back to Antipolo.  I used the fast cadence technique being endorsed by Ed Valdez.   I had the gear at 44 x 15 on level road and 44 x 17 going up.  I had up to 44 x 26 at Beverly. On the way up I encountered Peter Francisco whom I overtook near Alta Vista and wondered who I was.  (Peter is a 68 yo Taytay rider but very fit and strong for his age all due to biking)

I overtook another MTB near Robinson using 44 x 17.   But as I rode down, I shifted to 44 x 13 and banked well, rode the apex and the sides exiting the apex.   I had my Lugaw at the Teresa curve and as soon as I finished my lugaw, Vhen, whom I talked to yesterday at Wawa arrived.

Going back he said he would follow me and try to see how I do with the low gearing of the Deore.  I had my gears at 44 x26 and 44 x 30 max.   And also stood at the Solid cement, where I left him.  We were totally drenched in sweat.  He arrived some 3 minutes later at Robinson where I waited for him.  Then we went to Antipolo church.   We met Eric Feliciano, who looks like he is a priest, who bikes, and enjoined us to "ingat"

We were home by 10 am.

Upgrade of my SARS roadie into a Cyclocross (RB and MTB)

Wheels of Happiness


I have finally completed the Hill Climber bike project. I did the following: replaced the chain wheel 53 x 39 with 44 x 32 x 22 Deore with 175 mm arm, installed a 3 way STI (sora), had a long cage RD (sora) and 10 speed 11 to 36 cogs: 11 13 15 17 19 21 24 26 32 36. I chose the STX, the more expensive but lighter cogs (with holes and spider arms) vs Alivio which is heavier.

The whole project cost me P7,800 for the sti, cogs, and the rear derailleur. I still have to find a 3 plet front derailleur. (The one I use is an old sora for 2 chain chain rings only)

Why do I have this project:

1. I have to use friendlier gear ratios as I am not getting younger.

2. When we go back to Banawe and Mt. Data, I will not run of gears.

3. I plan to join the guys who go on island hopping tours using cylocross bikes (I still to buy 25 mm wide tires) O I may go solo in August to Mindoro and up to Panay island

4. Convenience.

Test trial of my SARS Hill Climber

Wheels of Happiness

Angono, Rizal Philippines

                                               Deore triplet crank

                                       Sora rear long cage roller, and STX ten speed 11 x 36

                                        Rear view of the finished project

Ever since we came from Benguet, Mt Province, and Sagada where we quit some of the stages, I vowed that we would return with a bike with gears suited to the grade.  MTB only will do.

So I upgraded/converted my SARS bike to be my hill climber:

Here are the mods:

1. Removed the FSA 53 x 39 crank and replaced it with Deore triplet with 175 mm arm, 44 32, 22

2.  Outfitted a 3 way SORA sti, removed the front left Ultegra 2 way STI

3.  Replaced the ultegra rear roller with a Sora long cage rear roller