advice on my new commuter

[prklcd]

Hi everyone.

I just bought myself an old fully rigid Shogun MTB that I am going to turn into my commuter. I am really happy with my purchase but I am after so help/guidance of a few things.

1. The chain is rooted. I new this before I bought it – it’s heavly rusted. Now I am thinking about just getting a entry level Shimano like this http://www.phantomcycles.com.au/product.php?productid=356&cat=124&page=1.
Now should I replace the cassette at the same time? I was thinking I should, it does seem pretty worn and there is an ever so slight hint of rust on the cassette it self. Again I am thinking about entry level gear http://www.phantomcycles.com.au/product.php?productid=15&cat=20&page=1
Since I ride a fairly decent cross country bike I don’t have much knowledge of the entry level gear. Is it perfect for what I want to use it for? Or should I not worry about the cassette?

2. Tyres. I know there is a million threads regarding this topic but I am looking for advice. This will be my sole commuter, 15km ride to work each day 95% bike path 5% road. I also will ride it to the local shops and I am completely able to avoid gravel or any off road situations. Also able to advoid fully off gutters etc if this makes a difference.

Any advice on the above would be great. I need to try and keep the cost down as I don’t have much $$ to spend. I will be taking the bike for a general service at my LBS so I will get them to do any of the above work.

Thanks heaps

[Binaural]

1. Change the cluster and cassette at the same time. If you keep an eye on the chain wear you can usually wear out two chains per cluster and pull off the first chain before it wears the cluster too much. You can run a commuter for super cheap if you are diligent about this sort of preventative maintenance.

2. I recommend Vredstein S-licks in the 1.3" size, excellent tyres. Also think about the Maxxis Xeniths, 1.5" and very comfy, but you will get lots of flats. Another good choice is the WTB Slickasaurus, which are probably the best wearing out of the tyres I have mentioned.

[Techno Destructo]

1. Change the chain and cassette at the same time.
2. Micheline(sic) City Commuter tire. Slick with recessed treads on the sides, and puncture-resistant. Goes to 70psi. Nice tyre.

[prklcd]

1. Change the cluster and cassette at the same time. If you keep an eye on the chain wear you can usually wear out two chains per cluster and pull off the first chain before it wears the cluster too much. You can run a commuter for super cheap if you are diligent about this sort of preventative maintenance.

2. I recommend Vredstein S-licks in the 1.3" size, excellent tyres. Also think about the Maxxis Xeniths, 1.5" and very comfy, but you will get lots of flats. Another good choice is the WTB Slickasaurus, which are probably the best wearing out of the tyres I have mentioned.

Thanks. This is going to sound like such a newbie question. I thought a cluster and cassette were the same thing :eek:

[Binaural]

Thanks. This is going to sound like such a newbie question. I thought a cluster and cassette were the same thing :eek:

They are - most people call them cassettes, I usually call them clusters. No big deal either way :)

[prklcd]

thought so....feeeeewwww

I am leaning towards the WTB Slickasaurus only cause I have heard of them before. I presume that I need 26 x 1.5?

i regards to level of compents - entry level is ok for a comutter isn't it? ALSO is replacing the rear casette as simple as it seems ( in my head anyway )

[idesa]

I'd be tempted (if budget allows) to go for a Sram chain. Once you get the length right they have that funky lil BMX type link for easy removal, and resist stretch really well.

In regards to the tyres, I've been using the IRC Metro for months now on my city bike. Not one flat, very grippy in fast corners and those lil rubbery bits in the middle of the tread have only just worn off the front tyre!

Cheers :)

[Binaural]

I'd be tempted (if budget allows) to go for a Sram chain. Once you get the length right they have that funky lil BMX type link for easy removal, and resist stretch really well.


This is good advice. Chain life on a commuter can be greatly extended by pulling it off regularly to give it a soak in degreaser to clean it.

[Dicky]

They are - most people call them cassettes, I usually call them clusters. No big deal either way :)

If you want to get uber-nerdy about things, (and I will :p), a cluster is a screw-on 'lump' of cogs / freewheel mechanism - found on entry level bikes, 7 speed and less. The appropriate hub simply has a threaded drive side.

A cassette is a set of individual cogs and spacers, that fit onto a splined freehub body, and are held in place by a cassette lockring. In this case, the freewheel mechanism is part of the hub, not the cogs.
There are a handful of 7 speed cassettes out there - oldschool high-end road - but most are 8 / 9 / 10 instead.

But yeah, it doesn't make much difference.


As for tyre choice, another vote here for the Vreddies... great mix of comfort, speed and grip. Or there's Conti's Ultra Gators, they make them in 28mm for MTB rims now. Not as comfy as the Vreddies, but they roll a bit faster. Only a put a few hundred km into them, good stuff so far...






If your commute is flat, figure out which gear you're using most, then ditch the rest of them... ;)

[prklcd]

All good advice above. I will go to my LBS today at lunch to get some prices. Still thinking about relplacing the cassette myself if it's easy ( it is a 7 speed )

I will get a sram chain for sure now. :)

[prklcd]

Ok. Bike is booked in at my LBS on Tuesday to get a new chain and Casette. I am still keen on the WTB Slicks but they don't stock them, so I guess I will get them online somewhere.

Interested in knowing if anyone runs a tube-less setup on thier comutter - or peoples thoughts?

Haven't really riden my rigid bike yet - waiting to get slicks. I can find out how much quicker my 15km ride to work will be over ridding my dually :eek:

[Bodin]

Ok. Bike is booked in at my LBS on Tuesday to get a new chain and Casette. I am still keen on the WTB Slicks but they don't stock them, so I guess I will get them online somewhere.

Interested in knowing if anyone runs a tube-less setup on thier comutter - or peoples thoughts?

Haven't really riden my rigid bike yet - waiting to get slicks. I can find out how much quicker my 15km ride to work will be over ridding my dually :eek:

An entry level Shimano chain and cassette will do you fine for commuting. I actually use a road cassette (12-21), as you don't need the spread of gears you need on a MTB and the smaller jumps between gears make for nice cadence.

The world's best EV-UH! commuter tyres are Continental SportContact 1.3's. I've been running the exact same set of tyres on my commuter for almost 2 years with zero flats and they can be pumped to 100PSI, so they're bloody quick.

[prklcd]

Is there much of a difference between a 1.3 and a 1.5 slick?

:confused:

[Binaural]

Is there much of a difference between a 1.3 and a 1.5 slick?

:confused:

Larger than you'd think. Increasing the width by 15% from 1.3 to 1.5 increases the air volume held by the tyre by 33%, with a similar average increase in weight.

That said, some 1.5 slicks are really light (the Maxxis Xeniths weigh about 400g, the same as the 1.3 Vredsteins) and the extra air volume can be nice if you travel on rough roads. For most people though running smaller tyres means higher pressures and less tyre fold when you're pushing it.

[prklcd]

After your claims in your post Bodin I am going to get the Continental slicks. ( and they are on Phantom so it's easier for me to order them )

Hope they are as good as you say :D

[Bodin]

After your claims in your post Bodin I am going to get the Continental slicks. ( and they are on Phantom so it's easier for me to order them )

Hope they are as good as you say :D

Well, all I can do is post my own experiences, which are all good, so I hope you're not disappointed. They're definitely faster and more durable than the Ritchey Tom Slick 1.4s that I used to use.

In general, I find Continental tyres are really good quality and use currently use them on my commuter (SportContact) and road (UltraGatorSkin) bikes, and in the past I've also used them on my XC MTB (Explorer) with no dramas.

[prklcd]

Thanks for that.

Would running a smaller tube reduce the chance of flats? or is it fine to use "normal" sized tubes?

I need to adviod as many flats as I can cause I need to start work at 8:30 sharp and I leave my run pretty tight ( a flat here and there is fine )

[Bodin]

Thanks for that.

Would running a smaller tube reduce the chance of flats? or is it fine to use "normal" sized tubes?

I need to adviod as many flats as I can cause I need to start work at 8:30 sharp and I leave my run pretty tight ( a flat here and there is fine )

Run appropriately-sized tubes. The ones Borsari's got me for these tyres are for 1.5" tyres and fit the Contis nicely. I can't remember what brand they are, though, as I put them in 2 years ago and haven't had to look at them since then.

That was around about the same time that I converted to UST tubeless on my XC MTB and for some reason, my DH bike never gets a flat (cuz I'm a pussy?:o ), so the last time I had a flat on any bike was a loooooong time ago.

[prklcd]

Ok I have a set of Continental SportContact 1.3's on the way from Phantom - should be here today.

I was thinking last night - will these tyres will be fine on a "standard" MTB rim? I have no idea as I have never had a set of slicks before.