Back in the saddle again....

"Mood" <jamesmood@**REMOVETOREPLY**comcast.net> wrote in message
news:BttMa.1447$3h3.2116@rwcrnsc53...

Quoted message said:

Hey all, I used to frequent this group and r.b.o.r several years ago, not nearly

as

Quoted message said:

much as I frequented the local trails, but often enough.

I had to put the bike away through my last couple years of college because of time issues, but now
that I've been out for a short time, I'm looking

to

Quoted message said:

get back on my bike.

Because of my money issues, and poor Jr. Mechanic skills in high school,

my

Quoted message said:

bike isn't exactlly in perfect condition. I own an 1995 GT Pantera and it still has the orginal
parts group, Shimano STX, 7spd and a Marizzochi XCR front fork. I really can't complain about the
quality of these parts too much, however they are mostly worn out. To my dismay, my damn bike went
obsolete about as fast as my laptop. I honestly can't believe that a 9spd cog set is really that
much better,(flame shields up capitian!)

9 speed is OK, there is a lot of chain throw, which i can not stand

however it

Quoted message said:

seems the whole world has been convinced that it is and I can no longer

find

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descent quality parts for my bike. I'm not sure if anything has changed with the Alivio/Acera
line, but if it's like it used to be, I dont' think I'm interested.

For half money reasons and half matters of priciple, I'm not in the market to dispose of my trusty
Pantera and go shopping for a new bike. It does appear that I'm going to have to bite the bullet
and ditch the Shimano STX set. Sooo, I have a few questions for you folk, and feel free to add
anything obvious I forgot to ask.

1. What is a good set of componets to replace my STX ones with, I'm

looking

Quoted message said:

for comparable level/cost parts? I'm looking for rapid-fire type

shifers.

Quoted message said:

What parts will I need to keep everything compatable. I know I'm looking

at

Quoted message said:

new shifters, derailures and a new rear wheel at least.

2. Are these parts compatible with my frame, Will an 8/9spd hub fit in the

Quoted message said:

7spd spot and be correctly aligned?

3. Is Pacific Bicycle (shudder) making replacement derailuer hangers for

the

Quoted message said:

GT bikes? I got one spare, but I used to go through one a season.or so.

4. Can I still get a rebuild kit for my Marzzochi XCR? Being an XCR, it leaks oil and air like
crazy, I'm thinking about getting rid of it all together, any replacement suggestions in the
2-3" travel range?

I know these are broad questions, but I hope I can find a place to start. Thank in advance....

-Jim Mood

Hey moody..

"Mood" <jamesmood@**REMOVETOREPLY**comcast.net> wrote in message
news:BttMa.1447$3h3.2116@rwcrnsc53...

Quoted message said:

Hey all, I used to frequent this group and r.b.o.r several years ago, not nearly

as

Quoted message said:

much as I frequented the local trails, but often enough.

I had to put the bike away through my last couple years of college because of time issues, but now
that I've been out for a short time, I'm looking

to

Quoted message said:

get back on my bike.

Because of my money issues, and poor Jr. Mechanic skills in high school,

my

Quoted message said:

bike isn't exactlly in perfect condition. I own an 1995 GT Pantera and it still has the orginal
parts group, Shimano STX, 7spd and a Marizzochi XCR front fork. I really can't complain about the
quality of these parts too much, however they are mostly worn out. To my dismay, my damn bike went
obsolete about as fast as my laptop. I honestly can't believe that a 9spd cog set is really that
much better,(flame shields up capitian!)

Nor can almost everybody else, but we don't have much say against MR Shimano. A lot of people (me
included) are running 8 spd BTW.

Quoted message said:

For half money reasons and half matters of priciple, I'm not in the market to dispose of my trusty
Pantera and go shopping for a new bike. It does appear that I'm going to have to bite the bullet
and ditch the Shimano STX set. Sooo, I have a few questions for you folk, and feel free to add
anything obvious I forgot to ask.

1. What is a good set of componets to replace my STX ones with, I'm

looking

Quoted message said:

for comparable level/cost parts? I'm looking for rapid-fire type

shifers.

Quoted message said:

What parts will I need to keep everything compatable. I know I'm looking

at

Quoted message said:

new shifters, derailures and a new rear wheel at least.

Probably looking at deore stuff, which works great and should hold up fine.

Quoted message said:

2. Are these parts compatible with my frame,

Yes.

Will an 8/9spd hub fit in the

Quoted message said:

7spd spot and be correctly aligned?

Yes. 8 and 9 speed cassettes fit in the same space as 7 speed, which is why the cogs are closer
together, chains are narrower and gear problems are greater....

Quoted message said:

3. Is Pacific Bicycle (shudder) making replacement derailuer hangers for

the

Quoted message said:

GT bikes? I got one spare, but I used to go through one a season.or so.

No idea. If you ever run out try Goldtec who make a range of obsolete parts for biles incl.GT.

Quoted message said:

4. Can I still get a rebuild kit for my Marzzochi XCR? Being an XCR, it leaks oil and air like
crazy, I'm thinking about getting rid of it all together, any replacement suggestions in the
2-3" travel range?

Pace RC 36?

Quoted message said:

I know these are broad questions, but I hope I can find a place to start. Thank in advance....

-Jim Mood

In all honesty you'd better off saving up a little and buying new, for notta lotta money you will
get a much better frame and fork than your current set up. Save the Pantera for a winter beater
bike, or commuter etc.

Steve E.

Mood said:

<znip>

Quoted message said:

1. What is a good set of componets to replace my STX ones with, I'm looking for comparable
level/cost parts? I'm looking for rapid-fire type shifers. What parts will I need to keep
everything compatable. I know I'm looking at new shifters, derailures and a new rear wheel at
least.

I'd go 8-speed, LX or XT. It's still widely available, and relatively cheap. I'd also consider
separate shifters/brake levers as opposed to the integrated ones.

Quoted message said:

2. Are these parts compatible with my frame, Will an 8/9spd hub fit in the 7spd spot and be
correctly aligned?

Standard dropout width is 135 mm these days. Check yours. If it is a steel frame, and it is 130 mm,
it *can* be cold set, but that's kinda tough on the frame.

Quoted message said:

3. Is Pacific Bicycle (shudder) making replacement derailuer hangers for the GT bikes? I got one
spare, but I used to go through one a season.or so.

Dunno, although I feel your pain.

Quoted message said:

4. Can I still get a rebuild kit for my Marzzochi XCR? Being an XCR, it leaks oil and air like
crazy, I'm thinking about getting rid of it all together, any replacement suggestions in the
2-3" travel range?

Stick with Marzocchi.

Quoted message said:

I know these are broad questions, but I hope I can find a place to start. Thank in advance....

-Jim Mood

--
J'm

To Reply Direct, Remove Clothes. ...-.-

spademan o---) * said:

Hey moody..

<snip>

Quoted message said:

In all honesty you'd better off saving up a little and buying new, for notta lotta money you will
get a much better frame and fork than your current set up. Save the Pantera for a winter beater
bike, or commuter etc.

Steve E.

While I agree that it certainly would be a lot less hassle, how is he going to get ". . .a much
better frame. . ." than what he currently has? If his current frame fits and isn't
dented/whacked/out of alignment, it's still probably cheaper to upgrade the old steed.

--
J'm

To Reply Direct, Remove Clothes. ...-.-

"J'm Sm'th" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

spademan o---) * said:

Hey moody..

<snip>

Quoted message said:

In all honesty you'd better off saving up a little and buying new, for

notta

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

lotta money you will get a much better frame and fork than your current

set

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

up. Save the Pantera for a winter beater bike, or commuter etc.

Steve E.

While I agree that it certainly would be a lot less hassle, how is he

going to

Quoted message said:

get ". . .a much better frame. . ." than what he currently has? If his

current

Quoted message said:

frame fits and isn't dented/whacked/out of alignment, it's still probably cheaper to upgrade the
old steed.

Hey, Just my opinion but, frame materials and design has improved a lot in the last 5 years.
IIRC The pantera was made from low quality steel tubing or some of the first budget aluminium
tubes. A newer frame will have geometry which can handle a sus fork, possibly disc mounts for
future upgrades.

Steve E.

"spademan o---[\) *" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Hey moody..

"Mood" <jamesmood@**REMOVETOREPLY**comcast.net> wrote in message
news:BttMa.1447$3h3.2116@rwcrnsc53...

Quoted message said:

Hey all, I used to frequent this group and r.b.o.r several years ago, not nearly

as

Quoted message said:

much as I frequented the local trails, but often enough.

I had to put the bike away through my last couple years of college because of time issues, but
now that I've been out for a short time, I'm looking

to

Quoted message said:

get back on my bike.

Because of my money issues, and poor Jr. Mechanic skills in high school,

my

Quoted message said:

bike isn't exactlly in perfect condition. I own an 1995 GT Pantera and it still has the orginal
parts group, Shimano STX, 7spd and a Marizzochi XCR front fork. I really can't complain about
the quality of these parts too much, however they are mostly worn out. To my dismay, my damn
bike went obsolete about as fast as my laptop. I honestly can't believe that a 9spd cog set is
really that much better,(flame shields up capitian!)

Nor can almost everybody else, but we don't have much say against MR Shimano. A lot of people (me
included) are running 8 spd BTW.

Aye, agreed. I switched to 9-speed only very reluctantly, having run 7-speed until last year.

It's probably worth asking LBSs if they have any 7-speed componenets lying around at the back of a
store-room - it's sometimes possible to get bargains like that, because once the big S decides
something is obselete it can be almost impossible to shift it.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

For half money reasons and half matters of priciple, I'm not in the market to dispose of my
trusty Pantera and go shopping for a new bike. It does appear that I'm going to have to bite the
bullet and ditch the Shimano STX set. Sooo, I have a few questions for you folk, and feel free
to add anything obvious I forgot to ask.

1. What is a good set of componets to replace my STX ones with, I'm

looking

Quoted message said:

for comparable level/cost parts? I'm looking for rapid-fire type

shifers.

Quoted message said:

What parts will I need to keep everything compatable. I know I'm looking

at

Quoted message said:

new shifters, derailures and a new rear wheel at least.

Probably looking at deore stuff, which works great and should hold up fine.

Further agreement. Probably the best value components around...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

2. Are these parts compatible with my frame,

Yes.

Will an 8/9spd hub fit in the

Quoted message said:

7spd spot and be correctly aligned?

Yes. 8 and 9 speed cassettes fit in the same space as 7 speed, which is why the cogs are closer
together, chains are narrower and gear problems are greater....

Err, is that really correct? I though that 8- and 9-speed cassettes and freehubs were the same
width, but wider than 7-speed. IIRC, 8-speed has the same spacing as 7-speed (and same chain width),
and is hence 1 cog wider...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

3. Is Pacific Bicycle (shudder) making replacement derailuer hangers for

the

Quoted message said:

GT bikes? I got one spare, but I used to go through one a season.or so.

No idea. If you ever run out try Goldtec who make a range of obsolete parts for biles incl.GT.

Quoted message said:

4. Can I still get a rebuild kit for my Marzzochi XCR? Being an XCR, it leaks oil and air like
crazy, I'm thinking about getting rid of it all together, any replacement suggestions in the
2-3" travel range?

Pace RC 36?

I've managed to pick up last-season forks on the web for very little moolah (here in the UK) - that
might be worth a look.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I know these are broad questions, but I hope I can find a place to start. Thank in advance....

-Jim Mood

In all honesty you'd better off saving up a little and buying new, for notta lotta money you will
get a much better frame and fork than your current set up. Save the Pantera for a winter beater
bike, or commuter etc.

Hmmm. Not sure I agree. From the description it sounds like the OP could get the Pantera up and
running for a lot less than an equivalent new bike, especially if willing to consider last-season
(or older) new stuff.

Cheers - Adam...

[email hidden] (Adam) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"spademan o---[\) *" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Hey moody..

"Mood" <jamesmood@**REMOVETOREPLY**comcast.net> wrote in message
news:BttMa.1447$3h3.2116@rwcrnsc53...

-8<- snip ->8-

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Will an 8/9spd hub fit in the

Quoted message said:

7spd spot and be correctly aligned?

Yes. 8 and 9 speed cassettes fit in the same space as 7 speed, which is why the cogs are closer
together, chains are narrower and gear problems are greater....

Err, is that really correct? I though that 8- and 9-speed cassettes and freehubs were the same
width, but wider than 7-speed. IIRC, 8-speed has the same spacing as 7-speed (and same chain
width), and is hence 1 cog wider...

D'oh! Should learn to read more carefully...

Correct answer to Spademan, not to Moody. Yes, I believe MTB hubs should all fit into the same
dropout spacing (135mm), irrespective of number of gears. No, 8 and 9 speed cassettes will not fit
onto a 7 speed freehub body, as it will be too narrow. 8 and 9 speed wheels have greater dish than,
and are therefore not as robust as, 7 speed wheels.

Adam... -8<- more snip ->8-