Updating a 1996 frame with modern kit.....

[LeeDevelopment]

Looking for some brain food here.

Right, I am about to embark on getting my Arthur Caygill 853 up dated, yes it's 26" wheeled, can't change anything there and to be honest I am not bothered about that by any road. What I am interested in is the modern drivetrain set ups.

I have some Middleburn cranks which I would like to keep using on it however am looking at 11 speed, maybe 12 speed, on the back via the larger SunRace cassettes which I believe are a straight forward swap on a general Shimano freehub body? Yes? Anyone using these items? Are they any good? (Full SRAM Eagle is way out of my league before anyone suggests it).

Then this brings me to there being any benefits of keeping two rings up front with this rear cassette or should I opt for the more modern single thick/thin ring approach with a little chain keeper in place? I am so out of shape today it's shocking, too many pies and cakes hence me thinking of keeping two rings!

And finally, I would say a modern XT/XTR rear mech and shifter will cope with the larger rear cassette easily enough?

Things for me to mull over.

 

[clubby]

I know you said not full Eagle, but....... have you considered NX?

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/s?q ... cat=direct

Still not exactly bargain basement but not that expensive and the cassette fits Shimano hubs. Keep your Middleburns and get a narrow/wide chainring from Superstar or Uberbike.
No need for twin rings with an Eagle cassette, more than enough range with a 32 or 34, even for my 15 stone frame in Scottish hills.

Other option is 11 speed. Shimano cassettes go up to 46T and I've been happy with the SLX kit on my hardtail. Does spin out easier at top end though as I've to use a 30T ring instead of 34T on my full sus. Pretty reasonable too.

 

[LeeDevelopment]

Re:

Part of it is trying to keep what I have hence the cranks.

 

[66 triumph daytona]

Re:

I was running 10 speed on my winter bike but changed to older 9x2 M970 with a wide range cassette 11-40.It can climb anything with the added bonus of a far more durable 9 speed drivetrain.10 and 11 speed chains and cassettes dont last pissing time in winter.

 

[clubby]

Re: Re:

added bonus of a far more durable 9 speed drivetrain.10 and 11 speed chains and cassettes dont last pissing time in winter.

https://m.pinkbike.com/news/4-key-facts ... -test.html

 

[LeeDevelopment]

Re: Re:

I was running 10 speed on my winter bike but changed to older 9x2 M970 with a wide range cassette 11-40.It can climb anything with the added bonus of a far more durable 9 speed drivetrain.10 and 11 speed chains and cassettes dont last pissing time in winter.

This backs up my own thinking, thank you.

 

[My_Teenage_Self]

Re: Re:

I was running 10 speed on my winter bike but changed to older 9x2 M970 with a wide range cassette 11-40.It can climb anything with the added bonus of a far more durable 9 speed drivetrain.10 and 11 speed chains and cassettes dont last pissing time in winter.

Actual and anecdotal evidence is showing 12 speed (especially Sram) to be VERY durable. More so than previous setups. Obviously, it comes at a cost (£££).

 

[jimo746]

Re:

You can fit the bigger Sunrace cassettes on a Shimano freehub, as long as the freehub is 10/11speed compatible. I've used 9 and 10 speed Sunrace wide range cassettes, they're fine, and affordable.

What ratios and rings you choose might depend on where you ride the bike. I was happy with 1x9 with an 11-36 cassette/34T chainring for local rides, woods etc.
For the actual mountains i have 1x10 with 11-46 and a 32T ring.
You mentioned being out of shape, no point in making things too easy for yourself with 2 chainrings up front then eh?
If using a wide range cassette though I'd opt for a single ring up front.

Modern XT/XTR will handle pretty much any size cassette, personally I'm more than happy with SLX level kit. Actually using SRAM GX at the moment, which seems to be holding up well.

 

[LeeDevelopment]

Thank you Jimo746, that's what I was wishing to read.

 

[greencat]

Re: Re:

I was running 10 speed on my winter bike but changed to older 9x2 M970 with a wide range cassette 11-40.It can climb anything with the added bonus of a far more durable 9 speed drivetrain.10 and 11 speed chains and cassettes dont last pissing time in winter.

Actual and anecdotal evidence is showing 12 speed (especially Sram) to be VERY durable. More so than previous setups. Obviously, it comes at a cost (£££).

Agreed - I've got an 11 speed SRAM GX groupset on my mountain bike and it must have done close on 1500 miles in all conditions offroad here in North Wales and I'm even on the same chain!