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Setup on my freeride bike

D

Dane Schley

Chimp
Jun 25, 2015
17
2
Denver Colorado
Hi guys, this is my first post here on ride monkey.
I am 14 years old and I just bought an Astrix Huckster. It is a single speed crankset and an 8 speed cassette. I ride urban freeride, trails, and a little cross country sometimes. I don't mind the weight of the bike and the challenge because if that, but it isn't geared for climbing at all. I am part of my high schools mountain bike club and the rides will start soon and I need to be able to climb. Should I consider a different cassette or add another gear to the crankset? And what would I be looking at for cost for either of those? Thanks.

I also posted this in the beginners section.
 
Sandwich

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,065
5,975
borcester rhymes
hey guy, welcome to ridemonkey, thanks for playing.

We need to know what your crankset (brand and model) is or what the spacing is (how many bolts) to recommend you a ring. And we need to know how many teeth are on your cassette (the biggest cog is fine) and your chainring. You can just count the number of teeth on each.

I'm guessing your cassette is an 11-30, and your chainring is probably a 32t. I'd recommend the largest cogset you can get in the rear, and a reasonably sized front chainring on the front, depending on the size of your current ring.

It looks like they make an 11-34 cassette that will work with your current 8 speed setup. That should provide a significant drop in gear ratio depending on what you have now.

If you have 4 bolts on your cranks, you can probably run a raceface narrow-wide chainring, which comes in 30t and will help to keep the chain from falling off the ring as you pedal. You may even be able to get rid of your chainguide. If you have 5 bolts, then you're in a bit of a pickle and will need something else.

You should also consider a new chain . Buy the best 8 speed chain you can afford. They're all pretty durable, but you really do get what you pay for with chains, in my experience.

The good news is that the current trend in mountain biking is to have a single front chainring and ditch the front derailleur. The bad news is that the newest drivetrains are up to 11 speeds, so making it work well on an 8 speed setup might be a challenge. Hopefully your setup is even bigger than what I've guessed, and you'll notice a huge change in your bikes ability to climb. Everybody runs a different setup so it's hard to recommend what's best for your terrain and such, but I think a 30/34t setup will get you up most hills, as long as they aren't miles and miles long.
 
D

Dane Schley

Chimp
Jun 25, 2015
17
2
Denver Colorado
Sandwich said:
hey guy, welcome to ridemonkey, thanks for playing.

We need to know what your crankset (brand and model) is or what the spacing is (how many bolts) to recommend you a ring. And we need to know how many teeth are on your cassette (the biggest cog is fine) and your chainring. You can just count the number of teeth on each.

I'm guessing your cassette is an 11-30, and your chainring is probably a 32t. I'd recommend the largest cogset you can get in the rear, and a reasonably sized front chainring on the front, depending on the size of your current ring.

It looks like they make an 11-34 cassette that will work with your current 8 speed setup. That should provide a significant drop in gear ratio depending on what you have now.

If you have 4 bolts on your cranks, you can probably run a raceface narrow-wide chainring, which comes in 30t and will help to keep the chain from falling off the ring as you pedal. You may even be able to get rid of your chainguide. If you have 5 bolts, then you're in a bit of a pickle and will need something else.

You should also consider a new chain . Buy the best 8 speed chain you can afford. They're all pretty durable, but you really do get what you pay for with chains, in my experience.

The good news is that the current trend in mountain biking is to have a single front chainring and ditch the front derailleur. The bad news is that the newest drivetrains are up to 11 speeds, so making it work well on an 8 speed setup might be a challenge. Hopefully your setup is even bigger than what I've guessed, and you'll notice a huge change in your bikes ability to climb. Everybody runs a different setup so it's hard to recommend what's best for your terrain and such, but I think a 30/34t setup will get you up most hills, as long as they aren't miles and miles long.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the input.
I have 4 bolts on my crank and it is a raceface ride DH. The biggest ring on the cassette is a 30 tooth.
 
HAB

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,580
2,006
Seattle
Dane Schley said:
Thanks for the input.
I have 4 bolts on my crank and it is a raceface ride DH. The biggest ring on the cassette is a 30 tooth.
Click to expand...
How many teeth on the front chainring? You could probably go smaller there, and get some lower gearing. You could also go to a different cassette, with as big as a 34t big cog.
 
D

Dane Schley

Chimp
Jun 25, 2015
17
2
Denver Colorado
HAB said:
How many teeth on the front chainring? You could probably go smaller there, and get some lower gearing. You could also go to a different cassette, with as big as a 34t big cog.
Click to expand...
I have a 36 tooth front chainring and an 11-30 cassette 8 speed. My hub is a shimano deore xt, would it work with a 10 speed? Thanks
Dane
 
imp

imp

Chimp
Sep 6, 2008
95
12
secret trail called "Telomicks" shh secret
Easiest and cheapest thing is to start with a 32t chainring on the front. You can get 30t but they are kind of specialty and cost more, last time I looked. You won't be able to crank hard downhill but everything is a compromise.

for another $18-30 you can get an 11-32 cassette, which will put you 1:1 in 1st gear. There are ways to take apart a wider ratio 9spd and respace it as an 8spd cassette, but I don't know anything about 8spd derailleur cages and what they'll accommodate.
 
Sandwich

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,065
5,975
borcester rhymes
Dane Schley said:
I have a 36 tooth front chainring and an 11-30 cassette 8 speed. My hub is a shimano deore xt, would it work with a 10 speed? Thanks
Dane
Click to expand...
Yes, that hub will work with 10 speed (8, 9, and 10 speed are all compatible). Note that to change to 10 speed, you'll need a new shifter, chain, cassette, and derailleur, but the difference might be quite a bit, performance wise.

Personally, I'd go with that 11-34 setup, then put on either a 32t or 30t chainring. I would still stick with the "narrow wide" option, as it's quite an improvement from a regular chainring, in my experience. You could keep your shifter and derailleur, and upgrade those later.
 
HAB

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,580
2,006
Seattle
imp said:
Easiest and cheapest thing is to start with a 32t chainring on the front. You can get 30t but they are kind of specialty and cost more, last time I looked. You won't be able to crank hard downhill but everything is a compromise.

for another $18-30 you can get an 11-32 cassette, which will put you 1:1 in 1st gear. There are ways to take apart a wider ratio 9spd and respace it as an 8spd cassette, but I don't know anything about 8spd derailleur cages and what they'll accommodate.
Click to expand...
You can get 11-34 8 speed cassettes too. One of those and a 30 or 32t chainring would make things a lot easier.

Your hub can take 10 speed, but to do that you'd need a new cassette, chain, shifter and derailleur. It's a much more expensive proposition.
 
Nick

Nick

My name is Nick
Sep 21, 2001
24,034
14,645
where the trails are
hey guys ... this kid is 14. You guys up for digging through our old 8/9sp parts and setting this kid up with some upgrades? I'm pretty sure I can find an 11-34 cassette and shifter, anyone have a chainring and chain?
 
HAB

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,580
2,006
Seattle
Nick said:
hey guys ... this kid is 14. You guys up for digging through our old 8/9sp parts and setting this kid up with some upgrades? I'm pretty sure I can find an 11-34 cassette and shifter, anyone have a chainring and chain?
Click to expand...
I definitely have a 32t ring and a 9 speed Shimano shifter.
 
HAB

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,580
2,006
Seattle
I might have that too. I'll have to check when I get back to the States next week.
 
jstuhlman

jstuhlman

bagpipe wanker
Dec 3, 2009
16,678
13,022
Cackalacka du Nord
I am about to take off my x9 short cage (9 sp) with a clutch. I could donate to the cause if needed. The n/w really doesn't help that much without the clutch, in my experience. I may have a 9sp cassette lying around too.
 
Sandwich

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,065
5,975
borcester rhymes
jstuhlman said:
I am about to take off my x9 short cage (9 sp) with a clutch. I could donate to the cause if needed. The n/w really doesn't help that much without the clutch, in my experience. I may have a 9sp cassette lying around too.
Click to expand...
hmmm, it did in mine, by quite a bit! (no drops a ride, compared to 1-2 every ride).

OP, let us know if you're interested in some free hand-me-downs. It sounds like people are jumping at the opportunity to get your bike where you want it.
 
Nick

Nick

My name is Nick
Sep 21, 2001
24,034
14,645
where the trails are
great! hang on and let's see what combo makes the most sense for the young
jstuhlman said:
I am about to take off my x9 short cage (9 sp) with a clutch. I could donate to the cause if needed. The n/w really doesn't help that much without the clutch, in my experience. I may have a 9sp cassette lying around too.
Click to expand...
Great! stay tuned as well. I have a sram shifter if we go that route.
 
D

Dane Schley

Chimp
Jun 25, 2015
17
2
Denver Colorado
Thanks everyone, especially Nick. You guys are the best!
So from what I'm seeing, it looks like I should keep the single speed crank but get a 32 tooth chainring instead of my 36. Also, it looks like I should get a 9 speed cassette setup. I will probably go with parts that you guys have, because I am on such a tight budget. I am not experienced with anything other than companys really, so Nick, can you make a list of all the parts needed to convert to a 32 tooth chainring and everything else needed for the cassette and dérailleur and shifter and all that, and then mark who has what covered. I just don't want to forget anything!
Thanks again. You guys are truly amazing!!!
 
K

klunky

Turbo Monkey
Oct 17, 2003
1,078
6
Scotland
Yes as said pictures can help.
Im going to guess you have dual ply heavy tyres. Whilst low gearing is obviously the best thing to upgrade but I would say some lighter tyres are a cheap an effective way to make the rides more pleasant!
 
HAB

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,580
2,006
Seattle
I definitely have a chainring. I'm just in Tel Aviv/Amsterdam until next Tuesday.
 
D

Dane Schley

Chimp
Jun 25, 2015
17
2
Denver Colorado
  • Cassette - Nick
  • Chain - Nick
  • Chainring - Hab
  • Dérailleur - jstuhlman
  • All we need is a shifter to go with the SRAM 9 speed dérailleur
  • Let me know if anybody has one
  • Thanks again!
 
Nick

Nick

My name is Nick
Sep 21, 2001
24,034
14,645
where the trails are
You said your riding with your school's cycling club; keep in mind that bike is a downhill bike. it will never be a very good climber, especially on the front range, but that is not to say you can't climb on it, you probably just suffer a lot more than you need to.
 
D

Dane Schley

Chimp
Jun 25, 2015
17
2
Denver Colorado
Nick said:
You said your riding with your school's cycling club; keep in mind that bike is a downhill bike. it will never be a very good climber, especially on the front range, but that is not to say you can't climb on it, you probably just suffer a lot more than you need to.
Click to expand...
Yeah. I decided that I was willing to suffer so that I could do everything that I wanted to ride on one bike.
 
D

Dane Schley

Chimp
Jun 25, 2015
17
2
Denver Colorado
I talked to the guy at a bike store and found what I should do. He recommended to do a 10 speed cassette ( I'm pretty sure it's an11- 42) and a 30 or 32 t narrow wide chainring. He said that that's what all the workers there ride and it is perfect for all the local trails. The final cost will come to over $300 so I will definanltly have to save. He also said to avoid buying used for drivetrain systems. It might be worth saving up for it because I'd be on all the new technology and there'd probably be warranties. Let me know what you guys think.
Thanks
 
HAB

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,580
2,006
Seattle
I mean, the new 10s stuff is nice. There's a reason we've all got old 9s stuff sitting around. But it's hardly a night and day difference, and on what I take to be a normal 14 year old's budget, a cheap (we're aiming for free, remember) 9 speed setup is going to be a vastly better value.
 
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