Posts by quietskipper17

You don't know jack.

Let me know what Pernar and Cetinski say when you send them 👍

Exactly. And after 31 miles spending the last 10 years riding carbon fiber rigs and high-end air forks, I’ve gotta say—you really haven't a clue what you're talking about.

If you can whip up 62 miles in just two hours, I'll personally buy you a bike 😁

http://www.bikecalc.com/gear_ratios

Try plugging in your current gear ratios first, then play around with what's actually available on the market right now.

It's pretty basic math—if you swap a 40-tooth chainring for a 36 and still keep that 11-tooth cog in the back, you're definitely going to lose top-end speed at the same cadence. Same logic applies when you're looking at the easier gears for climbing.

A 2x11 setup is just simpler to manage than a 3x10. Purely logical, really... you've only got two choices up front instead of three.

If you truly need that massive range you mentioned (though I honestly doubt you do), your options are super limited. But if you can live without, say, that 40-11 combo, you'll find plenty of happiness with a 2x setup. I didn't bring up 1x because, look, if you're struggling with a 22 or 24 ring right now, a 1x system is going to be pure misery for you. You could try one of those crazy new cassettes with a 50T cog, but I seriously doubt the price tag would sit well with you.

Honestly? If I were you, I’d ditch the old 3x10 and go with a 2x11. Just focus on how that smaller chainring compares to your current setup alongside a new cassette.

Let me know what kind of budget you're working with, and we can figure out some specific parts.

PS: Dealing with chain drops during rough Cross Country race sections is pretty easy these days—just get a rear derailleur with a clutch. Maybe add a chain guide if you're really desperate, but for standard XC riding, a clutch should do the trick.

Gerald Moore5 said:Can you be a cyclist and still smoke?

Whether you're just riding for fun or getting really serious about it. What have you guys found?

Hey, fifth interval! How's it going? 😍

raised 😉

Oh, absolutely. You just have to get moving 👍. For me, that distance takes about 35 minutes. If it takes you an hour at first, don't sweat it—it’s not like you're totally wrecking your morning or afternoon routine. Honestly, if it feels too heavy, maybe try taking Wednesday off and just hop on a bus or something? Just so you don't burn out and lose all motivation early on.

Make sure to rest your legs over the weekend. Trust me, it'll feel like it's been forever before you're actually ready to head out somewhere fun on Saturdays after a full week of commuting. 😉

ps: regarding the bike, I think @Acheron had one just like it and used it for the exact same reason—longer commutes. He'll probably have some solid advice for you. 👍

A buddy of mine lived and worked in Boston for four years and just biked to work every single day. 😉
I'm not sure about the exact mileage, but he never once complained about the bike lanes or how easy it was to get around.
If you want, I can hit him up for some advice on your route.

As for the distance, it’s honestly no big deal. My commute is about 18- 12 miles and even when I first started, I never really struggled with it—it was never exhausting or anything. Maybe I’d lose an extra 3 or 5 minutes here and there, but that's about it.

Sam Jones4 said:- how to act in city traffic,

Just follow the rules—they apply to everyone—but honestly? Just use your head. Don't do anything stupid that puts you or someone else in danger.

- where danger lurks,

You didn't say which route you're taking or even where you are, but danger can be anywhere if you aren't paying attention. Plus, there are always people driving or walking like total idiots. The more traffic around you, the riskier it gets. Seriously, just stick to what I said above and you'll be fine.

- what if I get a flat tire in the middle of nowhere at night,

Just swap it out. Takes maybe ten minutes. Always carry a spare tube, some basic tools, and a small pump with you.

- how to protect against thieves etc.

Buy a high-quality Uber.

A smart move after everything 👍

I wasn't talking about any shady ways to grab parts, just the fact that if you try to piece together three different bikes, none of them are going to turn out great.
As for anyone here having experience building custom rigs? Yeah, that would be me. 🤣 But hey, it’s not my money or my bikes, so good luck with whatever you're attempting! 👍

Good grief...
I honestly can't tell what belongs to him anymore—it's a messy mix of stuff from his friends, brother, mom, grandpa, neighbors, sister... you name it.

At the end of the day, this setup is exactly what I said: a total disaster.
So much work involved, the parts are sketchy at best, and those "upgrades" are just patchwork fixes that cost way too much.

I would personally never touch a combo like this, but hey, it's not my money.😁

So, if I've got this right:

1. You'd grab a used full suspension bike with a cracked frame but all the parts you listed
2. Move some of those parts over to your Trek 29
3. And then put the rest on some random used 26-inch frame you find later

If that's what you're thinking, honestly? Don't do it. My advice is much simpler: just buy a solid 26-inch frame and move EVERYTHING from the cracked bike onto that one. Then you either ride it or sell it. If you sell it, take that cash, add the $500 you were already planning to spend, and you'll have at least $500 or $600 to pull off a killer upgrade on your Trek. Leave the Trek alone for now—it's actually pretty good as it is.

Sadly, you can't even use the wheels or the fork on that Trek... so the whole setup just doesn't seem worth the money at all.

Honestly, just let it go.
$500There are way better ways to spend your money.

ps: That fork definitely isn't right for you.

No one can tell you for sure which way is better... A worn-out SLX groupset definitely isn't an upgrade over a perfectly preserved Acera... I mean, obviously if we're talking about brand-new parts, then yeah, we know what wins... Honestly, these kinds of combos usually end up being total junk... So just let someone who actually knows their stuff decide if it's worth it or not... To me, it feels like you're just throwing $500 plus mechanic labor into upgrading an old bike that already works fine, just to get some slightly newer, used parts. But hey, maybe it's just me...

Pretty much everything fits. It’s just a standard XC bike, nothing heavy-duty like a DH or enduro rig...

The derailleurs, shifters, drivetrain, brakes, cassette, chain, bars, stem, seat—it’s all good...

The fork should work if you grab a front wheel too, assuming the steerer is 1 1/8 like yours or if your frame can take a tapered fork with a headset swap.

Check the rear hub spacing on that back wheel because you're running standard quick release, but his might be something else... and definitely double-check the seatpost diameter...

Honestly, for a few hundred bucks, it's probably worth it... though let's be real, when you go to sell that Trek, you won't get $500 much more than what it's worth right now 😉

If you're feeling the itch to tinker and think it makes sense for you, go for it. Since we already established this isn't a DH bike, the parts will fit perfectly.

...plus you’ve got all those worn-out AM/DH parts... so basically, you're just looking at the market value of old components on a beat-up frame 😉

Anyone who actually rides seriously isn't stupid—they know exactly what this stuff is worth. And honestly? It’s way easier to move the whole bike than trying to sell individual parts when the frame itself is worth practically nothing.

Does it even make sense to build a bike around a frame like this?

Nah.

Nah, not even close. I wasn't thinking anything bad at all, I guess I’m just a little jealous of those guys with short commutes. They have the luxury of riding in whatever weather or clothes they want... For me, it's just not an option to ride my bike in jeans and a T-shirt. I'm basically forced into full cycling gear and then having to shower once I get to work. Yeah, yeah... luckily my office has a shower, and I'm seriously thankful for that 😁