Choosing a Shimano Mountain Bike Component

Mountain bike components are designed to withstand more abuse and extreme riding conditions. These components are heavier, sometime larger and more durable then road bike components. Sometime you are riding on dirt, rock, or in water, etc and the components need to be durable enough so they can withstand abusive treatment.

It just so happened that my rear derailleur broke on my full suspension mountain bike. I was riding a down hill trail and lost control of my bike. The rear of the bike ended up hitting the face of a rock and I was left with a mangled rear derailleur. So I looked at the positive side of the accident and said to myself now is the time to upgrade.

I could find new or near new parts on Bike Servant which is a mountain bike classifieds website and lists mountain bikes for sale, bike parts and race events but I was in the car with my bike so I decided to go to the store.

On the way home from the trail I stopped at my local bike store to buy a new derailleur so I can resume riding as quickly as possible. I told the bike shop guy my situation and she asked me which aftermarket Shimano derailleur I wanted to buy. Not knowing anything about the different categories in the Shimano product line I asked for help and this is what she relayed to me.

Shimano Deore is their entry level category. These products are inexpensive and meant for the occasional or enthusiast rider. These components are stocked on entry level mountain bikes.

Shimano Deore LX is their next level in higher quality. This category level consists of a more durable product. The main difference that I noticed is that Deore LX is lighter then Deore. My derailleur was a Deore LX and it has shown me proven quality and reliability for many years.

Shimano Deore XT was referred to as their heavy duty category. This product category is not considered race quality performance but they are light weight and more durable then the LX category. The price difference between the LX category and the XT category was noticeable.

Shimano XTR is considered their high performance category. Again these parts are lighter then the XT category. As a consumer I took notice to the price increase from XT to XTR. It appeared to me that this category appeals to the racers that demand light weight and high performance.

Keep in mind that this is not a complete list of Shimano’s product line. It is the list that my bike store carried.

So in my quest to buy a new derailleur I decided to purchase the Shimano Deore XT because of its light weight, durability and price. I had the bike shop install it for me and I was back on the trail in no time.

About the Author

Experience with full suspension and hardtail mountain bikes, bike parts and organizing race events for mountain biking.

bikes for sale
mountain bike classifieds

Mountain biking Maine 2008

Waterproof ToughCase f/ iPhone 3G, 3GS, iPod Touch 2G and iPod Touch 3G $107.5 Enhance the accuracy of location based and GPS apps while protecting and extending the battery life of your iPhone or iPod touch. Great for hiking, biking, geocaching, boating, golfing, professionals, or any Apple enthusiast interested in outdoor activities!

S500 Chest Harness for Zoom Packs $11.95 Color: Black This Chest Harness System allows Models 519, 517, 515, 514, 5625, 5627 and 5630 to be worn on your chest to capture photo opportunities during rigorous activities like climbing, skiing, kayaking or biking.

Dolphin Touch Waterproof 4GB MP3 & FM Radio Player $119 What an amazing fun by this NU world 1st Waterproof Curved Touch pad MP3 Player!! No more boring during aqua activities by only splash, you can enjoy your favorite music as well as FM radio underwater without any troubles and nerves! Dolphin TOUCH, Guaranteed Waterproof quality level by the International certified IPX7, you can Share all the greatest fun from all kinds of outdoor activities, such as Swimming, Surfing, Snorkeling, SPA, Mountaineering, Fishing, Jogging, Biking…, with 4GB embedded Nand Flash Memory size allow you to play 960songs of MP3/WMA and FM radio for Free!!

157250 Magnetic Fusion Exercise Bicycle $429 Stamina® Fusion bikes represent the biggest innovation in stationary bikes since the introduction of the recumbent. This new category of exercise bikes combines the traditional biking feel of the upright with the comfort of the recumbent for a bike that you’ll be able to use for longer, more effective, more ergonomically correct workouts. The Stamina Magnetic Fusion 7250 bike has a sleek design to complement its innovative engineering. With comfortable, molded and padded oversized seat with seatback, oversized pedals, and walk-thru design, you’ll be encouraged to work out longer. The seat slides at a 45 degree angle so your feet, legs, and hips are aligned to give you power on the downstroke and the upstroke for the best cycling workout possible.

151305 Indoor Cycle $164.99 Burn calories and fat and improve your cardiovascular fitness with the Stamina 1305 Indoor Cycle. You get one of the most effective low-impact aerobic exercises so you’ll increase your metabolism without the impact on your joints. Choose your workout intensity with the simple dial tension control, and enjoy the quiet, smooth pedaling action that is similar to real biking. The oval steel tube frame is engineered to be the rock solid and strong to withstand years of use. The leveling stabilizer caps accommodate uneven surfaces, and the compact design fits in most exercise areas. Stationary cycling is one of the most effective low-impact aerobic exercises for increasing your metabolism for more efficient calorie and fat burning without the impact on your joints.

154545 Magnetic Fusion Exercise Bicycle $209.99 Stamina® Fusion bikes represent the biggest innovation in stationary bikes since the introduction of the recumbent. This new category of exercise bikes combines the traditional biking feel of the upright with the comfort of the recumbent for a bike that you’ll be able to use for longer, more effective, more ergonomically correct workouts. With its smooth, quiet magnetic resistance and electronic tracking monitor, this exercise bike will be the piece of equipment that makes you look forward to your workout. The walk-thru design gives you an easy, safe way to get on and off the bike, and the padded, oversized seat with seatback and oversized pedals keep you comfortable and supported. The seat slides at a 45 degree angle so your feet, legs, and hips are aligned to give you power on the downstroke and the upstroke for the best cycling workout possible.

157100 Recumbent Magnetic Fusion Bicycle $329 Stamina® Fusion bikes represent the biggest innovation in stationary bikes since the introduction of the recumbent. This new category of exercise bikes combines the traditional biking feel of the upright with the comfort of the recumbent for a bike that you’ll be able to use for longer, more effective, more ergonomically correct workouts. With its smooth, quiet magnetic resistance, upgraded electronic tracking monitor, 6 preset programs and one manual program, the Stamina® Magnetic Fusion 7100 exercise bike will be the piece of equipment that makes you look forward to your workout. The walk-thru design gives you an easy, safe way to get on and off the bike, and the padded, oversized seat with seatback and oversized pedals keep you comfortable and supported. The seat slides at a 45 degree angle so your feet, legs, and hips are aligned to give you power on the downstroke and the upstroke for the best cycling workout possible.

5767 Velocity 7x Photo Sling Pack(BROWN/TAN) $69.95 Though it doesn’t look like a camera bag, the Velocity 7x – Photo Sling Pack is a unique, ultra-functional pack that carries like a backpack, but swings around to the front for quick access to an SLR with a 6″ lens attached and a couple additional lenses. Inside the main compartment, the camera with lens attached is suspended on two vertical, foam-padded dividers. The secure, zippered Quick Flip Top opens away from the body for fast and convenient access to camera gear. A well-padded sling strap comfortably distributes the weight, but need not be removed to quickly access photo equipment. A Tuck-A-Way™ waist belt allows the pack to be used while hiking, biking or doing other activities. The front pocket has organizer pockets inside to keep a mobile phone, PDA or photo accessories within easy reach. It also features Tamrac’s U.S.-patented Memory & Battery Management System™ that uses red flags to identify available memory cards and batteries from ones that are used up. A pocket inside the lid stores filters and lens caps. This pack is also customizable with Tamrac’s Modular Accessory System™ components.

5768 Velocity 8x Pro Photo Sling Pack(BLACK) $79.95 The Velocity 8x Pro Sling Pack is slightly smaller than the Velocity 9x, but still accommodates a pro digital SLR with a grip (such as Canon’s 5D Mark II or Nikon’s D700) and an 8″ zoom lens attached. Inside the main compartment, the camera with lens attached is suspended on two vertical, foam-padded dividers that are internally reinforced with rigid plastic. The Velocity 8x can be carried comfortably like a backpack, but when swung around to the front, the secure zippered Quick Flip Top opens away from the body for fast and convenient access to camera gear. A well-padded sling strap comfortably distributes the weight, but need not be removed to quickly access photo equipment. A Tuck-A-Way™ waist belt allows the Velocity 8x to be used comfortably during vigorous activities such as hiking or biking. The front pocket has organizer pockets inside to keep a mobile phone, PDA or photo accessories within easy reach. It also features Tamrac’s US-patented Memory & Battery Management System™ that uses red flags to identify available memory cards and batteries from ones that are used up. A pocket inside the lid stores filters and lens caps. Customize this sling pack with Tamrac’s Modular Accessory System™ components.

5767 Velocity 7x Photo Sling Pack(BLACK) $69.95 Though it doesn’t look like a camera bag, the Velocity 7x – Photo Sling Pack is a unique, ultra-functional pack that carries like a backpack, but swings around to the front for quick access to an SLR with a 6″ lens attached and a couple additional lenses. Inside the main compartment, the camera with lens attached is suspended on two vertical, foam-padded dividers. The secure, zippered Quick Flip Top opens away from the body for fast and convenient access to camera gear. A well-padded sling strap comfortably distributes the weight, but need not be removed to quickly access photo equipment. A Tuck-A-Way™ waist belt allows the pack to be used while hiking, biking or doing other activities. The front pocket has organizer pockets inside to keep a mobile phone, PDA or photo accessories within easy reach. It also features Tamrac’s U.S.-patented Memory & Battery Management System™ that uses red flags to identify available memory cards and batteries from ones that are used up. A pocket inside the lid stores filters and lens caps. This pack is also customizable with Tamrac’s Modular Accessory System™ components.

---

Comments are closed