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 nk” href=”http://www.bikeservant.com/”>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.
Watch the video related to mountain bike
A guy on his mountain bike (trials bike) jumping off of things, balancing, spinning around, etc.
Help answer the question about mountain bike
What mountain bike is good for the road more than the rough terrain??I have heard that there are mountain bikes that are good for all terrains but perform better on smooth surfaces also. Can anyone recommend a bike that is like this and isn't overly expensive. I was thinking about getting a Columbia trail head Mt bike. Any other suggestions?
About Author
Experience with full suspension and hardtail mountain bikes, bike parts and organizing race events for mountain biking.
Posted in 
Tags:
Nick, most cycle fanatics end up with multiple rides. most folks I know have at least 3, road bike, MTB, town beater. if you own a bike currently, maybe that one is destined to be your beater. slap some slicks on it, and clean up the drivetrain. as to your next ride, if you want to ride single-track, than your friends are right, get a mid-range MTB hardtail. if you don't have a bike that can work as your town beater, look into getting a cheep wheel set, and put slicks on that. if you can only afford a second set of tires, and not the wheelset, thats ok, it's just easier to work the quick release, rather than swap a tire..
lol I can’t believe I’m asking here on youtube but would anyone in the NYC area want to touch my delicate flower?