Features: Most bike comes with this type of setup. The stem is usually 0 degree or 5 rise, with the seat about 2-2.5 inch above the handle bar. Bar ends is a must, light weight is an importing factor for cross country riding.
Saddle-Before going further find a good saddle for your bike, find one that is most comfortable for you, but a narrower one will be better if you are serious about XC riding.
Wheels-If you are the gram counter then start there, first thing is to get lighter Tires as you can drop most quite a bit of weight from the tires. Since there are so many different conditions it’s hard to say which is the best, but look for a light weight tire, kevlar bred, with them best choice of a 1.80-1.95.
Most Rims would do fine, a good XC rim would be the Mavic 217, Sun CR17A, WTB Power Beam. If you are on a budget then the Mavic 220 and 221 and Sun CR18 are nice alternatives. And if money is no object then try the Spinergy rev-X-roks, they offer a stronger wheel and a major trick factor.
Spokes Double or triple butted spokes are the choice for XC riding, DT and Wheel Smith offers some of the best around. Union Titanium spokes are a nice choice for those really looking for a weight drop, and Union offers anodized spokes in ti-dye colors, could be the best thing for people looking to add color to their bike.
Hubs While your stock ones should do fine, ( I had mine for 3 years with out a single problem) Mostly is it Shimano in the back and the front range from house brand to some nice tricked stuff. A good set of hubs should be reasonably light, 100-200g for the front and the back about 300-400g range. White Industry Trackers are a popular up grade, Hugi and XTR is also a nice choice if you are looking for the more normal approach. While a more tricked approach is Nuke Proof, Ringle, TNT and King. Most of these offers mostly reduced weight, while performance wise they are similar.
Control Center- This area includes the stem, handle bar, bar ends, brake levers, shifters and grips. The control center is a very personal thing, it’s set up for you and mostly only you. For shifters, levers and grips it’s very much up to you, the rider. Choosing the right Stem is very important. A lower stem for cross country riding, offers a much better climbing position, a 0 to 5 degree rise to a negative rise 5-10 degree stem is a good choice, but it is also very much up to the rider. Most popular stuff right now are KORE, Control Tech, ringle’, Salsa, Ibis and DEAN. When you come to the handle bar Ti bars are nice, but it’s never a necessity. A few popular Ti bars are DEAN Ti, Ibis and Titec, they offer the ‘I must have ti on my bike’ group something to dream about. For less hyped riders Answer Hyper light is a very popular choice. Control tech is another. And if hype is your thing, then have a look at the Scott Thermoplastic bar, trick!
On a XC bike Bar ends is a must, offering a different hand position for climbing and sprinting. Onza offers one of the best selections around, Ibis, Titec and Control Tech also offers a good set.
Suspension- Now if your bike comes stock with a suspension fork then stay with it. But if the fork’s performance is not very good then check out a higher end fork, Rock Shox Judy, Manitou Mach 5SX, are good choice. Look for forks with minimum 2 inch travel, 2.5 to even 3 inch is the most popular options.
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© 1997 Hyperactiveman
