Shimanos new group for nutcakes like me.

[manual63]

Check it out at <a href="http://www.ridesaint.com">Ride Saint</a>.

Yep, it's Shimano with an attitude!

[manitouman84]

I dont ride near hard enough to use this stuff, but sweeeeeeeet.

[martini]

http://www.ridesaint.com/saint/en/saint_home/product/front_chainring.MainContentPar.0002.Image.0.0.gif

THIS is the part I'm interested in! single speed, 34T, 180mm, bombproof. Not that I have any problems with my XTR's, but these are sooo, um, well cool looking. Wonder what they're gonna cost?

[manual63]

I just hope the parts don't get too heavy. I like it when they are strong, but still somewhat light. I got tired of riding 40 pound freestyle bikes, so now what, I have to ride a 40 pound mountain bike too?

The Truvativ cranks on my P.2 have held up well. They are even the softer aluminum ones, but still have the ISIS drive. I think the ISIS drive is fairly good and similar to how a spindle on a BMX crank works. The square press fittings on older type road and mountain cranks just don't hold up and they creak a lot.

[manual63]

Oh, I might actually be interested in the rear hub and derailleur setup. The derailleur mounts onto the axle. It actually acts as the nut on one side and the other side threads into it. I watched the video they have on the site. If you have broadband, check it out.

I worry that I might destroy my derailleur, so I hope this might be a better solution. As long as they don't make it so everything has to be Shimano to run it, like as in disk brakes and such.

[noise_is_life]

That derailleur does look pretty cool. I tend to be crash prone, so I am always pretty hard on any sticky out parts.

Looks like it might make taking off your rear wheel kind of interesting though. Could be a drag if (when) you get a flat.

[Kingbozo]

I heard they are supposed to be priced between XTR and XT. Those cranks are sweet.

[noise_is_life]

Here's an early review of the Saint group.

I didn't notice before that the rear derailleur is Rapid Rise, not sure how I feel about that, does anybody here ride XTR Rapid Rise?

http://www.nsmb.com/gear/saint_08_03.php

[SilverAthlon]

Mr. Douglas Holtz to you (nigel7780) rides with the rapid rise.

[Kingbozo]

Originally posted by manual63
Oh, I might actually be interested in the rear hub and derailleur setup. The derailleur mounts onto the axle. It actually acts as the nut on one side and the other side threads into it. I watched the video they have on the site. If you have broadband, check it out.

I worry that I might destroy my derailleur, so I hope this might be a better solution. As long as they don't make it so everything has to be Shimano to run it, like as in disk brakes and such.

You will need to buy the shimano disc brakes, and lever/shifter as well to go with the hub/derailleur. The derailleur requires the hub. The hub only works with the shimano discs etc, etc....

[manual63]

No biggie, my P.2 is already set up for discs. I think it's this way because just about any freerider out there now uses discs. If not, they will soon.

[Kingbozo]

Originally posted by manual63
No biggie, my P.2 is already set up for discs. I think it's this way because just about any freerider out there now uses discs. If not, they will soon.

That's cool. To me it just seems like a big investment for an arguably marginal improvement. Now the cranks on the other hand........

[manual63]

Which does bring to mind the internal rear hub idea. They do have some good ones of those and that would certainly solve the smashed RD problem.

[Don Youngdahl]

Originally posted by manual63
Which does bring to mind the internal rear hub idea. They do have some good ones of those and that would certainly solve the smashed RD problem.

Internal hubs of have a lot of advantages, but they have one disadvantage which will always limit their potential on performance oriented bicyles - more friction loss than roller chains.

For at least the last 50 years, the roller chain and sprocket has been recognized as the most efficient (i.e. lowest friction loss) of any form of mechanical power transmission. Less than belts, hydraulic converters, bevel gears, straight cut gears, planetary gears, shaft drives, etc.

In bicycles, with very limited available power, that's why the roller chain and sprocket has reigned supreme for so long when performance is the main goal.

Don Youngdahl

[manual63]

Yeah, but we are talkin' my P.2 here. As for a fast cross country ride, I wouldn't want to add the weight and/or friction. I think the price is what will kill me. Heck, I can get an XT RD for $40.00. I can destroy a bunch of those long before I get to the cost of nice internal hub set up for disk brakes. Maybe someday, but I am still on a budget right now.