The drivetrain (transmission) covers the power of the bike – the Cranks, Chainring, Cassette, Chain, shifters and Bottom Bracket, this is where all the propulsion comes from to drive the bike forward. Where possible we’ve again relied on the miracles of British engineering to drive us forward!
These are the components that are most likely to wear down and need replacing as the journey goes on, so it’s all the more important that these are as tough and hard wearing as possible.
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Cranks & Chainring
Middleburn RS8 Crank & Middleburn Hardcoat Slick Shift Chainrings
From East st Cycles
Middleburn cranks and chainrings can be a real pain to get a hold of. For weeks the CRC Middleburn builder had them listed as out of stock. By coincidence, we came across a supplier of them in an LBS – East St Cycles. Although their website is a bit of a shambles, and the cranks and rings took a while to come, come they did in all their Teflon impregnated ceramic coated glory.
The triple chainset (44-32-20) gives an enormous gear range, the smallest allowing us easy (albeit slow) access up the steepest mountain.
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Bottom Bracket
Titanium Bottom Bracket Axle (£127)
From Royce
Once again, something of a last minute change of mind from our Hope Ceramic bottom brackets to the Royce Titaniums.
Complete with titanium end bolts, I was pleasantly surprised by how smooth these were once ridden, despite their tough all-weather capabilities.
More to follow, once the miles have been ridden…
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Cassette
Ultegra 6500 9 speed (£46.16)
From Wiggle.co.uk
Tried and tested, the Ultegra cassette provides consitant quality and reliability. Strong, light and slick, with 12-25 tooth sprockets.
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Chain
KMC x9-L (£29.48)
From Wiggle.co.uk
I love the KMC chains, having only bought one originally as an alternative to Shimano’s range for my road bike. Since trying them out, I’ve been really impressed – light, strong, precise shifting, and incredibly easy to fit with their “missing link”.
The X9-L have a titanium nitrade gold coating, for longer lasting wear, and their “bling” golden look is also meant to be less reactive to corrosion and less susceptible to dirt, easier to clean, and harder wearing.
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Rear Derailer
Ultegra 6600 Medium Cage (£56.24)
From wiggle.co.uk
Once again, a reliable lightweight shifter we’ve used with our road bikes, to work in conjunction with our Dura Ace bar end shifters.
Simply secure, precise and light.
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Front Derailer
XT M771 Dual Pull Conventional Swing Derailer (£34.99)
From Evans.co.uk
A wide cage was needed to accommodate the wide tooth range of the Middleburn Chain Rings, and the XT provided this with the benefits of being lightweight while still rigid.
Set up was incredibly easy with clear cable routing, and the gear changing with the friction shifting Dura Ace bar ends is incredibly smooth and precise.
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