[decemberdays27]

So lets say I have around $80 to spend and I have many new things I would love to buy, but it will not all fit in my budget, I would like to know what you would do. I currently have a Giant Pistol 1 and ride mostly only DH.
A few of the things I have been looking at but cannot decide what to get are: Convert my tires to tubless with Stan's tubeless kit, which I think is like $60, Or, get some sort of hydration pack, but it must be able to hold my full face helmet & armor, so those are around $75 ish, Or, Goggles ( was looking at fox the main vertigo), Or, Bash guard ( since the crank teeth stabbed into my leg deeply last time), Or anything else that you think might really help with DH riding.

I'm looking for any combination that would give the greatest improvement, whether it be in saftey, speed, handeling, comfort, etc.

Thanks alot in advance, I'm just looking for other's experiences if something helps them out alot more than other things.

 

[[email protected]]

if you have no chain tensioner...thats #1 for that bike if youre doing downhill..should set you back about 50$

and #2, if you have no hydration backpack, theyve got some at costco for 20$

#3- downhill tubes if you don't have them

 

[decemberdays27]

Oh, or some new grips ( they're starting to come apart)

 

[Gemini2k05]

and for godsake don't buy the stans kit. Just get the sealant for 15 bucks and use a bmx tube cut in half. Search for "ghetto tubeless" for instructions

 

[SHIVER ME TIMBERS]

and for godsake don't buy the stans kit. Just get the sealant for 15 bucks and use a bmx tube cut in half. Search for "ghetto tubeless" for instructions

true dat.....the stans is ridiculus expensive

 

[Mr. Blonde]

Put it in a savings account towards a new bike. While you are working hard and saving run that thing into the ground. If the only reason you want a bash ring is to keep the ring from poking you then do this: Take the ring that's on there now and use a grinding wheel to grind all the teeth off it. VIOLA. Ghetto bashring.

 

[DHgnaR]

If you need a bash guard... I have a brand new E.13 clear Super Charger. I'll can give it to you for $20 shipped. I think it goes for about $35 in shops.
4 bolt, 40t max. That should help you get a few other things on your wish list.

 

[gkl]

true dat.....the stans is ridiculus expensive

at first, yeah expensive. but you also have to consider how often you switch out tires. each time you swap running ghetto, it requires a new tube (according to what i've heard). i have the kit personally and i have been using the same strip in each tire for about two years now and still going strong. so, stans is reusable while tubes aren't. admittedly, most people don't switch tires often enough for tubes to end up costing more, but still....

 

[Mr. Blonde]

each time you swap running ghetto, it requires a new tube (according to what i've heard).

You've heard wrong. I've used the same tube rim strips 8 or 10 times on different wheels.

 

[Raptordude]

$80 will get you a keg of Bud Light or Coors Light. It'll make you ride better.

 

[XSL_WiLL]

If you need a Stan's kit, I got two strips and part of a bottle that you can have for 20.

 

[decemberdays27]

thank you for the responses. Well, the new bike is out of the question, I feel I do fine on mine for DH, but, I do like the ghetto tubeless idea. How'd that go for anyone? Do you find the ghetto tubeless works well and improves things? Is it good for DH, I do hate pinch flats. so the stan's sealant is $15 and two 20" bike tubes will be like $10, that's $25, so what else to do with the rest? I might do a cheap hydration pack. I also do not know anything about a chain tensioner, all I keep seeing is for them as converting into single speed. But what else would you get to make the absolute biggest difference with not so much money. Thanks again for the help

 

[[email protected]]

thank you for the responses. Well, the new bike is out of the question, I feel I do fine on mine for DH, but, I do like the ghetto tubeless idea. How'd that go for anyone? Do you find the ghetto tubeless works well and improves things? Is it good for DH, I do hate pinch flats. so the stan's sealant is $15 and two 20" bike tubes will be like $10, that's $25, so what else to do with the rest? I might do a cheap hydration pack. I also do not know anything about a chain tensioner, all I keep seeing is for them as converting into single speed. But what else would you get to make the absolute biggest difference with not so much money. Thanks again for the help

if your chain falls off a lot...which I'm pretty sure it does if you say you're using that bike for downhill....get a chain tensioner

it tensions up the chain, so it falls off less

you can use two chainrings for it, so you can just unbolt the biggest one, which probably barely gets used for downhill anyway

heres one:
http://www.outsideoutfitters.com/p-1203-truvativ-team-shiftguide-chain-guide.aspx

 

[Mr. Blonde]

if your chain falls off a lot...which I'm pretty sure it does if you say you're using that bike for downhill....get a chain tensioner

it tensions up the chain, so it falls off less

you can use two chainrings for it, so you can just unbolt the biggest one, which probably barely gets used for downhill anyway

heres one:
http://www.outsideoutfitters.com/p-1203-truvativ-team-shiftguide-chain-guide.aspx

Yeah man. That would be called a chain GUIDE. A tensioner is something entirely different.

 

[[email protected]]

Yeah man. That would be called a chain GUIDE. A tensioner is something entirely different.

o yea, wrong word w/e, i think most people reading this thread knew what I meant

 

[decemberdays27]

ok, I understand now. So it looks like the best bet is to take off my largest ring, put on a bashguard and get a chain guide? Anyone know the best prices of a bashguard and chain guide that will work on my bike and work together?

 

[Mountain biker 41]

Dont just waste your money on your bike( wait, what???). Just b/c you have 80 bucks doesn't mean you have to spend all of it.

1.Grind down your outer chainring price:free
2. Buy a chain tensioner OR chain guide price: 20-40 bucks(approx.)
3. Research (ghetto) tubeless and decide if neccessary/a good improvement price: about 25 bucks.

I personally wouldn't bother with tubeless(calm down everybody, thats just my opinion)If you decide not to go tubeless, buy some grips instead.

So, your looking to spend about 50-65 bucks, to buy the things you NEED(ie: not tubeless) Thats gives you a lil money left over to buy a hamburger, or a coke

 

[decemberdays27]

lol, thank you for that, but don't worry, i'm not going to claim bankrupt from my $80 bike improvements, but I also wasn't saying i had $80, I was just wondering what you all felt was best improvements for me if I did have that amount.

I was wondering though why you prefer tubes rather than tubeless.
and, do people ride with hydration packs always? I feel it'd be convienent, but can't find one for cheap.

 

[albertomannil]

i ride a Camelback chaos... best damn thing i've bought in my life! carries EVERYTHING
even a machete when trails need maintenance!

 

[Mountain biker 41]

When I think about mountain biking, I think about how far away I am if something happens. In the rare event you get a flat, if you have tubes, you just replace them, but if you're tubeless, your pretty much screwed unless you have a sh*tload of air or your bead seats right away. For me, its just another thing that can go wrong/screw you

Like I said, thats just my opinion.....