Often overlooked, without the chain a bike is useless. The type of chain is linked to the number of cogs in the cassette. The more cogs, the narrower the space is between the cogs (as all cassettes effectively have to be the same width). Correspondingly the chain links will alter in width, with a 7 speed chain being significantly wider than a 12 speed chain. Chain reaction Cycles and CRC are trading names of Wiggle Ltd (In Administration) registered in the United Kingdom at 1000 Lakeside, Suite 310, Third Floor N E Wing, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO6 3EN, Weight is another aspect that changes as prices rise. At the lower end expect more components to be made from basic materials such as pressed steel or to feature less intensive machining and manufacturing processes. Higher tier groupsets tend to be lighter, often using more exotic materials such as carbon fibre or titanium. Durability

Braking, especially after fitting upgraded pads, is great. Firm and predictable, with instant hands-free adjustment of reach. The look, too, is small and neat enough to complement any bike. Solid, workhorse stuff – Shimano’s SLX groupset comes recommended. Longer (175mm+) cranks offer a better mechanical advantage but are harder to turn and so are better suited to taller riders and for more XC oriented bikes.The shifting from higher tier groupsets is often smoother, more immediate and more precise. This allows them to perform better even under load (when climbing, for example). Whereas a low tier shifting performance might seem more clunky, unreliable or delayed. High end parts will use bearings for pivots, while lower end units will rely more on bushings, which can develop play and get sloppy over time. However, SLX’s performance, build quality and feel is leagues ahead of NX Eagle, especially its on-power shifting and ease of setup. Also, the derailleur’s bushings and pins do not have play from the factory, furthering SLX’s lead. Bike brands will very often fit the main components of one groupset but might drop a tier with parts such as chains and cassettes. Most notably, the FC-M7100 SLX crankset uses the same Hollowtech and Hollowtech II technology shared with Shimano’s XT M8100 and XTR M9100 groupsets and is an upgrade over Deore M6100. Shimano also make two gravity/downhill groupsets (although Saint also designed for enduro, as is Zee, which also strays into ‘aggressive trail riding’ too).

The workhorse of the range, and still a much more realistic option for riders than XTR. You get most of the performance and features with a little extra weight. There’s a 12-speed drivetrain with 10-51t cassette, Hollow-forged cranks, a clever shifter with two-way release and multi-shift (allowing you to shift upto four gears at a time, as well as push or pull the release lever to upshift) and two and four-piston brakes. Shimano SLX M7100 As prices increase so too does the level of of construction and material tolerances that the components are built to. This is evident in the quality of the gear shift. The real advantage of 11-speed is the ability to have all the range you require without sacrificing the rhythm you need. Features & Benefits:Well, weight savings are one reason, and certainly XT or XTR will last a little longer and ride a little smoother than SLX. Or perhaps you just prefer the feel and operation of SRAM over Shimano. But when get down to the nitty gritty of performance and price, the new SLX groupset smashes the ball out of the damn park. It’s insanely good for the price. Looking through the groupsets on offer it is obvious that prices can increase dramatically between tiers. But what do you get when you spend more money?