I've got a basic level Rockhopper that I would like faff about a bit with and upgrade.

I can't do everything and was thinking about starting with either the breaks or the forks. At the moment its got boring V breaks and I was thinking of upgrading to disc breaks. The fork is a Rock Shox Tora 302 SL, which ain't that great.

I've got a summer holiday in Morzine, so am not sure which I should do first- better breaking or better suspension.

Any tips and hints would be useful. I want to spend about £150 and won't don't mind buying second hand ebay stuff.

TIA

get disc breaks first. shimano xt is pretty cheap and powerful. check merlincycles - they are usually very good for pricing - otherwise wiggle & crc

then id upgrade your forks, perhaps something like rockshox rebas or revelations if your doing xc/trail riding ? wait out for the sales aug/sep time as you get great deals on last years models

hope that helps

I agree with Ads, i think you will struggle in the alps with V brakes what with the long descents, but could probably survive with the forks.

Also agree with xt for value and reliability.  Or any shimano brakes.  I don't have shimano brakes but husband does and it's the only part of his bike he has not yet managed to wreck! 

Thanks for the tips. OH has XTRs and hasn't had any problems with them. although it is a new bike.

I'd been eyeing up the Avid Juicy 5's and also had looked at these as a good basic entry http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/components/disc-brake-systems/product/qhd-4-axis-brake-31092 although they are a bit rare and I was worried that if they broke in Morzine and I needed to replace parts, then I might not be able to find them. 

I have recently upgraded both brakes and forks, I was put off juicies by some of the guys in my club as they are a faff to change pads etc. (apparently) and I got Shimano Deores instead which are great in that they work and are supposedly easy to maintain. I got some second hand forks too and they are fab, new brakes and forks is like having a whole new bike. I may know someone who is flogging some forks, I will let you know if he still is.

Where abouts are you as i got a fab deal from a LBS who supplied/fitted the brakes and did the forks at the same time?

Avid juicy's are fairly simple for changing the pads and for bleeding... one of the guys in my club made the same complaint about them when I asked him to change the pads in my brakes last summer... had to change them myself a few weeks ago... I must ask him if he bothered checking the instruction manual at all... The juicy 5's are also quite powerful and I found them good enough for the Alps last year.

Upgrade the brakes first and then the fork if you still want to... One of my mates had a rockshox reba for the alps last year and there wasn't a bother from it.

Hi LaLa- I'm in Manchester if thats any help

I am always hearing that the avid pads are hard to change too, they are really easy!  And I am crap at things like that, so I don't get it!  You don't even need any tools.

Having said that the Shimano ones are easy too.

Never bled my avids, never needed to.  I like mine.  I think you are advised to actually buy the specific kit to bleed them though (about 20 quid).  I just use a syringe and bits of tube for my hopes.  But I have found hopes more of a faff over the years than my avids.

also should say have ridden in the alps and pyrenees with the avids (juicy 7s) on long descents.  Had brake fade once and only once - bit odd as it was not on a really long descent either.

I would recommend them.

Dunno about the other make you are talking about, all I would say is if you do get them, check out what you need to bleed them before going to morzine and take spare pads, then you should be ok as far as spares go?  If anything more than bleeding/pads worn out goes wrong, then you're probably going to be struggling whatever brakes you have. 

I do know someone who has got some Marzocchi forks for sale, if you are interested let me know and I will give you the details. I would have sent them on to you but you don't seem to have messaging available.

Am I allowed to suggest as first upgrade a pair a "good" (fit for the job) tyres.

 As said disk brakes and fork. But I would put them  on the other order. Having powerful brakes won't help if your front end if bouncing around.

Check the STW classified section, as you can pick up some very good zocchi for around 30-60£.

 Same for brakes, yo can get your and on a pair of hayes HFX something for a mer 80£ a pair.

...also, clipless pedals and cleat shoes, if you don't have them already.  Will improve your performance no end, and really not that diffcult to get used to.

Mea is right about the hubs.