gear questions

[Eden]

Thanks for the replies.

Can't I just replace the front end with something like a Shimano Deore XT M770 165mm 4 arm Crank 22-32-44 that will get me the easy gears I need? It appears they run about $260. Maybe they will take the old one for a reduced price at Bikieline?????

It's not that simple - your shifter has to be able to handle 3 chainrings (I'm not sure it cannot, I'd have to look it up, but I suspect that it probably will only do a double), and your bottom bracket would need to be wider and thus changed out also. If you want a triple, at this point if you can exchange the bike, that would likely be a better option. It will likely run you a fair amount of $$$ to do the complete swap.

edit - I looked it up on Shimano's web site and I think I can now say that you cannot use your current shifters with a triple front chainring. The R440 set was made specifically for a double and there is a different model for a triple.