opinions on best BB mounted front mech

Shimano LX or XT. Don't bother with Deore (dont know if they do a BB mounted mech anyway). I havent used a BB mounted mech, but their standard mechs are very reliable and shifts quickly. Also easy to adjust.

Why not use a Deore mech?

Why spend that bit more on a component, which to be fair, doesn't do a great deal of work anyway?

Cos deore is naff. Never had a reliable deore component with the exception of a pair of deore V's. LX is a sweet mech though - dang I like summat shitano that can't be right.

That, and the minor point that (AFAIK) you can't get a BB-mounted Deore front mech, which would tend to put a bit of a dampener on things.

I wouldn't get anything less than XT. The price difference just isn't that big.

nope! gonna have to disagree with that
Got a xt deore bb-mounted front mech but will agree that , its naff, toss, waste of money. toying with the idea of changing the the bb to 68mm and getting a lx frame mounted one

going to bike shop to day at 2.00pm
dan from steve peat

Get XT, the pivots are a lot less wobbley that LX (I've used both).

"Got a xt deore bb-mounted "

So thats a a Deore XT front mech, not a deore front mech.

Only XTR, XT and (possibly) LX do bb mounted mechs. Deore is seat tube mounted only.

For the difference in price in the two you had might as well get the XT, from the mail order people the XT is only about £5 more. Make sure you get the right direction of cable pull, top or bottom pull.