Hi All,
I hope you don't mind but I just wanted to share my recent self build project with some fellow enthusiasts.
It started a couple of months ago when I dragged my 8 year old Viking MTB (not quite a BSO) out of the Shed and thought to myself "with a couple of new bits that could be good fun" So with a sub £100 budget in mind for forks, tyres & a saddle my first thought was to get onto eBay whereupon I picked up some Suntour 2011 XCR 100mm forks with lockout & rebound adjust (new) a pair of 2.1" Schwalbe Smart Sam tyres (new) and a WTB Shadow saddle (used) for £94!
Whilst fitting the above bits I took the opportunity to sort out all the cables etc and the end result was pretty good!
The mechanical disk brake calliper mounts weren't compatible with the standard post mount on the new forks but a trip to Halfwits resolved that. As hoped it was really good fun but not only was it fun it was faster (or I was faster on it) than my trusty old Gary Fisher 29er. I was having a lot of fun on it but after a few rides the bottom bracket began making some bad noises so it ended up in the LBS where it ended up having a Shimano Deore LX FC-T661 HollowTech II Crankset and External BB fitted which cost more than the original bike
Here is how it looked at that point:
The new Crankset and BB transformed the bike and it was riding bloody well, granted the forks are an entry level product but compared to what the bike came with they are excellent! The Bianchi roadie and Gary Fisher had taken a back seat in favour of this oddity, I was loving it.
It was at this point that I decided I wanted to start replacing other components; rear mech, wheels perhaps. So as before I decided to slowly go about sourcing sensibly priced new or used components via the internet (primarily eBay) Of course one of the first things I stumbled across was an 18" frame from a company I had never heard of; Moda, it was new and from a bike called a Rondo which originally retailed for around £1,400 (2010 model). They were asking £105 for the frame so I decided to take a punt on it. Next came the wheels; a pair of Mach1 MX Disk rims on Deore hubs, new for £51 (shop replacements for a broken wheel but the owner went down the Hope route)
Over the next couple of weeks I sourced a used Deore Shadow Long Cage rear mech, a new Deore front mech, new 9 speed Deore Cassette (11/32) new Deore chain, used Deore Shifters, used Shimano M475 Callipers, used Deore levers, new Titec seat post.
I had to buy the various specialist tools for the BB, Cassette and cable cutters etc plus I made up all new brake and gear cables to measure.
The end result:
I'm really pleased with it, from my limited experience it rides beautifully
I've really enjoyed the process of sourcing the bits, understanding how it all goes together, building it and finally riding it but what I would really like is your comments!! Those of you in the know, what do you think of it? what would make it better? All comments good or bad gratefully received.
Crikey I've gone on, well done if you made it to the end!!
Cheers
Mike
I hope you don't mind but I just wanted to share my recent self build project with some fellow enthusiasts.
It started a couple of months ago when I dragged my 8 year old Viking MTB (not quite a BSO) out of the Shed and thought to myself "with a couple of new bits that could be good fun" So with a sub £100 budget in mind for forks, tyres & a saddle my first thought was to get onto eBay whereupon I picked up some Suntour 2011 XCR 100mm forks with lockout & rebound adjust (new) a pair of 2.1" Schwalbe Smart Sam tyres (new) and a WTB Shadow saddle (used) for £94!
Whilst fitting the above bits I took the opportunity to sort out all the cables etc and the end result was pretty good!
The mechanical disk brake calliper mounts weren't compatible with the standard post mount on the new forks but a trip to Halfwits resolved that. As hoped it was really good fun but not only was it fun it was faster (or I was faster on it) than my trusty old Gary Fisher 29er. I was having a lot of fun on it but after a few rides the bottom bracket began making some bad noises so it ended up in the LBS where it ended up having a Shimano Deore LX FC-T661 HollowTech II Crankset and External BB fitted which cost more than the original bike
Here is how it looked at that point:
The new Crankset and BB transformed the bike and it was riding bloody well, granted the forks are an entry level product but compared to what the bike came with they are excellent! The Bianchi roadie and Gary Fisher had taken a back seat in favour of this oddity, I was loving it.
It was at this point that I decided I wanted to start replacing other components; rear mech, wheels perhaps. So as before I decided to slowly go about sourcing sensibly priced new or used components via the internet (primarily eBay) Of course one of the first things I stumbled across was an 18" frame from a company I had never heard of; Moda, it was new and from a bike called a Rondo which originally retailed for around £1,400 (2010 model). They were asking £105 for the frame so I decided to take a punt on it. Next came the wheels; a pair of Mach1 MX Disk rims on Deore hubs, new for £51 (shop replacements for a broken wheel but the owner went down the Hope route)
Over the next couple of weeks I sourced a used Deore Shadow Long Cage rear mech, a new Deore front mech, new 9 speed Deore Cassette (11/32) new Deore chain, used Deore Shifters, used Shimano M475 Callipers, used Deore levers, new Titec seat post.
I had to buy the various specialist tools for the BB, Cassette and cable cutters etc plus I made up all new brake and gear cables to measure.
The end result:
I'm really pleased with it, from my limited experience it rides beautifully
I've really enjoyed the process of sourcing the bits, understanding how it all goes together, building it and finally riding it but what I would really like is your comments!! Those of you in the know, what do you think of it? what would make it better? All comments good or bad gratefully received.
Crikey I've gone on, well done if you made it to the end!!
Cheers
Mike
