New Build project

[Cubist]

Finally got he bits I needed for the brakes and up and running this evening. I took it round a local car park with some drops and steps on to get the feel of it. It's very composed, and very light to ride. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it was incredibly good to ride. I took it round the local common which has some ruts and a bit of singletrack, and it is absolutely planted on everything there. I ran out of light, but Cubester and I will take it up to a fantastic bit of moorland we know where it will be put through some serious paces tomorrow.

 

[VamP]

Great thread. Thanks for sharing.

Enjoy your susser!

 

[Francesca]

Great thread Cubist ! very nice

 

[GilesM]

Looks very good, and certainly a real bargain, however the Reverb will soon eat into the money saved, but definately worth it. Have fun and let us know what it's like on some real stuff.

 

[GilesM]

Have you had a 2x10 before? I'd be interested to hear what you think. I hired a Commencal with a 2x10 setup, which is the first I've ridden, so not really enough time to judge but I found the top chainring a tadge high compared to my normal middle when going downhill and with the increased spread at the back I was tempted to stay in it a bit longer on a climb, meaning a double shift when it got steeper. I need to sit down and work out the ratios, as I'm not convinced they work as well as a conventional 3x8/7 but like I say, that's on fairly limited experience so far and familiarity with the ratios may well eliminate those problems.

I've been running with 2 x 9 for over a year now on my Orange Five, just a 22, 32 up front and 11 to 32 cassette, obviously I've kept the same low gears I had with the triple, but lost the higher gears, however, I never used them, and the big ring had just become a bash ring, which is what it has now been replaced with.
When I wear out the current bits I will replace the drivetrain with a 1 x 10 system, get rid of the front mech, and fit a chain guide. I am sure the ratios will be fine as long as I'm not riding on the road very much, on road the gears would be too low.

 

[Cubist]

Well, took it onto Norland Moor this afternoon and played. Very wet as you can see, but made for some interesting climbs, and a test of how well Ralphs cope with wet rock.

 

[Cubist]

Oooh, that HMRC refund came today, so I've ordered a Hope Pro 2 Evo on Stan's ArchEX wheelset..... and some big fat Nobby Nic 2.4 snakeskins. On close inspection today the straight Evo sidewalls on both tyres have taken a bit of a beating, so they aren't up to rocky stuff. I may have done them at Llandegla last week, but some snakeskin should be more robust.

 

[flying start]

Lovely looking bike you have there cubist