New bike build

jeremyrundle

As well as updating an existing Saracen I have decided, after bringing up my three sons as a single dad, that it is about time I did something for me, so as I don't smoke or drink I am going to build a bike.

First of all the best place to start is with “proper” cyclists here.

Please can you first of all tell me, I have about £500 to spend on a frame, Steel or Alloy (ducks for cover :? ), I am told that off road steel offers more flex than alloy as I do NOT want rear suspension.

Then what wheels, shocks and if there is advice cassette, deurailers and chainsets, I will stick with standard cable disks as I like those.

H E L P.

Thank you.

The Rookie

If its for a mountain bike, buying advice forum on the mountain biking area would be best.

The old steel v alloy thing and flex is very outdated, a quality ally frame has just as much flex these days as steel.

What usage will you be putting it to? General trail work you can spend a lot less than £500 for a good frame.

All terrain cycles have the Handsome dog disc specific for £100 and that is really nice, double butted and Easton tubing. (double butting gives alloy frames the flex you want in the tube without compromising the stregth of the joint at each end, its plain tube bikes that can be a bit 'rigid')
http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/product/104146.html

Or Evans are doing a frame/fork combo at half price, the fork is for LIGHT XC use only though (or sell fork, keep frame!)
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pin ... mo=Content

As for other bits, this SLX Groupset is a great starting point!
http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/Bike+Shop ... OUP-10.htm

Wheels are very very subjective, but superstar superleggera come well recommended at the price point
http://superstar.tibolts.co.uk/product_ ... cts_id=227

If you really want steel, go to http://on-one.co.uk and specify your whole build!


Evans

jeremyrundle

No, in fact I want it for commuting, I prefer and have grown up on these bikes rather than others.

In which case why other than sales would a shop suggest steel is better, however, would you go "British" as in "Orange" or what make should I look at.

Thanks

The Rookie

If its for commuting, I would certainly suggest you need to decide the whole 'style' of your bike before looking at specifics.

Rigid or suspension forks, 26" or 700c wheels etc

Even if you go from an MTB based frame, you could have decent carbon rigid forks which will take some road 'buzz' out while staying weight friendly, you could use lighter road based driveline and so on.

For my commute for example I worked out what I wanted and I have
Flat barred 'road based' Hybrid frame (I don't go through traffic so width is not an issue, flat bars are lighter than drops!)
Rigid front forks
MTB wheels (26") with narrow(ish) slicks (1.5"), bolt through skewers (lighter and more secure) as the roads are rough (its actually a 700c frame), but set for discs.
1x9 drivetrain (From my original MTB commuter I knew I could cover the gearing I wanted).
Twist shift (lighter and less cluttered)
Everything else I went as light as I could afford to go!

3 thoughts
Frame
http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/FROO26SCVD/ ... pout-frame
Hub geared
http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/FROOPOMPET/ ... mine-frame
Geared
http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/FRPXK/plane ... back-frame

Steel v ally, ally will alwasy be lighter, a steel frame (even a cheapy) has more 'flex' than a cheap ally, but exepensive ally frames are just as flexible, but have a different feel, no-one can tell YOU which feel you would prefer!

No reason why you can't mix and match 'road' and 'MTB' kit to suite what you want/need.

Simon

jeremyrundle

Thanks for the replies very much appreciated, steel frame, yes, and twist grip gears, never thought of that, worth looking into.

The Rookie

If you go twist gears, SRAM X7-X0 all weigh pretty much the same and can only be used with SRAM rear mechs (SRAM or Shimano front) but SRAM Attack are Shimano compatable.

If you really want steel, this would be a nice starting point
http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/FTOO26INRL/ ... ameset-kit

You can't spec with rigid forks (but can the Scandal ally frame, so 'maybe' they can help on that!) if you wanted them though.

You can either spec up from on-one or buy seperately and sell (as new) what you don't want.

Simon

jeremyrundle

Well that anyway is the frame sorted and bought, steel it is.

http://sanderson-cycles.com/content/sanderson-life

The Rookie

OK, looks nice, I stand by the SLX/Superleggera parts in my first post!

Simon

jeremyrundle

The Beginner wrote:

OK, looks nice, I stand by the SLX/Superleggera parts in my first post!

Simon

I agree and bought

The Rookie

That was quick! Lets see the build, perhaps in the MTB forum? like to follow it!

Simon

jeremyrundle

I have also bought some nice alloy wheels with my fave wormdrive tyres, hope to start this weekend.

So there it is, Sanderson frame, wheels DT X1800 Wheelset Pair Centre Lock Disc,

http://redirectingat.com/?id=92X1020&xs ... 3D12747083

Will add Shimano Deore LX Hydraulic Disc, though I have always used the cheap IO brakes and been happy.

Shimano deore chainset, 9 speed cassette, XT mech, shimano hollotech BB, Shimano SLX shifters and wingbar and riser.

nich

RoadRat - Got one now. Very versatile and feels sooo chuckable like a MTB. Love it to bits. Disc or Vee's, drops or flats, chunky tires or slicks, etc etc.

On-one Inbred - Used to have one, till it got nicked. Probably my fav. MTB frame, no doubt I'll buy another one day for old times sake. Love the feel of this (even when slicked up), but it was quite heavy.

RockLobster 853 - My first steel frame (from merlincycles). Wish I'd never sold it

Also, you shouldn't rule out buying a complete built. It's likely to be cheaper - look at someone like merlincycles.

Edit - Oh you've brought it :P That is the quickest build ever. I usually take months and months

jeremyrundle

Done and ready, my new bike

http://sirpatrickmooresales.co.uk/Ourpage.aspx

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The Rookie

Old link JR and features a Saracen frame?

Simon

jeremyrundle

The Beginner wrote:

Old link JR and features a Saracen frame?

Simon

I dont think so, one of my Saracens is at the back but the bike on the mount is over £1.5k, as for a Saracen frame, look again, its a Sanderson "Life" frame.

Regards

Will do a better pic

The Rookie

That's more obviosly a different bike!

Did you really order that Friday and have it like that already?

Simon

jeremyrundle

Yes, took hours, hard work and much swearing, cuts, missing bits then I finally gave up and gave it back to Dartmoor Cycles who built it in an hour.

(^^*^(^^$%$^^ showoffs.