2012 Santa Cruz Blur XC Carbon - finally built!
jehosophat
Posts: 108
The weather and mania at work until mid May put this off a few weeks, but yesterday I finally finished the build - and forced myself to helicopter tape the down tube and anywhere cable rub might be an issue, before riding it:
Considering some of these components were bought for what was originally going to be a rebuild of my old Blur Classic, and some parts (actually just the pedals and tyres) were used and off that bike, it hangs together pretty well visually - mostly red detailing, the odd bit of white and gold.
After the long wait for the LBS to get the right headset - which ended up as a King not a Hope - the build was pretty straightforward, as with the build of my "snotter" hardtail in the winter (an old-stock Kona Kula frame from CRC that cost less - new - than the headset on this bike!) it rode right straight from the garage with no spannering on the first ride.
It is 9 speed XTRM970 (with a 990 chain and cassette) because I prefer rapid rise rear mechs and have them on my other bikes. I suspect people may question the wheels - 1820g is fairly heavy for such a bike these days, though because of the Super Comp spokes and Pro 2 Evo hubs it is slightly less than my old 717/DT Comp/Hope XC combo, which I was surprised about. But scales don't lie... These will become my "trail centre" wheels in time, I'll buy something in the 1500g area at some stage, maybe Crank Brothers Cobalt 3's now they have a model with new hubs - if I have another good quarter commission wise, anyway! Nothing carbon, they sound great but too much ££
It built up as shown to 24lbs 13 ounces, not bad considering the finishing kit besides the drivetrain is not super expensive, and it is too early for many first impressions except to say that the XTRM970 is really, really slick compared to the 8 speed 950 and the odd 952 or 960 bit I am used to. It rode very quietly too, and felt really rapid. My only slight concern at this stage is the forks - they are new, sure, but feel very tight with nothing like the low-stiction initial feel of the various Pace and most recently DT Swiss XMC 130's I have used before (the latter of which I still have, if they were tapered they would be on this bike and they look a million dollars compared to the Fox!).
I have generally bought bikes slightly "too small" for me by the manufacturer's reckoning, this is a medium and although I am in the height zone where I could ride medium or large (SC's sizing is fairly small) it feels quite long and stable to me, and feels fairly relaxed in cornering compared to my older, steeper bikes with narrower bars. The 690mm bars are 60mm wider than I am used to and are feeling a bit odd to me at present... But last night I was out on new bike, shoes, and helmet so it was always going to take a while to bed in!
PS - some "in bits" pics before the build - to which one friend quipped "did you buy that bike from IKEA?":
Considering some of these components were bought for what was originally going to be a rebuild of my old Blur Classic, and some parts (actually just the pedals and tyres) were used and off that bike, it hangs together pretty well visually - mostly red detailing, the odd bit of white and gold.
After the long wait for the LBS to get the right headset - which ended up as a King not a Hope - the build was pretty straightforward, as with the build of my "snotter" hardtail in the winter (an old-stock Kona Kula frame from CRC that cost less - new - than the headset on this bike!) it rode right straight from the garage with no spannering on the first ride.
It is 9 speed XTRM970 (with a 990 chain and cassette) because I prefer rapid rise rear mechs and have them on my other bikes. I suspect people may question the wheels - 1820g is fairly heavy for such a bike these days, though because of the Super Comp spokes and Pro 2 Evo hubs it is slightly less than my old 717/DT Comp/Hope XC combo, which I was surprised about. But scales don't lie... These will become my "trail centre" wheels in time, I'll buy something in the 1500g area at some stage, maybe Crank Brothers Cobalt 3's now they have a model with new hubs - if I have another good quarter commission wise, anyway! Nothing carbon, they sound great but too much ££
It built up as shown to 24lbs 13 ounces, not bad considering the finishing kit besides the drivetrain is not super expensive, and it is too early for many first impressions except to say that the XTRM970 is really, really slick compared to the 8 speed 950 and the odd 952 or 960 bit I am used to. It rode very quietly too, and felt really rapid. My only slight concern at this stage is the forks - they are new, sure, but feel very tight with nothing like the low-stiction initial feel of the various Pace and most recently DT Swiss XMC 130's I have used before (the latter of which I still have, if they were tapered they would be on this bike and they look a million dollars compared to the Fox!).
I have generally bought bikes slightly "too small" for me by the manufacturer's reckoning, this is a medium and although I am in the height zone where I could ride medium or large (SC's sizing is fairly small) it feels quite long and stable to me, and feels fairly relaxed in cornering compared to my older, steeper bikes with narrower bars. The 690mm bars are 60mm wider than I am used to and are feeling a bit odd to me at present... But last night I was out on new bike, shoes, and helmet so it was always going to take a while to bed in!
PS - some "in bits" pics before the build - to which one friend quipped "did you buy that bike from IKEA?":
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Comments
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Very nice...solid build. I do like that
If you plan not to use the downtube water cage holder. I would like suggest you cover it up completely. I think a Lizard Skins Carbon Leather Downtube Protector would be better than using the clear helicopter stuff. Better protection for the downtube and most other SC frames has them as standard. Vodka anyone? "Honk"
Santa Cruz Nomad Carbon
Cannondale Hooligan 9
Cannondale Flash Ultimate 2010
Cannondale Scalpel Factory Team 2010
Cannondale Scalpel Factory Team 20090 -
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I was surprised there was nothing on the down tube as standard, but the strip I put on there was a specific down tube protector - it is clear but much thicker than the generic helicopter tape on the seatstays and so on...
Was looking forward to a nice dry ride on it today to loosen up the forks but it rained like hell last night for the first time in a couple of weeks here... Typical!0
