My First Full Sus - Santa Cruz Blur TRc

fat_homer

So I’ve been accumulating parts since just after Christmas not knowing what frame I was going to buy. I test rode the alu TR in April and had 99% decided that that was what I was going for when I stumbled across a second hand carbon frame, for what I considered a good price and the rest is history.



I’ve got everything for the build with the exception of the forks which are on order and due in the next couple of weeks.

Build is going to be as follows:

Frame: Santa Cruz TRc – Large
Forks: 2014 Rockshox Revs - 140mm RCT3
Bars: Easton Havoc – Carbon
Stem: Easton Haven - 70mm
Headset: Hope
Grips: ODI Rouge
Brakes: Shimano XT c/w 180/160mm IceTech Rotors
Seat: Charge Knife
Seat Post: Reverb – 125mm
Seat Post Clamp: Hope
Shifter: Shimano XTR
Rear Mech: Shimano XT Shadow+
Chain Device: MRP 1x
Cranks: Shimano XT – 170mm
Chainring: RaceFace Narrow Wide 32t
Chain: KMC 10L
Cassette: Shimano XT – 11-36
Pedals: Shimano XT Trail
Bottom Bracket: Hope SS
Wheels: Hope Pro2 - Stans Arch EX (Maybe Crests)
Front Tyre: Hans Dampf – Trailstar - 2.35
Rear Tyre: Nobby Nic – Pacestar - 2.25

And the rest:










More to follow 8)

JMcP92

Looks good, I like the build thus far

Just one question, have you looked up much info on if the frame can deal with a 140 fork? For the 140 range you're looking at a Blur LT (Long Travel) that runs a 140-160, the TRc tends to be 120-130. Just curious if it over-stresses the frame at that angle?

fat_homer

JMcP92 wrote:

Looks good, I like the build thus far

Just one question, have you looked up much info on if the frame can deal with a 140 fork? For the 140 range you're looking at a Blur LT (Long Travel) that runs a 140-160, the TRc tends to be 120-130. Just curious if it over-stresses the frame at that angle?

I have and there are lots of people running 140mm over on MTBR, plus they're warranted to 140mm.

lawman

That will be fine running 140mm forks, I've seen some with Lyriks on so a rev will be spot on! Never ridden a TR but the old Blur 4x, of which the TRc is the spiritual successor of, is one of my favourite bikes of all time, so, so much fun every where. This is gonna be a very nice build, look forward to seeing it all finished!

lawman

Also, wanna know what the TR is really capable of?

Ratboy given it some wellie should make it plainly clear!

http://vimeo.com/57828299

(I know thats the alloy one, but you get the idea, IIRC the syndicate used the TRc for 4X and DS for a few years)

Tom Barton

Thats gonna be awsome! Pics when its all built please!!

Lewis A

Looking forward to the pics!

chick0

Love the TRc, just feels so dialed in almost every situation..

Do watch out when you get her up and running for the carbon disbonding problem many riders are having.

http://forums.mtbr.com/santa-cruz/carbo ... 89339.html

fat_homer

chick0 wrote:

Love the TRc, just feels so dialed in almost every situation..

Do watch out when you get her up and running for the carbon disbonding problem many riders are having.

http://forums.mtbr.com/santa-cruz/carbo ... 89339.html

I would say thanks for that but you've got me slightly worried now. Oh well, I've made my bed, gonna have to lie in it :evil:

Anyway, starting to look like a bike, going to finish it tonight hopefully, ready for the weekend. Just need to decide where to ride it:


2013-07-31 by SamDexter, on Flickr

lawman

That looks friggin awesome! Great job on the build, looks like a sweet bike! 8)

Lewis A

Nom nom nom!

Dawesy92

That looks amazing already mate, giving me ideas to start a full sus bike to start next year.... :P

Penylope

Damn fine bike there! I was torn between one of these or a Blur LTc, went for the LTc in the end, tempted to post a thread on that. Feelin the SC love

fat_homer

Finished and ridden, it's ace.


2013-08-04 by SamDexter, on Flickr

DCR00

whats the Raceface chainring like ?

fat_homer

DCR00 wrote:

whats the Raceface chainring like ?

I didn't loose my chain in the one ride it's had so far, therefore seems pretty good but only time will tell I guess!

DCR00

fat_homer wrote:

DCR00 wrote:

whats the Raceface chainring like ?

I didn't loose my chain in the one ride it's had so far, therefore seems pretty good but only time will tell I guess!

how rough was the ride ?

I think I'm going to keep hold of my chain device until I'm 100% that it keeps the chain, even in rough conditions

fat_homer

DCR00 wrote:

fat_homer wrote:

DCR00 wrote:

whats the Raceface chainring like ?

I didn't loose my chain in the one ride it's had so far, therefore seems pretty good but only time will tell I guess!

how rough was the ride ?

I think I'm going to keep hold of my chain device until I'm 100% that it keeps the chain, even in rough conditions

Not particularly tbh, I have read numerous reports that they work on very rough stuff. Hardtail down the WC course at Fort Bill for instance!

DCR00

Now that's rough. Interesting.

Nice ride BTW

fat_homer

Few more pics:

lawman

That is looking properly nice! Makes me wish I'd graduated and had the funds to start building a Bronson!

Dick Scruttock

Looks stunning, re you enjoying getting the miles in on it?

lawman wrote:

building a Bronson!

I have got one on the way 8)

lawman

Rick Draper wrote:

Looks stunning, re you enjoying getting the miles in on it?

lawman wrote:

building a Bronson!

I have got one on the way 8)

You sir have far, far too much money to dispose of on bikes gonna be a while before mines done!

wormishere

That is stunning! I'm not sure if this is a faux pas on here but can you give a rough ball park figure for the build?

fat_homer

lawman wrote:

Rick Draper wrote:

Looks stunning, re you enjoying getting the miles in on it?

lawman wrote:

building a Bronson!

I have got one on the way 8)

You sir have far, far too much money to dispose of on bikes gonna be a while before mines done!

Ain't that the truth!

wormishere wrote:

That is stunning! I'm not sure if this is a faux pas on here but can you give a rough ball park figure for the build?

Not at all, roughly £3k. I got the frame for a really good price.

JK Bike Mad

Nice Ride... Soul very nice too.. So the question.... Which is your number 1 go to bike, Blur or Soul?? :-P

fat_homer

JK Bike Mad wrote:

Nice Ride... Soul very nice too.. So the question.... Which is your number 1 go to bike, Blur or Soul?? :-P

To be honest the TRc shades it, but I still love riding the Soul.

The issue I've got is riding the TRc has made me realise that I should probably be riding a large Soul and not a medium :?

However, both bikes are spot on at the minute and have no itch to upgrade anything, apart from I really want some XTR cranks for the TRc, just can't justify the £275.

road_donut

Cracking bike homer 8)

JK Bike Mad

fat_homer wrote:

JK Bike Mad wrote:

Nice Ride... Soul very nice too.. So the question.... Which is your number 1 go to bike, Blur or Soul?? :-P

To be honest the TRc shades it, but I still love riding the Soul.

The issue I've got is riding the TRc has made me realise that I should probably be riding a large Soul and not a medium :?

However, both bikes are spot on at the minute and have no itch to upgrade anything, apart from I really want some XTR cranks for the TRc, just can't justify the £275.

Good Stuff ... Enjoy both. Thats the main thing!

fat_homer

First update for a while, the bike rides that well that i haven't felt the need to change anything, but, I started to lose the chain on an annoyingly regular basis, so I've fitted an MRP 1x guide, which is working well so far:


Chain Guide by SamDexter, on Flickr

And I got a good deal on a DT Swiss RWS 10mm thur for the rear so thought it'd be rude not to, though not sure it's made loads of difference to be honest:


Thru Axel by SamDexter, on Flickr

And a nice pic from the weekend:


South Head by SamDexter, on Flickr

fat_homer

Bit of an update.

The Soul needed new forks, so that's having the Rev's, which means this now has Pikes! Gone for 650b's at 130mm for a bit of future proofing. One ride in so far and they feel slightly more controlled and I could definitely feel the added stiffness clattering through some rocky bits in the Peaks.



Now running Specialized tyres, Butcher front, Purgatory Grid rear, which I like and are great value.

Also picked up an all black Haven stem and sold the old one for the same price, plus added a K-Edge Garmin mount.


And last but not least, a Hope dropper clamp, which really is a neat solution.


And a pic from the weekend.
Hope Valley by SamDexter, on Flickr