Bird Zero Build

bigmitch41

Really nice colour frame, looks like a nice build mate!

BloggingFit

Quick update having had a few weeks solid ride time while I had the Reverb on the Remedy sent off for warranty work. I Found the 80mm stem to give a more comfortable position for general riding although I still think the 50mm I originally put on gives a better body position for DH and technical trails, just a touch short for an XC ride. As this will my main hack over the winter I'll be opting for the longer cockpit and possibly experiment with a 70mm or 60mm stem.

The bike rides really well and feels very confident for a Hardtail frame. A lighter sete of wheels and replacing the Fox 34s would no doubt transform it into a bit of a demon but for the moment the build is more than adequate for it's purpose. I even managed a DH PR from the Remedy so can't be bad - I subsequently took that back today!

BloggingFit

So the Remedy has been put to bed for the Winter (it will get the odd outing to keep the shocks moving) and the Bird will now be my main hack. Already had a few rides out and is proving a riot in the now loamy conditions in Deepcut and while the Fox Fork is fine here it sucks pretty much around the majority of Swinley to the point I may look to sell it and use to fund a Pike RC instead along with having to ditch the white saddle and grips.

In the meantime I now have a new set of wheels to test and give abuse across the winter months and beyond. The build is a set of anonymous (for now) Carbon Rims on DTSwiss 350 Hubs. I've also taken the opportunity to try out a set of Minion Tyres which I have looked at as an option for the Nomad build to see how I get on. Wheel weight came in at 1640g without rotors.

lawman

Those wheels look pretty damn nice! Are they pre-production versions of the bird wheelsets by any chance?

mike hunts alpine

Thinking of getting one of these on cycle2work if there in the scheme ridiculously good value.

pesky_jones

Whack it in the aggresive hardtail thread!

russyh

I quite fancy a pair of the bird carbon wheels for my zero. Would love to hear some reviews. Not sure I can afford them just yet though!
I must say the service from Ben has been epic, really helpful. I have a horrid feeling I am going to end up placing an order for a full sus in the summer! Two birds on the go is better than one!

BloggingFit

lawman wrote:

Those wheels look pretty damn nice! Are they pre-production versions of the bird wheelsets by any chance?

They are an alternative supplier and sizing to try out. Initial impressions look good and the finishing of them is excellent and one of the best from the import Carbon offerings available. Nipples are brass ones so the wheel weight isn't bad at all. You could see a sub 1600g set quite easily.

One thing I can't get over is how quiet the freehub body is on the 350 hubs. We're talking proper stealth mode. Finish of these are also excellent for an their entry level component.

BloggingFit

Pesky Jones wrote:

Whack it in the aggresive hardtail thread!

Already is a few pages back. Still got to trim down brake hoses so will pop up new photo's with the wheels once I have done this.

BloggingFit

Russyh wrote:

I quite fancy a pair of the bird carbon wheels for my zero. Would love to hear some reviews. Not sure I can afford them just yet though!
I must say the service from Ben has been epic, really helpful. I have a horrid feeling I am going to end up placing an order for a full sus in the summer! Two birds on the go is better than one!

I've been running Light-Bicycle rims on Hope Hubs for a good 6 months and had no issues at all with them. I even put my rest mech arm into the wheel thanks to a bit of tree that got thrown up and they stayed pretty straight despite bent spokes. I haven't bothered to change them out yet as the wheel has been fine.

These alternatives should be interesting to ride and I'll be running virtually the same size and spec from Light-Bicycle on the Nomad build along side so will be able to compare.

The Aeris looks fantastic in the flesh if you haven't seen it already. If I didn't have my Remedy then I would be considering a purchase. One of the draw backs of being local to Bird and popping in is that I end up buying something.

lawman

BloggingFit wrote:

lawman wrote:

Those wheels look pretty damn nice! Are they pre-production versions of the bird wheelsets by any chance?

They are an alternative supplier and sizing to try out. Initial impressions look good and the finishing of them is excellent and one of the best from the import Carbon offerings available. Nipples are brass ones so the wheel weight isn't bad at all. You could see a sub 1600g set quite easily.

One thing I can't get over is how quiet the freehub body is on the 350 hubs. We're talking proper stealth mode. Finish of these are also excellent for an their entry level component.

That is an impressive weight, I'll be interested to see how you get on with them, particularly the hubs as well.

benpinnick

Production wheels (assuming we went with these rims if they pan out) would be on the 350 hub with the double speed ratchet option, and using bladed spokes and alloy nipples to give a weight of around 1550g. The wider rims we're running for production Aeris bikes use the brass nipples and a slightly heavier rim (but 5mm wider) and weigh in at 1620g.

lawman

benpinnick wrote:

Production wheels (assuming we went with these rims if they pan out) would be on the 350 hub with the double speed ratchet option, and using bladed spokes and alloy nipples to give a weight of around 1550g. The wider rims we're running for production Aeris bikes use the brass nipples and a slightly heavier rim (but 5mm wider) and weigh in at 1620g.

Sounds bloody good to me! Any hints of price or decal options, I quite like the stealthy look.

russyh

Same here, the one thing that puts me off the superstar rims is the decals plastered all over them. Even the stealth ones seem a little decal-tastic!

benpinnick

Price will be in the 6-700 region for a pair dependent on the build, ready taped and valved for tubeless (with sealant too). Graphics will be a tweak of our logo (see birdmtb.com) repeated on the wheel 3 times, but offered in white or black. Black is on matt UD rims so barely there if you like stealth

russyh

Any idea of timings Ben?

benpinnick

The 35mm AM versions will be available to buy at the latest March.

BloggingFit

First ride out on the new wheels today and first impressions are good. This is a very stiff set of wheels that hold onto a line really well and happily changes direction in an instant making the bike feel very direct. They also seem to give the bike a bit more pop as I was spending a bike more time airborne with very little coaxing. Climbing was good as to be expected.

I am in love with the Minion tyres on these wheels. Grip was excellent through out both front and rear. I was able to cut some really tight lines through the muck, wet roots didn't pose much of a problem and no loss of grip on climbs where the XR4s would start to slip out a little. I even got out of the saddle a bit more on climbs to unweight the rear more where I normally have to balance my weight a bit more but they stuck down well. Up front I was turning in tighter than I would have dared before given the conditions and they tracked well.

The combination of the Minions on these wheels appears to have hit a sweet spot.

Angus Young

Russyh wrote:

... the one thing that puts me off the superstar rims is the decals plastered all over them. Even the stealth ones seem a little decal-tastic!

They're quite unobtrusive in the flesh.

BloggingFit

Now had a couple of rides on the wheels and very happy with them along with the tyres which are so grippy. Only downside is they drag a bit on more open and smooth trails but the grip more than makes up for it. I have got used to the stiffness and don't notice it at all now.

Managed to sell my Fox 34 and used the funds to get a 150mm Pike on board which feel so much better on the bike. The combination of the Fork and Tyres has made a huge difference.

Bike is now black and blue instead of the white and waiting for a bit of decent daylight to get up some photos.

BloggingFit

Updated photo with new Wheels, Tyres, Saddle and Fork

lawman

Damn that's looking nice! Super sweet build, exactly how a hardtail should be built! All it needs is a reverb and that is damn near perfect.

russyh

Looks good, can't wait for Ben to get the front mech mount covers in stock though!

ilovedirt

Dropper post!!

Lovely bike though, I'd have one of these myself if I was in the market for a hardtail.

dirkpitt74

BloggingFit wrote:

Updated photo with new Wheels, Tyres, Saddle and Fork

That looks bloody brilliant!!

@lexD

DirkPitt74 wrote:

BloggingFit wrote:

Updated photo with new Wheels, Tyres, Saddle and Fork

That looks bloody brilliant!!

Beautiful build and I love the frame.It is good to see another British bike company offering great service and such excellent frames.
I have to agree the direct mount FD spoils the clean look for 1x10 users. I am sure there is an engineering reason why this mount was used over the band type clamp but I can't help but wish this is deleted on the next version. oh and can we have a stealth colour available Ben?

benpinnick

The D Mount is needed because if we wanted to use a clamp on, we'd have to straighten the seat tube (as the current angle doesn't work) which reduces the tyre clearance, and is further compounded by the fact that a band on needs more clearance than a D mount, reducing the clearance to the point where we'd have to consider making the chainstays longer to gain it back...

dirkpitt74

Slightly OT but are you on the C2W shemes?

benpinnick

DirkPitt74 wrote:

Slightly OT but are you on the C2W shemes?

Yes we are with some - Halfords and some smaller ones right now. Cyclescheme maybe soon. Call us to find out more information if you're interested. Ben

BloggingFit

The D Mount doesn't bother me as it's not something I notice until cleaning the bike off.

My Remedy has a bolt on Mount, being Carbon, which is a fairly tidy solution and only leaves a couple of threaded holes on show. This could perhaps be an option on a later generation of frame but may possibly push up the manufacturing cost and therefore RRP on what is meant to be a more affordable frame/full build option.