Thanks Kaiser, I appreciate the response! Most stuff is sorted out now! Now I'm trying to price out a Twin Loc lever system. Does anyone have any favorite ways to mount cables to their Chiner frames? I want to run two cables along my downtube and as I noted above the Jagwire stick on housing guides sucked. I'd like to avoid zip ties if possible, but that might be my only solution. Anyone have opinions on just zipping the two cables together so they run parallel?

Yesterday I got basically as far as I could without the wheels. I answered 2 of my own questions in the process. The thru axle nut will now be mounted in the dropout with the hex end out. I find it strange that there is a set screw for this... I might try to mill a little pocket for it onto that threaded end. I know a lot of people have had issues with the axle before, so I'll give it a shot for now but it might get replaced anyways. I ended up running to a (different) bike shop in town to buy bulk cable and housing to run the dropper post line along the downtube. That route worked fine, but I did run into an issues with the Jagwire stick on housings. I cleaned the surface with alcohol and tried to apply the adhesive, but it was very weak. I stuck them on the best I could then wrapped electrical tape around the housings and frame to hopefully adhere for the next few days. If that doesn't work I might need to come up with some alternate method of mounting.

Regarding the front derailleur.. When I originally was browsing through these threads I found people calling for a S3 Direct mount. All you 036 builders who plan on using a front derailleur it's an S3 Direct mount bottom pull. To my defense the person I purchased it from never specified what it was for, so lesson learned. No big deal really. Just another $10 and a little more time before I can ride.

I'll post another update this weekend hopefully after my wheels arrive. I'm pretty excited to see these rims without holes!

-Midewest

So the build is going well for the most part, I had to make a last minute purchase of hydraulic brake line from my LBS since my current rear line was too short. Only one shop in town had it and when I actually asked him for it he came out with shifter cable housing and tried to tell me it was a brake line... I awkwardly pointed out his mistake and informed him that it was shifter cable. Not sure if I really want to ever take my bike to that shop for service!  So crisis adverted there, I installed the new line (threading through the 036 frame is so easy) and bled the system. The other stuff went fairly smoothly too. Installing the shifters and shifter cable wasn't really that hard. Overall since this is my first bike build I'd say that it's not super challenging but is a lot of fun!

Questions:
1. The thru axle nut I got from peter won't sit inside of the rear derailleur hanger hole.. Does anyone else have this issue? Suggestions for a fix?

2. I'm trying to run my dropper seatpost cable and I'm wondering how others have ran it on the frame. I'd like to run it down the downtube and up the seatpost, but my cable and housing isn't long enough. Do you think I could run it under the top tube and above the rear shock and then up the seat post?

3. The lower arm of the suspension has a hole that appears to be for cable to come out to pull on the front derailleur. I was able to put a ferrule underneath, but the upper hole is smaller and looks like it was designed to be open? I'm worried that the cable will wear on that carbon around the hole a lot. Anyone else seen this before?

Pictures below


Progress...


Dropper seatpost cable routing?


Front derailleur cable rubbing on carbon?


Issue with the nut for the thru axle.

Glad I'm not the only one on this site at work... 

dudleik, Frame looks awesome. I have an 036 waiting for me at home tonight and I'm practically ready to just walk out of work and start building! I'll keep following this thread. I'm excited to see how your build turns out.

Welcome to Chinertown!

So your request is sort of vague, but I will try to help answer and provide a few starting points for you to consider. I guess picking out a frame is really a personal preference. Do you want a hardtail or full suspension bike? A 27.5 or 29 wheel size? There have been quite a few builds with the 256 and 036 so those frames are very proven and have a lot of documentation on this site for your use. Those other frames probably have been built up and you just need to find the threads that have them. I would start by looking at geometry and component compatibility and go from there. Just as a warning, the information on here may seem overwhelming and confusing, but just google the stuff you don't understand. There's plenty of information availible online to help you figure out your build. I'm actually starting my first build here at the end of this week and this forum has basically been where I have accumulated all of the information I needed. If we all agree on anything in this forum, it's that you should probably look into getting your frame from Peter at xmcarbonspeed.com. Check out his site and come back to this thread with some more directed questions based on specific frames.

- Midwest

If you guys look at the pictures it would appear that the IMUST and all the other text and even the paint splatter is just a vinyl sticker that is lined up with the paint. There's a slight difference in color and you can sort of see an edge in the close up images. If you're interested in the frame I'd send the link to Peter and see if he can get it, and if not just know that you can probably remove those stickers with a little rubbing alcohol and elbow grease.

I got my frame last Monday and starting to put it together. First issue is the bolts holding the rear shock(Manitou), I do have the shims sorted out but where on eart do I find the bolts holding the shock ?

I need 1 x 34 mm long and 1 x 40 mm long - Both 8 mm outside diameter.

Thanks

Karsten

Karsten,

Did your frame not come with the bolts to mount the shock to the frame? Did you end up needing to purchase them? Hope your bike is still running strong. I'm about to build up a 2x10 XX 036 so trying to figure out all the little parts I need to order.

-Midwest

Does anyone know if the 036 will fit a 180mm rear disk brake? I'm wondering if I'm going to have to go down to a 160mm...