Fraser?  Are they up by you?  I haven't heard of them.  I was riding the new trails in Hines Park (I-275 and Hines Drive), and I was working my way south using Google Maps to find bike stores on my way home.

Tree Fort Bikes (in Ypsilanti) said they had some on their web site but I'm glad I called because they didn't have any in-store.  I just called Trail's Edge in Plymouth and they have what I'm looking for...

Arrrgh... attempted the rear brake today. People reading this, learn from my mistakes if you want to try and do it without bleeding:

1 - when removing the hose at the lever, remember lefty-loosy,  righty-tighty.

2 - you can pull the cable routing tube that came with the frame. I sat there puzzled on how it would route without any sort of guide, or pulling the hose through. I used the tube to route some extra shifter cable I had, and tried to use the cable as a snake, but the hose + cable + tape wouldn't fit through the opening. I gave up and just pushed the hose through, and wouldn't you know it, it came out the opening!

3 - because of #1, I ended up totally crushing the olive nut around the nipple. No amout of screwing around with it or cursing at it would get it to budge.

Was able to finalize the shifter cable routing for both the rear and front, and at least installed the rear caliper.  Right now, I still have it sitting downstairs with a cut rear brake hose. I'm hoping that no air will get in there for the next few days, because I won't be able to hit the LBS for that long. Hose is still way higher than the caliper. Hoping i don't need to bleed and can just get by with a new insert

Progress made last night - got the race installed on the fork and was able to install the fork, bars, front brake, and started to route the rear derailleur cable.  I was really worried about installing the star nut, but lo and behold I didn't have to (told you I'm a novice!).  The video posted in the other thread about installing the Neco headset was great.  Fork is probably about 1.5"-2" longer than it needs to be, but much like a haircut, it's easier to take more off than put it back. 

Rear shift cable housing is still really long, as I initially thought it was routed on the left side of the headset, so I have to shorten that up.  I'm using the Jagwire housings from the kit I bought but the Shimano cables that came with the shifters.  Do you foresee any problems with that?

I'm going to hold off on the bottom bracket until a) I can clean out those threads, and b) I can borrow a wrench (BBT9) from a guy I work with next week. Will first set it up with no spacers.

So, I think I'm going to tackle routing the front derailleur, and possibly the rear brake.

WARNING - STUPID QUESTIONS AHEAD!!!

1) Once the shift cables are routed internally, I need to remove the white tubes that came from the factory, right?
2) How on earth do I go about routing the rear brake without having to re-bleed? 

Progress...

Started fork & headset installation.  No issues with upper, ran into issues with the lower.  Very similar to what others experienced here.  A couple of swipes with 320-grit sandpaper around the inside of the lower, and the bearing popped right in.

Went to install crown race on the fork...  Checked garage for right-size PVC - no joy.  Found hole saw of appropriate size, but not the washer that seats it to the bit, so I'm going to have to stop by Home Depot tomorrow.

At least I got it....

Merlin's package is still stuck in customs at Chicago airport. so hopefully will be here soon.They shipped the same day as Ribble.

Don't be surprised if you get stuck with duties once it gets to the post office.  My understanding is that Customs takes a percentage of packages and checks them out.  I got hit with $25 of duty on my frame, after it got stuck in customs for a week.  My ribble delivery did not get stuck, nor did my wheel shipment from XMIPlay, and neither had duties added...

Still in Customs.    Contacted the Post Office, and they said it's out of their hands.  Not really looking forward to harassing CBP, so I plan on giving it a few more days.

So frustrating...

After reading a topic over on MTBR in the "Riding with Families" section, I started looking into an XS 26er build for my son.  I would likely transfer almost everything from my old 26er to that bike.  Anybody have any leads on who sells something in the 14-16" range?  He's 10 right now, about 4'5", so I'm guessing he wouldn't fit into something like this for another year, so that may be next year's Christmas present.

Well, it's been a few weeks, and nothing but good news.  First, my frame was finally shipped last Friday!!!!

  Second, all the waiting gave me time to fix up the basement and build a little bike workshop -

Ignore home plate   This used to be a baseball batting cage.  Only thing missing is something to hold the bikes and I had a epiphany on it so it's back to the hardware store for stuff...

CAN'T WAIT!!!!