Great looking bike and thanks for the info... Cant wait until the new year and get my project going!

I got a reply- there had been a rather large typhoon and knocked out power for a while. He's off to the bike show in vegas too so its good. it gives me time to get a plan together - Also car has just blown a tyre.. £200 down drain that could have been my frame

Thanks again for the info. Seems like most of the standard sizes are making their way on these frames. I should have read the spec and then worked out the sizing related to the skewers. (15mm is pretty standard on the front huh?)

again. there will be a lot of head scratching and debate before I press the button and build. It's also going to be a long build due to cash flow.

HI Carbon Dude,

thanks for the reply. I think (mainly from reading your posts about your daughters bikes) That ill pretty much go with a carbon speed frame. it seems you like their service (plus others too) Ive counted my pennies and I think a full suss is just out of my pricerange at the moment  so it will be hardtail. I am not used to a 29er let a lone anything 29+?!  so Im even unsure about that! might go 650b ... arghh so many decisions..

I was looking at these two frames:

Yes I know this one is a 650
http://www.xmcarbonspeed.com/Productinfo.asp?f=1283

Im confused by the numbers? (for 135mm QR/142*12mm) What does this relate to?

Any also this 29er..

http://www.xmcarbonspeed.com/Productinfo.asp?f=1296

Again thanks for all your help in this. I am very scared!!

Ok Got to start somewhere!

Pretty much newbie at building bikes (but I have built cars...and maintained bikes) I have had a 20 year old haro for FAAAR too long and its time to put it out to pasture. As I'm sure many of you are on here too - I m looking at a budget but also fun way of building my next bike. Whenever I hit the trails here in the UK I tend to hire a full suss and these usualy are scot scales / genius etc and I really like them. I am also going to take the challenge of doing the C2C (coast to coast trail) next year and so the goal is to build and complete the bike over winter ready for the spring.

I am torn and I know this is a usual thing.

Do I build full suss or go proven hard tail?

Looking at both the 036 full suss frame :  http://www.xmiplay.com/ProductDetails1579


and the hardtail 057 http://www.hongfu-bikes.com/html_products/2013-29ER-Axle-MTB-Frame-HF-FM057-284.html

I now I have listed two different companies. it seems like xmi have good customer service from what I have read on here so I guess I'm leaning towards them 9Any reason other places might be better for either of these frames)

NOW - I'd love the prospect of full suss but I guess the only thing that scares me from a build point of view is it is another thing to get wrong AND  i'd need the expense of buying a rear shock.

As both of these frames are 29ers (which I have not really ever ridden) I'm also a little scared by this too. (I need to try one)

I have a donor bike given to me with some pretty good (but old) components on it (frame is awful though) I will make a list of these components in a new thread. but as the bike is a 26 I'd need to ditch the forks and wheels anyway.

Anything else that might not fit that I'd need to replace?

I am very excited about building this over the next few months. Not taken the plunge on the frame ordering util I have a plan. so thanks for the resource and future help. I am sure there will be lot's of asking!