So my frame and wheelset arrived and I have been doing the slow build this week! Ill share a photos later. Frame notes first:
Size Large painted glossy Pantone 624C. Paint is fantastic, not a chip or miss anywhere and the color is perfect.
Seatpost fit is pretty sloppy. Seems a tad over 31.6 mm seat tube bore.I will try a different post, as this fit is with an ebay carbon. I might have to insert a shim of a couple thousandths of an inch to fix this.
Rear Dropout Spacing is a little wide by 3 or 4 mm. Axle pulls gap closed just fine and tightens to torque without issue.
Shock install was no issue and fit perfect.
Left Bottom Bracket threads were a bit of a challenge. I should have chased the threads with a tap but was able to get the cup in straight using the crank axle as a guide and press using an old BB cup and some oil first.
Chainring Clearance: I run a 34t WolfTooth Oval and it clears the lower stay just fine. Not sure on a 36 round, 36 oval would not clear it.
Headset: There is nothing in mountain bikes more stupid than running cables and hoses through the top of the headset. Aesthetic value is Zero. A sharp radius is created in the shift cable hosing to get under my handlebars and to the shifter. I am running only shift and rear brake though the frame. I have one 10mm spacer under my stem. I started with both exiting on the right, toward my shifter and brake lever but that seemed too tight of bend, now have them on the left.
Those that have built one of these- What side did you end up running your right hand controls on?
Cable routing through the frame was nice and smooth with no issues. I did slide foam damper tubes over both inside the main triangle. Headset fitment is nice. I do wish it had 1-1/8th inch upper and normal cable routes exiting on the side for smoother lines and cable actuation though.
Rear brake hose rote is odd, but works. Brake mount will not fit on chain stay location so has to be on upper. I ran brake inside stays and over to the shimano banjo bolt on the outside of the XT brake.
Bottle cage threads are aligned and clean. Large frame size has mounting for 2 bottle cages. The seat tube location WILL fit a cage, BUT a small/ 21oz bottle will never fit. This would be a good spot for storage in a cage or using a strap like WolfTooth offers instead of H2O.
Oh, did I mention how f#cking stupid 'through headset' cable routing is??
That is all for now!
