Meinier 26 inch kids MTB build

[Lotnik]

I am starting new thread to document my off season project for my nearly 8 year old boy, who started to get some podiums during this MTB season. He is now 135 cm, but he grows very fast and I'm deciding wheteher I opt for 26 or 27,5 inch wheels if they will fit. Iwas deciding between SPcycle 27er XS frame and this Meinier frame and decided to go with Meinier. The geometry looks very similar in both and the chainstain is same length. We will see as I have some 27,5er wheels at my bike and I will try to fit them before I will built wheels for that.

Going through the built:

Frame: https://pl.aliexpress.com/item/1005008487895007.html?

Rims: https://dartmoor-bikes.com/hardware/rims/raptor (will decide 26/27er)

Hubs: https://pl.aliexpress.com/item/1005006978869415.html?

Suspension fork: https://pl.aliexpress.com/item/1005001298374011.html?

Cranks 150 mm : https://pl.aliexpress.com/item/1005005884336033.html?

For the groupset and brakes I will go for the 12 speed Shimano Deore.

Some carbon seatpost and handlebar plus some hardware out of Ali too.

I'm not sure what to choose regarding chainring for this cranks. As this is QR frame I read that I need 6mm offset. Am I right? Probably will go with 32T for this built compared with 10-51 cassette.

Any recomendations will be helpful too.

[JoBru]

Nice to see dads that build chiners for the following generation.

Regarding Chainring offset I would agree - for rear QR (135mm) you want the Chainline to be 49mm which usually means 6mm offset for Gxp(-type) cranks.

Definitely looking forward to seeing this bike coming together!

[JJx]

Those Cranks have a really narrow Q-Factor - I have them but haven't found a frame that frame that they fit yet. But I've only really tried on MTB's.
I have a couple other sets of cruzbike cranks that have held up really well though, but they aren't the cool machined look.

I'd be skeptical about the fork - are there good Chiner forks yet? I would look for something used - most older fox/RS/Marz are pretty trivial to rebuild, and there isn't much of a gap in performance, with the middle-ground modern stuff.

[Lotnik]

Those Cranks have a really narrow Q-Factor - I have them but haven't found a frame that frame that they fit yet. But I've only really tried on MTB's.
I have a couple other sets of cruzbike cranks that have held up really well though, but they aren't the cool machined look.

I'd be skeptical about the fork - are there good Chiner forks yet? I would look for something used - most older fox/RS/Marz are pretty trivial to rebuild, and there isn't much of a gap in performance, with the middle-ground modern stuff.

I will take under consideration info about Cruze cranks. I was thinking about those Evosid cranks, but I'm not sure if 165 isn't too much in that age. I'm coming from road bike where now everybody rides 165 and I'm taking about adults.

I watched several YT videos about Bolany forks and most opinions are positive. I will go with it too the LBS for servicing before installation. This will be for 30- 35 kg boy so I don't expect anything high end about dumping. He will be reaching same races mostly as this year he goes on 24 inch Specialized Jett with rigid fork.

[Ludo]

For my daughter i went with 145mm.
But 26” may be pushing it at first. My son is almost 8, 129cm and barely fit on 24”

Regarding cassette, to clear 51T you need a long cage derailleur and that doesn’t leave you with a lot of ground clearance, derailleur is definitely exposed.

[Lotnik]

For my daughter i went with 145mm.
But 26” may be pushing it at first. My son is almost 8, 129cm and barely fit on 24”

Regarding cassette, to clear 51T you need a long cage derailleur and that doesn’t leave you with a lot of ground clearance, derailleur is definitely exposed.

Is there short cafe version for Shimano 1x? I haven't seen anything. Always SGS only cage.

[frewster]

I would spend slightly more on a Suntour Raidon air fork for reliability and potentially serviceability.

[jefflinde]

Is there short cafe version for Shimano 1x? I haven't seen anything. Always SGS only cage.

I do t think there is a smaller cage version. What I did was just went with a road cassette and the normal deore derailleur. Y daughter is on 24" wheels and with the smaller wheels, the gearing is automatically lower.  So a 32t cog is plenty low with a 30t front chainring.  As she grows and gets up to 26 and then 27.5" wheels, I will look at going to a 45t cassette. 

[jefflinde]

I would also suggest to look at the Stan's crest rims. Much lighter than the what you have linked and they are very reasonably priced right now for the smaller sizes.  Wheel eight for kids is huge as it is rotational and a much bigger % of their body weight.   

[Lotnik]

I do t think there is a smaller cage version. What I did was just went with a road cassette and the normal deore derailleur. Y daughter is on 24" wheels and with the smaller wheels, the gearing is automatically lower.  So a 32t cog is plenty low with a 30t front chainring.  As she grows and gets up to 26 and then 27.5" wheels, I will look at going to a 45t cassette.

I see now. So I will go with 10-45 cassette too.

I would also suggest to look at the Stan's crest rims. Much lighter than the what you have linked and they are very reasonably priced right now for the smaller sizes.  Wheel eight for kids is huge as it is rotational and a much bigger % of their body weight.   

Nice rims, but they are 3 times more expensive than the one I'm heading too. They also have a rim 100g lighter but it's unavailable to purchase anywhere.

[Lotnik]

Fresh out of paint booth. 

[Ludo]

That’s a nice design!

[Lotnik]

So I checked different wheels pricing options, including buying rims and hubs separately and give them to a wheel builder. Calculating all together I decided to go carbon 😎
Wheels from Xiamen Most Sports Goods are ready to ship.
26 inch 25IW/30OW ratchet 36T hubs with 28 spokes. QR endcaps and MS hub body. Calculated weight 1250g

[Ludo]

Nice treat!

[Lotnik]

i'm still not decided about crank arms. My option is for now Cruz cranks:

https://pl.aliexpress.com/item/1005005872873054.html?

I found out also Aerozine mini cranks. But they are much more expensive and comes with 30 mm spindle.

What you guys think?