Right, the time is approaching for another chinese carbon build. 

I am looking for a 15x100, 12x142 cyclocross frame.  The only vendor I can find that claims to have them is Miracle Bike.  Has anyone any experience of them?  Does anyone know any other vendor selling what I want?

Thanks guys!

That got scratched up pretty good for one race.  Did you go down someplace?

Just one of those days!! and I wasn't the only one. Wet, rooty, rocky, slippy.  Very unsatisfactory for it's first outing.
The following race, the pic with the race number, the bike really shone.  Climbs like a rocket and was razor sharp on twisty singletrack.  I was really impressed by it.

Thanks cmh.  I'm looking for either a medium or large, more importantly an effective toptube length of around 600mm.

This may or not be news but I was surprised....

When I was researching my Venture build I was trying to calculate where I would have to run my stem to maintain my position on the bike.  I thought I had better compare Axle to Crown measurements for the forks I was currently using (26 "Reba 100's) and my intended forks (27.5" SIDs or Reba 100's).  I had always assumed that as they are supposed to use the same basic construction that they would be the same but this is what I found..

                    26"      27.5"    29"
Reba 100           493      507      526
SID   100     473      487      506
 
20mm is quite a lot, equating IIRC to about 1 degree change in head tube angle.  I would imagine this would have a significant impact if head angle was already steep or slack. 

When a frame is measured what axle to crown measurement, I wonder, are the angles based on?  Is there a standard?

Well first race done. Probably not the best course for a hardtail as endless wet rocks and roots; a course I'd previously pretty much cleaned every lap on the Ellsworth but had a serious number of dabs yesterday.

Impressions;

27.5 definitely rolls over stuff better than 26.5 without affecting maneuverability in tight twisty singletrack.

The front end is really responsive probably a combination of steeper head angle and the Maxle.

The rear end is very responsive but was not hooking up as well as I'd like. This could be directly due to it not being a full sus, the Rocket Ron just not being up to the job or the possibility that I'd run lower pressure on the FS, or a bit of all!

It's light!

OneUP is FLAWLESS. It never skipped a beat.

I had a lot of pedal strikes.  I'm not sure if the BB is exceptionally low? Or I'm just used to the higher BB on the Ellsworth.

I experienced an unusual "deadspot" a few times when the cranks were at vertical.  I've never felt anything like it before.  Allmost like the right crank arm was a couple of degrees out of sync (it's not - checked), one to watch.

Carbon takes hits better than expected, see the pictures.

Chipped


Scratched


Gouged


I think this build is at it's end.  I am unlikely to make any changes to the bike and entropy will now take over as the bike and it's components get down and dirty at what they are meant to do- take a hammering .  Despite the efforts in putting a nice looking, carefully thought out bike together, at the end of the day it's a tool not an end in itself.

Thanks to all who contributed and looked in.  I imagine this will not be my last China build!!

waiting to hear how that one up conversion performs!

I was out this morning for a few hours.  I figured I needed to get at least one ride before racing it.  I'm completely happy with it.  Nothing needs adjusting or changing.  I was concerned that the shorter stem would leave it a bit light on steep technical climbs but it's perfect.

The OneUp setup performed perfectly.  There is no discernible difference shifting into the 42 than any other gear and no significant drivetrain noise when at either end of the block.  That said I do not expect to spend much time in the 42 and regard it as a bail out gear.  At the other end of the cassette I now have 11,13,16,19 instead of 11,13,15,17,19 but I can't say I noticed.  Total cost of the RADr cage, 42T and 16T is $145 plus I have two XT chainrings I could try and sell on ebay, the two rings together retail for €90 ($100?) on chainreaction, so it could be a very affordable 1x10 wide range conversion.  (Full XT crankset incl BB cost €120, rings €90 !?!?)

Brmeyer135:  Thought about it and then pulled the (cheap) Stans stickers off and the Rockshox logos too so now it's black as black can be. I might get some Crest decals done up in clear vinyl and see how they look.

Finally, lockring arrived today.  11 days from germany.  I ordered a Skean from France, it was posted Monday and arrived yesterday!!

No doubt - The clear vinyl stickers on the matte frame is the way to go. Good job. That looks awesome! Something I'll definitely keep in mind for future build/s.

Btw, how are you liking the full one-up conversion? Smooth shifting up and down the entire cassette even up to the big one-up cog?

I haven't had a proper spin on it yet as I'm still waiting for the lockring for the centrelock rotor. I have ridden it around the house and it seems! to shift perfectly.  However you know how many things that appear to work well suddenly show another side to them in a race or similar situation.  I am hoping that the lockring arrives before Friday so I can at least get an hour on it before racing it Sunday.

DT Swiss, Why? The hubs are made for centerlock.  Shimano centerlock rotors ship with standard lockrings.  A standard lockring does not work on DT hubs with a 15mm axle.  Oversize lockrings are not easy to get.  Would it kill DT to include one or at least give a warning of the same on their site? Very Annoying!!!!