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!

Quote from: Carbon_Dude on February 17, 2015, 08:45:22 PM
Davidd is in Ireland, land of the leprechauns.

  Yep, and obviously the leprecahauns were busy moving trees and putting rocks in my way at the first race. It must have trespassing on one of their fairy forts....

Quote from: 325racer on February 17, 2015, 12:02:15 AM
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.

Hi JohnnyNt,
Yes, that would make more sense.  I didn't find what I was looking for on the SRAM site and went looking for specs on store sites. The layout below is copied from bikeman.com and was repeated on other sites in the same format eg http://smartbikeparts.com/search_details.php?itm=FK7710.  Who knows where it originates.  If I had found the SRAM stuff to begin with I'd have been happier...

PRODUCT SPECS
Manufacturer: RockShox
Mfr Part #: 00.4018.789.010
UPC: 710845750953
Model: RockShox Reba
Size: Tapered
Type: 15mm Thru-axle
Style: 29er
Color: Black
Weight: 1664
Brake Usage F/R: Front
Fork Rake: 51
Axle to Crown Length: 526
Crown Race: 39.7
Steerer Tube Length: 265
Brake Type: Disc
Wheel Size: 29er
Travel: 100
Front Hub Spacing: 100
Front Axle Type: 15mm Thru
Spring: Solo Air
Wheel Mount Center Offset: 0
Lockout: Crown Mounted
Defined Color: Black
S.H.I.S. Clamp Diameter: 28.6
Item Name: Reba RL
Steerer Type: Tapered

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?

Now that I'm finished with my hardtail build and generally impressed with the Carbonal frame I have started thinking about my next project.  I know that later in the year, finances allowing, I'd like to put together a CX bike although it's unclear whether the frame I want is available or not.  In the meantime I was thinking of trying to replace my Ellsworth frame with a carbon one.  It weighs about 27lbs at the moment and that's with full XTR 970, XTR Wheels and mostly Thomson kit (Reba forks tho).

I'd need a relatively lightweight 26" frame with 135mm QR dropouts, convert XTR to single ring, replace shifter, derailleur, cassette and OneUp.

I guess I might also need a new shock.  The one I have is an RP23 200mm E2E.

Any thoughts, advice?

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!!

Quote from: MTB2223 on February 06, 2015, 04:38:34 PM
You're welcome.
I hope you never have to use it.


For the record: where did you bought it?

I got it on ebay here;
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/251795387831?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

Quote from: ponderosa on February 04, 2015, 07:30:32 PM
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.

Why are these not in every shop?  They're just the job and no real alternatives out there. Well spotted MTB2223!

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

Quote from: Sitar_Ned on February 04, 2015, 02:47:19 AM

Quote from: ponderosa on February 04, 2015, 02:03:44 AM



I crammed so much junk in my brain while researching for this bike, I know I saw that one up mod somewhere, but can't remember exactly what/where it was.   Please give link if its not much trouble for one up mod.  Adding a gear would be great!

davidd used the mod in his build: http://chinertown.com/index.php/topic,475.15.html

There's more info on a thread around here somewhere but I can't find it at the moment. Basically it's a rear cog (40t I think) that you install on your cassette, and you also pair it with a one up derailleur cage that fits Shimano shadow plus derailleurs. If you check out the above linked thread and scroll down there's some really good up close pics of the whole set up. The one up aftermarket parts are the lime green components. Hopefully he'll be updated that thread with impressions of that specific set-up.

Hi ponderosa, with OneUp you have a choice of 42 or 40 tooth cog and the RAD or RADr cage.  The Cogs come with a 16 tooth cog which you use to replace the 15 and 17 to smooth out the gap.  The Rad cage is simply a replacement outer cage sized between a long and medium Shimano cage.  The RadR replaces the entire cage and shifts the central point of the top jockey wheel to a different point than the standard Shimano cage.  With the original OneUp setup the B screw needed to be screwed all the way in to allow the cage to clear the larger cog.  With the RADr cage it hardly needs any adjustment.  As soon as I get some quality time on it I will post an update on my thread.

Quote from: Sitar_Ned on February 04, 2015, 08:02:02 AM
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!!!!