MarkO

Ah well, such is life. Guess I was just lucky.
I think it will take discs, if it's an '02 frame, 'cos one of our regulars at the Hub used to have one with discs. Besides, you could always upgrade the swing-arm to an '03 one (well, '04 actually, the '03 ones have a tendency to snap ) which definitely has disc mounts.

TopBanana

Still haven't bought one. Read some average reviews of the rear shock on the Scott although the frame does seem awesome.

Thinking of building a bike up from bits. Are they particularly hard to put together?

the moose

If you know what you're doing**, any competent bike mechanic type can do it in a few hours.





I don't.

MarkO

Building a bike isn't hard. With a decent stand, a well-equipped workshop, and the right tools, it shouldn't take more than 2 hours. But if you don't have all that, it's complicated (for example, fitting a BB without the right tool can end up with you writing off your frame, and don't even consider attempting to put in a headset without a headset press if you don't want to lose fingers and large chunks of paint from the frame....).

Best thing to do is buy the bits from where they're cheapest (my frame's from the US, as are my forks - via eBay - and the rest of the bits are bought cheaply elsewhere) and get a local bike shop to build it up....

TopBanana

Sounds like a good call Mark. I have a well equipped garage from working on the car, but don't have a stand, or any specialist tools.

Any hot tips for bits then - I suppose I could spend about a grand all in??

MarkO

Well, here's the spec for my new bike.

'03 Slayer frame, with a Fox Float RL rear shock.
'05 Fox Vanilla R 130mm forks.
Hope Mono M4 disc brakes (180mm rear, 200mm front discs)
Hope XC Hubs, spokes, Mavic 317 rims, Hope QR + seat clamp (all silver)
Easton 50mm Vice stem
Easton EA50 seat post
XT front mech, XT BB.
Axiom bars*,
Nisene saddle*,
Cane creek headset*,
XTR rapidfire shifters*,
LX chainset*,
XT rear mech* + chain*.
Continental Vertical Pro tyres*,
Shimano SPDs*

Bits marked with a * are from my old Kona (saving me money). Total cost is going to work out at about £1100, minus about £250 for the bits of my own bike that I'm selling.

Edcase

Mine is:

04 Mountain Cycle Moho Slix frame
04 Marzocchi MX Comp 110mm forks
Hope Mono's
Hope XC Hubs, D521 rims, Michelin XLS tyres
Deore groupset
DMR V12 pedals
WTB greaseguard headset
World Force cnc'd stem
Easton Riser bars
WTB Rocket V Carbon Saddle w/ Roox seatpost

Only the wheels, hubs, stem, pedals, seatpost, front brake, gears (not crank and front groupset) made it over from my old bike.

Total cost: £between 1000 and 1100

Frame alone currently sells for 1100, and thats in the sale

Edcase

Check out ebay, wiggle and chainreactioncycles for bits as well as bikemagic.com for reviews.

anc-sti

This site is good for comprehensive reviews


http://www.mtbr.com/

And if your a weight freak like myself try this

http://weightweenies.starbike.com/ see http://weightweenies.starbike.com/listings.php

MarkO

Bah. The shop that are supposed to be building my bike have f**ked up, so it won't be ready this weekend after all.

Means I won't get to ride it for a fortnight now, 'cos I've got friends up to visit next weekend.

unclebuck

Should have put it together yourself mate. Then you can avoid these types of probs, plus (I think) you get more satisfaction from what you're riding because you have prepared it yourself.

Still, I do feel for you mate, after all that anticipation.

UB

MarkO

I'd have loved to have put it together myself, but as mentioned before it's not that easy; I don't have a stand, headset press BB tool or a wheel-building jig.

If the numpties in the shop had told me on Wed (when I last spoke to 'em) that it wouldn't be ready for the weekend, I could have got 'em to put in the headset and BB, got a mate of mine to build the wheels, and then done the rest myself. But it's too late now.

Never mind though. I've not had a new bike for 8 years, so I guess another 2 days won't hurt - and because of the ****-up I should be able to blag some free lights next week so I can get out and ride it after work in the evenings.

Plus it's pishing down here anyway, so I might not have fancied riding anyway...

MarkO

Oh, and to cheer me up there was a minor bidding frenzy on my Kona frame last night which is up to nearly £70 - with 5 days yet to go.

MarkO

Just had a call from the bike shop. They've put in a couple of extra hours, and it's ready to ride this morning after all.

So if anyone's at Glentress today and sees some loon on a white/grey Slayer riding around with a ridiculously large grin, you'll know who it is. :coo:

MarkO

Unbelievable. Somebody from eBay's emailed me to ask (before he places a bid on the frame) "what sort of steel is it"? There's MTB-****, but that's just daft.