Moving on from my old MTB thread, what HT frame shall I get?
Discussion
Evening all,
Having rapidly decided on my previous thread that the only possible answer to what to do with my old full susser was "strip the parts off and make an HT", it's time for a thread to help me figure out what frame to get...
Budget is up to around £200, and I don't mind second hand, so long as it seems to be coming from someone who knows what they're selling, rather than the typical ebay monkeys who just know where they stole it! I've just found the buy/sell pages on Pink Bike, which look pretty excellent.
In terms of riding style, this will be purely for XC riding - fire roads, bridleways, canal paths etc. I've got a road bike for the road and a brand new full suss Stumpjumper for the bumpy stuff, so this is about filling the gap between the two rather more comfortably than my commuter CX bike would.
I want to re-use as much of the existing kit as I possibly can so that by selling the Gravity Dropper seatpost I have on it, I can get as close to a free bike as possible, which means that I'm looking at the following....
- 26" wheels
- 135mm QR axle.
- 1 1/8th headset.
- Disc mounts
- Shimano ES-30 Bottom Bracket, Octalink spline, 68mm shell, 118mm spindle. 50mm chainline.
- 3x9 drive train
- Suitable for 85-110mm front suspension travel
- Top pull front mech, 34.9mm clamp (although happy to replace for bottom pull if worth it, especially for internal routing).
- 30.9mm seatpost, 34.9mm clamp
One option so far is this heavily discounted Ridley.
Others have mentioned the likes of Cotic (I rather like the look of this one) and Cove, which would probably have to be second hand.
I've also been looking at On One, but annoyingly my component sizing only fits the 456, which I really like the look of, but which is really designed for longer travel forks, and doesn't fit the Inbred, which would be ideal for my forks. For those who know far more about frame geometry than I do, how would the 456 handle with 115mm travel forks on it, compared the the Inbred?
Just to edit for the second time, I rather like the idea of steel.
Having rapidly decided on my previous thread that the only possible answer to what to do with my old full susser was "strip the parts off and make an HT", it's time for a thread to help me figure out what frame to get...
Budget is up to around £200, and I don't mind second hand, so long as it seems to be coming from someone who knows what they're selling, rather than the typical ebay monkeys who just know where they stole it! I've just found the buy/sell pages on Pink Bike, which look pretty excellent.
In terms of riding style, this will be purely for XC riding - fire roads, bridleways, canal paths etc. I've got a road bike for the road and a brand new full suss Stumpjumper for the bumpy stuff, so this is about filling the gap between the two rather more comfortably than my commuter CX bike would.
I want to re-use as much of the existing kit as I possibly can so that by selling the Gravity Dropper seatpost I have on it, I can get as close to a free bike as possible, which means that I'm looking at the following....
- 26" wheels
- 135mm QR axle.
- 1 1/8th headset.
- Disc mounts
- Shimano ES-30 Bottom Bracket, Octalink spline, 68mm shell, 118mm spindle. 50mm chainline.
- 3x9 drive train
- Suitable for 85-110mm front suspension travel
- Top pull front mech, 34.9mm clamp (although happy to replace for bottom pull if worth it, especially for internal routing).
- 30.9mm seatpost, 34.9mm clamp
One option so far is this heavily discounted Ridley.
Others have mentioned the likes of Cotic (I rather like the look of this one) and Cove, which would probably have to be second hand.
I've also been looking at On One, but annoyingly my component sizing only fits the 456, which I really like the look of, but which is really designed for longer travel forks, and doesn't fit the Inbred, which would be ideal for my forks. For those who know far more about frame geometry than I do, how would the 456 handle with 115mm travel forks on it, compared the the Inbred?
Just to edit for the second time, I rather like the idea of steel.
Edited by Kermit power on Friday 2nd January 21:26
My BFe was a medium, I am about 5'11" and it was too small. I loved it though, it was a proper hooligan frame and could take a lot of abuse but it was also a bit weighty. Its also suited more towards longer travel forks, 120mm+. I sold it to buy a s/h Soul in Large which is a much better fit.
pablo said:
My BFe was a medium, I am about 5'11" and it was too small. I loved it though, it was a proper hooligan frame and could take a lot of abuse but it was also a bit weighty. Its also suited more towards longer travel forks, 120mm+. I sold it to buy a s/h Soul in Large which is a much better fit.
I'm about 5'9" and a little bit, so I guess a medium would probably be right, although weighty and longer travel don't sound ideal!Damn you, Kermit!
Now I'm looking at 'replacing' my GT Avalanche frame with that Ridley. Only it'll cost me a fortune, what with needing a full group set (mine is low grade Shimano Alivio with lesser bits) and new wheels (heavy buggers, mine) and new fork (mine's properly knackered). That's before I even check seatpost compatibility. Thinking about it, only my saddle, lock-on grips, and upgraded Deore brakes would be of any use to a frame-only build. My heart was set on a new "ready to ride" Bird Zero, too...
I'll get a tape measure and a protractor out tomorrow, to see if that 19" Ridley would be a fit for me. If not, happy days, I'll order up a Zero as I planned anyway.
Now I'm looking at 'replacing' my GT Avalanche frame with that Ridley. Only it'll cost me a fortune, what with needing a full group set (mine is low grade Shimano Alivio with lesser bits) and new wheels (heavy buggers, mine) and new fork (mine's properly knackered). That's before I even check seatpost compatibility. Thinking about it, only my saddle, lock-on grips, and upgraded Deore brakes would be of any use to a frame-only build. My heart was set on a new "ready to ride" Bird Zero, too...
I'll get a tape measure and a protractor out tomorrow, to see if that 19" Ridley would be a fit for me. If not, happy days, I'll order up a Zero as I planned anyway.
Kinesis Maxlight would be my choice, because that's what I bought.
My youth has a 456, he doesn't ride it much, and I can see why. It's only got a 100mm fork on it and the steering is very slow due to the slack head angle, I dread to think how slow it would be with a longer fork on it.
I liked my 26 On-One Inbred Single Speed Rigid so much I sold it after 6 weeks and bought the 29er version, but kept the 26" rigid forks, a 29er wheel fits and it sharpened the steering up no end.
My youth has a 456, he doesn't ride it much, and I can see why. It's only got a 100mm fork on it and the steering is very slow due to the slack head angle, I dread to think how slow it would be with a longer fork on it.
I liked my 26 On-One Inbred Single Speed Rigid so much I sold it after 6 weeks and bought the 29er version, but kept the 26" rigid forks, a 29er wheel fits and it sharpened the steering up no end.
gazza285 said:
My youth has a 456, he doesn't ride it much, and I can see why. It's only got a 100mm fork on it and the steering is very slow due to the slack head angle, I dread to think how slow it would be with a longer fork on it.
That seems the opposite of what I'd expect from the description on their website?Maybe your lad's frame is an earlier one, and they've changed the geometry on the Evo 2 frame they're selling now?
The specs on the website claim a 69 degree head angle when running 100mm forks, which doesn't strike me as slack at all?
Kermit power said:
That seems the opposite of what I'd expect from the description on their website?
Maybe your lad's frame is an earlier one, and they've changed the geometry on the Evo 2 frame they're selling now?
The specs on the website claim a 69 degree head angle when running 100mm forks, which doesn't strike me as slack at all?
That's two degrees slacker than my Maxlight, and four degrees slacker than my Inbred, and that's before I get on, not the figure On-One give, which is the compressed head angle. Maybe your lad's frame is an earlier one, and they've changed the geometry on the Evo 2 frame they're selling now?
The specs on the website claim a 69 degree head angle when running 100mm forks, which doesn't strike me as slack at all?
Bloody heavy as well.
Mr E said:
I run a kinesis decade virsa - and I like it.
I have 150mm forks on it (the frame suggests 100-130) and she rides well.
Should be possible for a couple of hundred quid.
Looks nice - I need something bright green since I sold the V8! I have 150mm forks on it (the frame suggests 100-130) and she rides well.
Should be possible for a couple of hundred quid.
- but unfortunately I'd need to buy a new seatpost and front mech, so would put the costs up too far...Kermit power said:
Just ruled out On-One. The Inbred is the wrong size of frame for my existing seatpost and front mech, and they've confirmed that 110mm forks on the 456 would be slightly suicidal down anything steep. 
Mech adapters are about a fiver, and a good enough seat post is £20. There's a couple of nice Kinesis frames on EBay at the minute...gazza285 said:
Mech adapters are about a fiver, and a good enough seat post is £20. There's a couple of nice Kinesis frames on EBay at the minute...
Ooh. I didn't realise it could be that cheap!On a related point, is there anything about a frame that would prevent having a 3x9 setup? I had assumed there wouldn't be - singlespeed rear drop outs aside - until I saw a frame being advertised as "suitable for singlespeed, 1x10 or 2x10"...
Mr E said:
Mine's blue. The green is very green...
Well, not a Virsa, but in the end, I couldn't resist the call of Green!!! Just bought this Cove Handjob, which the seller is delivering to me tomorrow evening.
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