my new bike build thread

[Hobie]

hahahaha

just what this board needs, a mountain bike build thread. so here goes:

last year i committed to training just for one year to race a 100 mile race. i wanted to do the big race in colorado that lance armstrong does, but its impossible to get into so screw that.

however, i did pick the hardest 100 miler on the east coast. its called the wilderness 101. its loaded with single track, roots, and rocks, and bigger rocks.

most veterans of the race advice people to run 29er wheels and big tires and full suspension.

well my race bike so far has been a 26" wheeled hardtail. super stiff frame that rides super ruff.

last month i did my first 100 mile ride in AZ. it was a OG13 style race. we met in a parking lot and then took off and we just followed our GPS's. it took me 12 hours to finish the course from flagstaff to sedona and then back in one big loop.

so i need a bike that can handle the demands of the wilderness 101, but i also want a bike that can be nimble like my carbon hardtail.

so i found this bike: scott genius

the rear shock is the most advanced shock there is. i talked to chris at FOA and he knew about it. from a remote switch on the bars, i can go from full lockout, to 3" of travel to 6" travel all in a flip of a switch on the fly. there is a seperate rebound tube for each setting.

the front fork also can be lockout and go from 4" of travel to 6" travel. when climbing long and steep climbs, there is a major advantage to be able to lower the front work down which will put more weight on the front.

this course has narly down hills that are steep and fast. so having 6" of travel and a slack head tube angle is going to help me out a ton.

i also got an aluminum frame as opposed to carbon so when i crash, it will just bend the tube, not crack it.

brakes are a big freakin deal too! i used aluminum rotors this year but in steep decents, it just wasnt enough, they were light but it just wasnt worth not being able to stop. so i put larger steel rotors on. 185mm in the front and 160mm in the rear.

i also went with mechanical brakes instead of hydraulic. i am a bit old school here but i like the reliability of mechanicals. you can even carry a spare brake line with you and replace it if it brakes, but what you can't do, it bleed your brakes and add fluid when you are on the trail. you can carry all that crap with you need to do that.
i had a race where a rock grabbed the banjo bolt on my rear caliper and turned it loose. i lost fluid and i had no rear brake for the rest of the race! that sucked!

so i get this scott and of course all the parts are junk, so i am reaplacing all of them with my other parts i already have. except for the fork, i dont have it yet and i dont have the front wheel yet. i had to order a hub that will run a 20mm axle instead of the 5mm standard axle. i have to get that wheel built up when i get the hub and then install the new fork. until then, i am riding on the fork and wheel that came with the bike. i will sell all the extras on ebay when i am done.

Scott was stupid with thier cable routing. it looked stupid and it left no place for the water bottle holder in the middle triangle. so i got longer cable housings and cables and re routed everything to run under the down tube which looks way better.

i will get finish pics when its all done but for now, this is all i got but at least i can start riding it.

[Hobie]

here is a video of the race so you can see some of the terrain. its a boring video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20ovW12zpx4

the first 10 seconds is cool but the go to 2:50 then go to 5:00 to see what i am talking about as far as wanting as much travel as i can get

[80proof]

You're a whack job.

The bike is badass, and good luck with the race, but you're still a whackjob.


There is no way in hell you would get my fatass on a bike, to do that.

[Chevyotki]

It has a lot of cool "stuff" on it, but where does the engine go?

[Hobie]

Originally Posted by Chevyotki

It has a lot of cool "stuff" on it, but where does the engine go?

well i just tested fitted a S&S on it. i just got to get the mounts finished, lol.

today's test ride. i still have a new fork coming and new wheel. but all went good. this thing bombs down single track and the rough stuff but then turns into a good climber when you lock the rear out.

[Slayer]

Nice bike, I saw your thread on STR.

[Hobie]

Originally Posted by Slayer

Nice bike, I saw your thread on STR.

thanks.

i got a helmet camera. i tested it out on sunday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh9i8kagrkg

[80proof]

Originally Posted by Hobie

thanks.

i got a helmet camera. i tested it out on sunday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh9i8kagrkg

Thats awesome video!!

I dig the slow motion part with the lizard.


Also I think around minute 1:54, I can see the hot hiker chick turn around and check out your spandex clad ass when you ride by.

[Hobie]

Originally Posted by 80proof

Thats awesome video!!

I dig the slow motion part with the lizard.


Also I think around minute 1:54, I can see the hot hiker chick turn around and check out your spandex clad ass when you ride by.

i wasnt wearing spandex. ass!