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Hi All,
I was a member here for a few years when the magazine and forum first got off the ground. Since then not so much riding for me due to health, laziness, work... I now need to cycle for the sake of fitness and to recover from a bad dirtbike injury.
I have an old Giant NRS Carbon frame, which I had just completely rebuilt with full XTR before ripping my shoulder apart skiing and ending cycling for a while. It's had maybe 4 hours use since the rebuild, as when I finally got on a bike again it was always my hardtail (still 26” wheels).
So after 6-8 years of ignoring mountain biking it is LEARN all the changes. 29ers, 27.5s, Plus sizes, dropper posts, DI2 🙂 All this research as almost made me more confused than I was!!
The NRS is actually lovely, but it is very steep and tall, feels very twitchy, and is not helped that the frame was always slightly too large for me – I ride a 20 or 21”, and the NRS is an XL.
So I am thinking I'd now like to strip the NRS of all these basically brand new 2008 XTR components, titanium post and clamp, etc, and build up, a nice quality hardtail in 27.5+, initially with 29er wheels as I'll realistically be on the roads and simple trails in and around London till my injury and fitness improve. Why 27.5+ with 29er wheels? Well I read it on here in a thread, and thought maybe that is not a bad idea…. Plus some of my mates have + sizes and they love them – just seem fun.
Also having seen what has happened to 26" wheels I'm pretty keen for this "dual option"….
There are some technical considerations; The XTR calipers are IS mount (I think I can buy a frame-post to IS converter), the XTR BB is BSA. I’ll obviously have to buy new wheels & fork so not sure about QR or the straight through axle? Also the chainring is a triple, and I quite like the idea of keeping it as then I can re-use the existing kit, or won’t a triple fit – everyone seems to run dual or single? Worse case buy dual 28/38 chainrings and a new cassette?
The biggest thing is what 20-21” frame and fork should I go for? Loads of London street riding/commuting, and Bracknell/Dorking trails.
Sorry for the long post!
There are some technical considerations; The XTR calipers are IS mount (I think I can buy a frame-post to IS converter),
Shouldn't be a problem, but may mean running +20mm mounts which means disks could end up bigger than you'd like. Otherwise shimano calipers are cheap and all but identical between SLX and XTR, probably cheaper than buying new disks!
the XTR BB is BSA.
BB's are relatively cheap, and most 'standards' have an option to fit shimanno cranks.
I’ll obviously have to buy new wheels & fork so not sure about QR or the straight through axle?
everything is tapered and 15mm axles now. You'll probably want a 'boost' hub though to give clearance for big tyres up front. Rear may or may not need to be boost, it'll be frame dependent.
Also the chainring is a triple, and I quite like the idea of keeping it as then I can re-use the existing kit, or won’t a triple fit – everyone seems to run dual or single? Worse case buy dual 28/38 chainrings and a new cassette?
Maybe, maybe not, some frames have no way to mount a front mech. Especially those designed for 3" tyres as the tyre and mech (and chain) want to be in the same space. The aforementioned 'boost' standard moves the chainline out a bit as well as widening the hubs. Effectively putting the single chainring in the same place as it would be on the outer of a triple. So you may be forced into running a single chainring.
Cotic Solaris? Steel, 135mm rear end, 29"/650b+, fairly 'normal' geometry. I'd avoid anything too 'progressive' TBH if it needs to be used for everyday riding.
You can run Boost with double cranks but I doubt you'd get a 3" tyre and a triple working together (in fact I don't think there are any Boost triple cranks.
Side-swing mechs get around the tyre/seattube clearance issue very effectively.
Thanks guys, great info, thanks. I've only just got my head around 142mm, let alone boost! More research.... 🙂
I was looking at the Solaris, I like it's UK made and the steel... I think it'd even take my top pull FR... Great suggestion!
Any other frame ideas or suggestions?