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Hi everyone,
I’m going to be building my first bike this off-season (yay!)
Trouble is I’ve been racking my brain (and scouring Google) trying to find a frame that meets my requirements:
- XC orientated (70% climbing, 30% descending)
- 29er
- Full sus alloy or Hardtail steel or ti
- Threaded BB
- Travel: 100mm-120mm
- Head Angle: 66-69deg
- Boost 148mm
- Seatpost inner: >30.9mm
- Can be purchased online in Europe from either a shop or direct from manufacturer
- <€1500
Main issue for me is most European bike shops - your bike24, CRC, Wiggle, bike-components, etc. - stock very few frames, covering eveything from dj to dh, leaving few choices for more XC-focused builds. And what few XC frames they do have are way over budget (carbon).
As far as direct-to-consumer - your Canyon, Radon, Rose, Commencal - either don’t sell frames or, in the case of Commencal (that 2021 Meta TR looks so bloomin’ good...) it’s all PF92, which is such a pain in my side that it’s honestly a dealbreaker.
I’m open to leftfield ideas too, as I’m quite new to this whole bike building thing and keeping an open mind is generally considered a good thing.
I’m mostly focused on climbing - fireroads, hardpack, sometimes loose over hard, but, generally, the steeper the better, with the descending being quite conservative and more focused on not hugging a tree with my face than racking up gnar points.
I should probably point out I’ve got a pretty bad back so the full sus consideration is more about chatter smoothing and traction than acrobatics. For that same reason I’m open to a steel or ti hardtail, although the weight penalty of steel does give me pause for a bit.
So whatcha think? Am I chasing unicorns or is there something out there that checks my boxes?
You mention the Meta TR but say you want a 70% climbing bike and conservative descending. I think you might want to narrow down the type of bike you want a bit more.
There are lots of press fit BB's and I'd say just get a Wheels MFG BB that threads the two sides together and a good LBS to fit it and you will be fine.
At that price range I'd be looking for a full bike potentially and shifts the spare bits. Frames are generally such poor value compared to a full build.
Trek Top Fuel, Giant Trance, etc would all fit the criteria if you can move to PF BBs.
I've built a couple of Cotic Solaris's now and had a lot of fun doing it! Certainly don't be afraid at having a crack. There is a steel weight penalty, sure. But unless you're wanting to race XC then I wouldn't worry too much about it. Even then I used to race the old solaris in plus mode!
My friend has just bought a discounted Nordest Britango, which ticks a lot of the boxes you mention. 120mm, screw thread bb, available from Europe, in stock, 29, 67 HA (I think...depending on fork length), dropper compatible.
Sorry, wasn't too clear what I meant by that Meta comment - it was more around the fact that it's a really good looking frame. But you're absolutely right in that its geometry is much more enduro than XC.
I'm aware building from a frame is generally poor value, but I'm willing to take the hit as it means I can:
1. learn a new skill or two
2. spec exactly what I want and
3. learn from my failures
@Yak
Trek have this weird embargo on my home country for some reason. No local shops sell them and the online shops don't deliver Treks. I tried finding out why as the Top Fuel is a real banger, but alas it seems to be a mystery.
But that's neither here nor there. BSA for life! 😀
Will be selling a large Specialized Chisel frame and carbon fork in the next few weeks? Fantastic xc bike. Alu but really compliant - read the reviews.
@mccraque
Thanks so much for the suggestions!
Let's have a look at what ticks what:
Cotic SolarisMax
◻️ Weight ~2.5kg for an M
✅ 29er
✅ Hardtail steel
✅ Threaded BB
✅ Travel: 120mm
✅ Head Angle: 66deg
✅ Boost 148mm
✅ Seatpost: 31.6mm
◻️ Ships around December 2020
✅ €742
Nordest Britango TR TI
✅ Weight 1.7kg for an M
✅ 29er
✅ Hardtail Ti
✅ Threaded BB
✅ Travel: 120mm
✅ Head Angle: 67deg
✅ Boost 148mm
✅ Seatpost: 31.6mm
◻️ Ships around December 2020
◻️ €1399
Definitely good considerations for both.
I'm leaning slightly more towards the Cotic, just because I've only ever heard good things about them, whereas Nordest is a bit of a mystery to me.
-----
Just to throw an oddball in there, what do you think about a:
Sonder Cortex
✅ Weight 2.91kg for an M (with shock)
✅ 29er
✅ Squishy alloy
✅ Threaded BB
✅ Travel: 120mm
✅ Head Angle: 66deg
✅ Boost 148mm
✅ Seatpost: 31.6mm
◻️ Ships around November 2020
✅ €1100
Have a look at the stanton website if you want a steel hardtail, the Sherpa should fit your requirements.
You’d may as well add a Sonder signal ti or steel to that list as you’re on their site!
The nordest steel is a bit heavier but ships October and the frame only is less than €400. And has a great
Colour scheme!