hybridbkrdr

OK, after waiting 7 and a half years to complete 3 bicycle projects, I'm finally getting ready to complete the first project, my mountain bike. For those assuming I might be rich, this is really from x-mas and birthday gifts from 7 and a half years.


Anyway, the mountain bike parts video is here: 　
and the video where I weighed the bike parts is here: 　
Here are the components:
WD Cycle Elite alumimum frame silver 17" (from Zestbicycleshop on eBay) 1837g
Rockshox XC 30 100mm suspension forks white 26" straight 1-1/8" (from Acycles.fr) 2233g
Sun Rhyno Lite/Shimano Deore 26" silver wheelset (from Bikewagon) 1200g/953g
Schwalbe Range Cruiser tires 26" x 1.75" black tires (from Canadabicycleparts) 780g x 2 = 1560g
Paul Thumbies silver (the old design) (from AVT.bike) 59g
Shimano SL-BS64 eight speed bar-end shifters (from Chainreactioncycles) 70g
Brave Machine white handlebars 700mm 25.4mm (from Chainreactioncycles) 770g
Shimano Deore V-brakes silver (from Chainreactioncycles) 141g x 2 = 282g
Zéfal red PVC rim strips 26" x 18mm (from Xxcycle) 29g x 2 = 58g
Humpert silver seatpost 350mm 27.2mm (from Xxcycle) 301g
Stronglight bottom bracket 68x122mm (from Xxcycle) 280g
Shimano Deore V-brake levers silver (from Cambriabike) 175g
Shimano Alivio 8 speed front derailleur top swing silver/black (from SportTide on eBay) 186g
Cannondale stem 70mm 25.4mm silver (from icyclesusa, defunct web site) 133g
Axiom 5mm Allen key skewers silver (from local bike shop) 67g
mystery brand kickstand silver (from local bike shop) 253g
WTB Volt Comp 142mm saddle black (from Niagaracycle) 324g
Shimano Alivio rear derailleur 8 speed silver (from Niagaracycle) 302g
Shimano Alivio 8 speed crankset 175mm 48/38/28T silver/black (from Niagaracycle) 1088g
Shimano CS-HG50 8 speed cassette 11-32T (from Niagaracycle) 366g
KMC X8.99 8 speed chain silver (from Niagaracycle) 343g
Origin8 sealed bearing headset 1-1/8" threadless orange (from Niagaracycle) 98g
Origin8 seatpost clamp 31.8mm orange (from Niagaracycle) 23g
Black Ops plastic platform pedals 9/16" orange (from Niagaracycle) 375g
Sunlite grips orange (from Niagaracycle) 95g
Jagwire V-brake pads yellow (from Niagaracycle) four 131g
Michelin tubes 26" x 1.45-2.6" (from Niagaracycle) 206g x 2 = 412g
Sunlite headset spacer (from Niagaracycle) 8g
Dimension spoke protector 32 hole 34T (from Niagaracycle) 40g
Sunlite long wheel reflectors (from Niagaracycle) 86g
Sunlite rear reflector (from Niagaracycle) 46g
Wheels Manufacturing clear chainstay protector (from Niagaracycle) 2g
Jagwire S-hooks (from Niagaracycle) 1g?
Sunlite bottle cage yellow (from Niagaracycle) 62g
Sunlite bell blue (from Niagaracycle) 27g
Diamondback BMX frame pads (the long one will be for the touring bike) (from Niagaracycle) 40g
SKS Germany XTRA-DRY and Shockboard 26" white fenders (from Niagaracycle) assuming 260g (see video)


The total weight is 30.8 lbs. The weight with accessories is 32.5 lbs or 14.759kg. The weight of the accessories (fenders, pad set, rear reflector, wheel reflectors, bottle cage, bell, kickstand) is 774g or 1.7 lbs.


I realize that 31.8mm is the new standard for the handlebars and stem. But these parts were accumulated during a period of years where even the steerers went from straight to tapered. And also the wheel standard used to be 9mm QR and now you have 10mm, 12mm, 15mm or 20mm (very confusing, what's going on lol). I originally thought I'd go for 36 spoke wheels but eventually got 32 spoke wheels because it's what I could find in silver with reasonable shipping cost. And if I would have known how cool this bike project would turn out, I would have bought Oury grips instead of the Sunlite grips. Also, if I wanted to reduce the weight a little, I could have bought alloy bars instead of cro-mo, ligher tires and tubes, drop the kickstand and fenders. I could have chosen Manitou Markhor forks as well. But those forks require disc brakes and are more expensive. By the way, the Rockshox 30 Silver I think is the new version of the Rockshox XC 30. The Wheelmaster wheelset might be machine-built but if I ever have to replace the spokes and nipples, I can deal with that later.


The Paul Thumbies is the old design you could slip on, now it's a design you can open and close. The only difference I could see between the Zéfal rim strips and the Schwalbe rim strips I bought for another project is the Schwalbe seem a bit softer and more flexible. I "accidentally" bought some Ritchey rim strips I found thinner if that's something you're looking for. The WTB Volt Comp saddle (142mm) is a semi-firm one I prefer. (I find softer saddles can numb your behind after 12 miles.) I went back and forth between choosing loose or sealed bearings for the headset and eventually went with the Origin8 headset even if it seems to have a plastic top cap. The long BMX frame pad I want to put on my touring bike (bars and stem pad go on this bike).


I also put a list of retailers under the first video as well as ones I've seen (but not ordered from) and some brake pads I liked for my winter bike.


My videos in my (imperfect) French are:


Version Francaise pieces pour monter velo


Mesurer le poids des composants de VTT

hybridbkrdr

I was kind of wishing everything would run smoothly but just to do an update on the my first bike project:


-I found out I had Shimano Ultegra bar-end shifters with bolts of 2 different lengths. The short ones came from Chainreactioncycles and the longer ones came from Niagaracycle. To use the Ultegra shifters on Paul Thumbies on the mountain bike, I found out I needed the longer ones (30mm if I remember correctly). The short ones will be used on my touring bike for the drop bars.


-The Sunlite wheel reflectors almost made me laugh. I once read a review that from an engineer saying he couldn't figure them out. Well, right from the start I saw the curved part of the plastic "hanger" is only like 1mm while my spokes are 2mm. So I took a metal-cutting saw to open up the "semi-holes". Then I realized the plastic isn't strong enough for the metal bolt and started stripping right away. I guess later I'll eventually end up buying longer bolts and "locking" nuts at a hardware store to install them.


-The Sunlite rear reflector says it has a 25.4mm clamp. Since my seatpost is 27.2mm, I decided I'll need a longer bolt for that too.


-The front SKS fender (Shockboard) is almost a mystery to me. There are two plastic parts that form a cylinder you can slide up your fork to install the fender. The only plastic parts that came close to fitting inside my forks are too big. So I used a file to grind down the plastic. I'm not done with that yet and don't know when I'll be done. I might be a bit busy in the next few days.


-Most of parts I bought from Chainreactioncycles I believe are new but I think I know why my Deore V-brakes were $10 each (pair). They looked used when I got them. And the canti bosses on the Rockshox XC30 seemed a bit long so I used black washers to install the brakes on the forks.


-The Schwalbe Range Cruiser tires look and feel great although they're so tight I actually paid a bike shop to install them.


-The Wheels Manufacturing chainstay protector I found out was very thin. It's not a problem but it's thin. (I think I have a Dimensions one in a box that was way thicker.)


-The Zéfal rim strips have to be installed with care so the hole over the valve hole doesn't move while you're handling it. I also had to use a utility knife to make sure there was enough clearance for a Schrader valve. (The RhynoLite/Deore wheelset I only realized later in 26" model is actually Schrader instead of Presta. I prefer Schrader even if it's the "old style".) I also had to buy new tubes for the bike instead of using the ones I showed on video.


-The Sunlite grips I find cool enough although I noticed they're pretty soft to install. So I ended up using a Youtube trick I saw. I used rubbing alcohol to slide them on the bars.


After watching videos on how to install the chain and derailleurs, I had "fun" doing it. The KMC chain was so slippery it slipped several times in my hands while I was trying to install it. And for whatever reason, I had to try several times to install the front derailleur because the bolt didn't seem to want to slide into the hole. I felt like I needed 3 hands to get it done.


I started out by taking the bicycle to a shop to have the headset cups, bottom bracket and cranks installed. Things like putting on the stem, bars, grips, brake levers, saddle, seatpost, seatpost clamp etc. I did myself. I just dropped off the bike at the bike shop so they could install the brake and derailleurs cables, cut the steeing tube and install the top cap.


With the 17" frame, at 5'8" with 83.5cm (almost 32.9") leg length and a shorter torso, I noticed with the high riser bars I have I only needed 1 single 10mm headset spacer with the stem pointing upward. That was the most comfortable position I could find (tried flatter bars and more spacers and even inverted the stem).

hybridbkrdr

I forgot to mention I only painted the Rockshox forks with the reflective paint. It produces a matte finish. It says on the paint you can't pain on galvanized surfaces. Well, I don't even know if I have an anodized frame so since I couldn't tell the difference between galvanized and anodized I didn't paint the frame.


I also found out the trick to installing a cassette is there's a "notch" that's longer than the other ones you have to align.


I also made a mistake in my fist post, the Cannondale stem is 80mm, not 70mm. I still have a comfortable position on it so it's OK.


The missing link on the KMC X8.99 chain is very nice though. Even though I found the chain slippery to install, the missing link feature looks really cool (well, convenient would be more precise).


The Sunlite bell goes on the right side while I prefer a bell that goes on the left. That's not a huge issue though.
I never found out which front derailleur I needed to order (63-66 angle or 66-69 angle). I just ordered whichever one I found on eBay. I feel lucky it worked. There's no chain rubbing on the FD cage.


The Jagwire brake pads are pretty silent on the rims so I'm relieved about that as well.


The total cost to install things: crankset, bottom bracket, headset cups $42; tires $20; derailleur & brake cables, cut steering tube $40. So, the total cost to complete the bike was just over $100 Canadian dollars. I think that's OK for a bike over $1K.


Overall, this is really what I wanted. I know some people could panic thinking why didn't you go for (SLX) disc brakes or (Deore) rapidfire shifters, why 26" wheels instead of 27.5", why 1.75" semi-slick tires instead of 2.1" knobby tires, why a 48T/38T/28T crankset instead of 42T/32T/22T. These are personal choices and I really like the friction shifting and V-brakes for their simplicity, ease of maintenance and durability. I also love the maneuvrability of a 26" wheel bike. I also found climbing uphill is way easier on this bike than my "trash" winter bike. With the 26" wheels, thinner tires and saddle not at maximum height I can sit on the saddle by merely putting my leg up in the air. I find that nice.


Here's a pic before I install the BMX pads, fenders and wheel reflectors/rear reflector.