Wife's 2012 Juli Build Thread.
 

Oh, no! What have I done... I am building a new 26" full suspension bike. Yet clearly 29er or 27.5 is where all the cool kids are at. Guess it'll have to do. :D

This will be my wife's first MTB ever. She rode no BMX, no dirtbikes, no nothing as a youth. But she also never was on a road bike until 3 years ago, and now she's a[strike]n old[/strike] pro. I think she can do this as long as she eases into it and just walks through an obstacle she isn't confident with.

Anyway, parts should start arriving today. I'll post build pics here over the next week or two.

Build list - Grand total $1835

• Frame - 2012 Santa Cruz Juliana Small Powder Blue (women's Superlight 26")
• Shock - Fox Float CTD Evolution
• Fork - Manitou Marvel Pro 120mm (tapered, QR)
• Headset - Cane Creek 40 mixed taper
• Wheels - NOS 2009 Mavic Crossmax SLR Centerloc
• Cranks - SRAM X5 GXP 44/33/22 170mm
• Rear Derailleur - SRAM X7 9spd long cage
• Front Derailleur - SRAM X9 3x9
• Shifters - NOS SRAM X0 3x9 Twister
• Cassette - SRAM PG-980 11-34
• Chain - KMC X9SL Pink edition
• Seatpost - Thomson Elite setback 30.9 (had this sitting around)
• Stem - Spike Spank 50mm Blue
• Brakes - Shimano XT
• Handlebars - Deity Dirty30 Purple
• Tires - Specialized Ground Control 26x2.1F / Fast Trak 2.0 R
• Saddle - Bontrager Affinity RL White/Blue
• Pedals - Wellgo MG-1 Silver (debated white..)
• Cable housing - Jagwire L3 White
• Grips - TBD

*NOS = new old stock

Almost all the parts are here and the frame should arrive Monday. The stem is gorgeous... I want one for my bike!

I hope it looks good when I'm done-- I've never tried to put this much color on a bike before. :lol:

I have the same bike (2012 Juliana 26 powder blue) only in a medium frame. I also have an older 2006 Superlight. I've upgraded the Juliana quite a bit (new shock, fork, cranks, shifters, brakes, handlebar, seat post, and custom wheels - my total was closer to $4500) and have to say its an awesome, awesome bike. I've tried 29ers and am not as happy with them as my Juliana. With the build you did she should be very happy!

Not certain about those purple handlebars and all the other color though (I just stuck with Chris King blue on the headset, spacers, hubs - everything else is black)... too much bling maybe?:eek: You do want to keep it from looking too much "Hello Kitty" from Walmart...

Also ps... I found the handlebars that came with the bike way too wide and uncomfortable for me... I think those diety's are made for down hill?

Cool! I am glad that you like your bike. I think it'll be a great bike for her as well.

I am glad that I can build them myself and what I'm really doing is taking advantage of the fact that 26" is not very popular and there are bargains to be had. If I were building a more popular bike, like a long-travel 29er, I don't think I could build one as cheap as buying a complete bike. But it does work this time. :)

29ers are the current fad... check alot of the mountain bike forums... people have tried 29ers and are going back to 26ers. Bike companies need to come up with new concepts in order to keep moving product. It just bothers me that Santa Cruz has bit the 29er fad hard... I am glad I bought my bike in 2012 when there were still 26ers. Have you noticed that as of 2013, Juliana is a separate company and the bike is now only offered (except for XS frames) in a 29? One piece of bling you are missing is a "Juliana" seat post collar. I had to get one myself!

BTW these are the grips I have on the bike:

http://www.jensonusa.com/Grips-/Cran...-Lock-On-Grips

Just the right amount of bling...

I've ridden 29ers and I don't like them, but I'm 6'0" and I am fine with other people my size liking them. In fact my brother-in-law's new 29er fits him GREAT.. because he's 6'6" and he bought a 23" frame, the first time in his life a bike has truly fit him right.

I did very specifically look for a 26" MTB for my wife, because she's 5'5". Her road bike is at the limit of 700c geometry-- it almost needs 650B wheels-- but she doesn't have to negotiate tight switchbacks on it.

Oh, I am. Best part of the build so far :D. Shame we couldn't find him some magenta hubs or something to go with.

Hmmm . . . maybe the seatpost binder?

http://www.modernbike.com/images/Pro...2126196735.jpg




Now if we could just find some NOS Sunline half-waffle grips in, say, lime green, haha.

http://images.chainlove.com/images/i...0019/SUPGN.jpg

29ers were designed originally with tall guys in mind - for them, it makes sense. I have a group of guy friends over 6'2" and they all ride comfortably on 29ers...

For you wife I would at one time recommended the Juliana but now it only comes in a 29 unless you get an XS frame. Your wife probably needs a small...still some companies out there that have not jumped the shark and got full 29... thank goodness if I ever need a new bike...

Damn, wish I'd found that magenta seatpost binder! My own fault for not using Craigx3's thread for advice. :lol:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=330514

It has some cool touches, I dig it. Getting the headset installed tomorrow then I'm building the rest.

that color is nice.

sonuva... I was shipped 2 rear wheels. this probably rules out a shakedown ride this weekend...

Just for reference here is a photo of my bike:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=330753

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=330754

^hot

Thanks Pamestique-- I think I have more confidence in the colors I picked, seeing your blue hubs and headset.

got a few hours' work in tonight. going to need to cut a lot of that rear brake line... more than a foot, it looks like.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=330944http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=330945

Hoping that front wheel shows up tomorrow or Saturday, and the correct FD as well. (Why the hell is top swing the same as low clamp?)

The brake hose is ridiculously long front and rear. I guess Shimano was covering their bases in case someone puts XT brakes on a size XL downhill bike...

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=331141

Got the replacement front derailleur, installed chain and tuned the shifting.

Still no front wheel... UPS scanned it out but it actually wasn't on the truck! Kind of scary that can happen. Maybe today?

Done! Should be able to get some outdoor pics tomorrow which I'll put in the big thread.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=332437

We did a short shakedown ride around the neighborhood and it passed with flying colors.

Oh btw, 27 lb 2oz. That is identical to my bike with heavy-arse Geax Saguaros on it.