project frankenbike (1x9 drop bar 26er) is complete - photos

[fivethirtyonepm]

well after a couple of wrong turns with ordering the wrong length forks, i have finally got all the bits to complete the build which i threw together this afternoon (having chickened out of fitting the new headset, so delegating it to those jolly nice chaps at gone biking mad in new milton).

spec reads as follows:

* cannondale caad5 (f900sl) frame - handmade in the usa and very light.
* exotic carbon rigid forks - 29er length to compensate for the headshox geometry frame
* superstar components 1.125 GTO headset with reducer cups (from 1.5)
* On One Midge bars
* On One brown padded handlebar tape
* Cinelli gel anti-vibration insert pads (positioned on drops)
* exotic 80mm stem - i will probably replace this with a 60mm variant
* maxm carbon seatpost
* superstar seat collar
* charge spoon brown saddle
* tektro rl520 long-pull road brake levers
* avid bb7 mtn cable discs
* alligator gold 160mm rotors
* clarkes compressionless braided pre-lubed sealed cables
* blackspire badger freeride crankset
* self-extracting crank bolts and onzo chainring bolts
* blackspire uno veloce 34t chainring
* supeterstar components xcr upper chain device
* shimano xtr rear mech with kcnc jockey wheels
* shimano dura-ace bar end shifter
* sram mid-range 9-speed cassette with sram chain
* shimano 540 spd's
* mavic xc717 disc rims on deore xt hubs with black dt spokes
* a2z cro-mo large lever qr skewera
* michelin wild race'r advanced tubeless tyres (2.2 front, 2.0 rear)
* joes no tubes tubeless system
* gay gold presta valve caps
* charge chainstay protector (cut down)

no idea what it weighs as yet, but it's not too bad. the wheels could be lighter (stans on hope would be good), as could the cranks, saddle and stem.

still some tweaking with bar heights etc, but a quick spin down the road and it's a rocket! can't wait to get it off road.

anyways... pics below...

[Martin.F]

I was expecting something hideous. It actually turns out to be quite nice! What is the intended purpose of this bike?

[fivethirtyonepm]

i already a rather nice turner flux for anything gnarly, and a colnago for road stuff, so this will be used for fast xc work on the mainly flat and dry new forest. it will also double as a pub/town bike.

basically, it is the missing link between the two other bikes.

the handlebars and brake lever position is absolutely fantastic... unlike with either flats or drops, when your hands are on the hoods, there is absolutely no rotation of your wrist from your forearm, and when you are on the drops (as you would be when descending), your hands are forced hard into the bars which increases the security.

the large front tyre (2.20 front against 2.0 rear - running tubeless to allow for lower pressures offroad), padded bar tape, cinelli gel pads, carbon fork and carbon seatpost all help to make it very comfy to ride on all terrain.

[limba]

I was expecting something hideous. It actually turns out to be quite nice! What is the intended purpose of this bike?

Me too. Odd but interesting bike. I like it.

[Kastrup]

I quite like it aswell. Reminds of Makoys dropbar mtb i saw some time ago