I would first like to thank all of you here for indulging me and answering my stupid quesitons for the last couple of months.

Well here is the parts list. I came up with of parts group based on a combination of advice from this board and my budget. I hope you are all proud of what you have help to create. I know I am very exited to get the bike.

Changed Specs **

Frame: Custom Columbus Niobium
Bar: FSA K-force Flat carbon - 31.8
Stem: FSA OS-115
Headset: FSA Orbit X
Grips**: Titec Plutos
Brakes: Magura Marta SL 160 mm
Shifters: Paul Thumbies with Ultegra 9sp - tuned
FD: Chorus CT - tuned
RD: XTR - tuned
Crank: Middleburn RS8 Duo
BB: American Classic + ExtraLite Bolts
Chain: Shimano XTR
Cogset: XTR 11-34
Wheels: FSA XC - 300
Tires: Ritchey WCS Z.E.D. Race 26x2.1
Tubes: Maxxis Flyweight
QRs: Racebolts titanium bolt-ons
Saddle: Flite Genuine Gel
Seatpost: USE Sumo Carbon 400mm
Pedals: Crank Bros Egg Beater C
Fork: Manitou Skareb Platinum
Der Cables: Power Cordz
Seat Collar: Rocky Mountain 30mm
Water Bottle Cage: Minoura Dura Cage
Bar Ends: UltraEnds

I also got a variety of aluminum and titanium bolts for all over the bike because I spent too much time hanging out on this board - you guys are a bad influence on my bank account.

I expect the bike to weigh about 22 lbs (10 kilos) which is 8-10 lbs lighter than my Yo Eddy with Campy and Suntour and original Manitou - plus the brakes and fork might actually work.

I am incredibly excited to get my bike and it should be finished on July 7th.

I think everything on the bike is pretty light except the wheels, the pedals and the seat.

The wheels were cheap and I have only ridden a road bike for the past few years, so I thought I would destroy a $300 dollar set of wheels and upgrade in a season or two.

The pedals are heavy because I used clips and straps before. I am not sure I will like the eggbeaters because of the incredibly small platform. If I decide they are good I will move the chromoly ones to my road bike and get some ti's for the new MTB.

The seat I have used before and I know I can sit on it. I will see how much time I am actually in the saddle and if I think I can go lighter I will move the Gel saddle to my road bike.

I will post pictures as the parts show up.

Thanks again for all of your help and I look forward to posting about rides on my new ride!

Here is a pic of my frame. It just came out of the jig today and brazing will begin tomorrow or Friday.

Are you going to do the fillet brazing yourself, or is a famebuilder doing it for you?

Professional frame builder.

She's a beaut elephant, be sure to post lots of pictures of the finished product.

Nice work Elephant A clean and classy finish

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Used to race....got too wrinkly and old Updated: Racing again! Thought this was unlikely! Eventually, I may even have a decent race!

Here is a pic of my bike with some of my parts and some shop parts just to test brake alignment, chain line, etc.

Those are my wheels, tires, brakes, cranks, fork and stem.

Now it is off for paint.

Besides the fact that the picture makes me dizzy, what a beautiful bike:) Congrats on a first-class build.

V.v. nice bike! I do love a classic steel hardtail.

It'll be interesting to hear what the final weight is. 22lbs actually sounds a bit pessimistic to me; from the spec I would have thought 20-21lb was in the ball park.

The small platform of the 'Beaters isn't a problem as long as you have sufficiently rigid shoes. I'm using Spec Carbon Pros and clicked in I can't tell the difference between my SLs and my mate's Candys.

Wal

I am a pessimist! Lighter would be great, but my old bike was 30+ lbs so 22lbs is pretty exciting.

Also that is good news about the pedals. I am getting Sidi shoes so I hope they are stiff enough.

Nice looking bike coming together. What's the head angle? It looks nice and slack (a bonus on the downhills). She should be a joy to ride.

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2001 Bianchi SL-2 Reparto Corse
2006 Rocky Mountain ETSX 70
2006 Scott Genius RC-LTD
2007 Rocky Mountain Element 70

It is set to 71.5 HTA with a 450mm ride height fork and a 73 STA.

So I guess not so slack, but I have the Skareb fork with travel adjustment so in the picture (in the above post) it is riding at 480mm so the head tube angle is about 70.25.

I am really excited to get my bike. I spend too much time here looking at everyone elses rides and I really want to get mine. I am sick of riding on the road or on my rollers.

The next update will be next week when all tuning parts arrive.

Since you asked about geometry, here is the CAD:

Here is my tuned der. Sorry, I do not have a scale.

New pics!

It will be built tomorrow and I will submit more pics on Sunday - after it has some dirt on it!

And more pics!

Some detail and the fork recoated to match the matte black frame.