Last parts arrived from Germany yesterday (XT Hubs with RM-17 Dark Anno Rims and some XT Comp Pedals, shipped superfast by WoodyUK) so I made an effort and got it built up for a shakedown ride.
The build wasn't straight forward like i'd hoped as the supplied seatpost didn't fit and the USE shim I had was too big but I decided a 29.4 shim was needed and ordered one up from CRC. This seemed a bit loose and require the seat Q/R to be cranked up quite a lot but this could be to do with the obvious deformation that was present at the top of the seat tube.
The next problem involved a badly stripped thread in one of the XC Pro thumbies that were supplied with the bike, so out came the drills and taps and it was opened out to M6 and the head of an M6 allen bolt shaved down to fit in the recess.
My headset press was then found in one of the transport boxes from the house move so the NOS headset could be pressed into place and the Prestige bars were removed from the Claudbutler (which is getting an USE Bar and ends setup to match the seatpost next week) and fitted in the massive 145mm Evo sized stem.
The rest of the build was straightforward with a Shimano sealed BB fitted and all the other parts going on with no bother. I changed tack at the end and fitted a Brown Charge Spoon saddle rather than the Rolls I originally planned as I had nothing that suited the Brown Spoon and the Rolls just didn't look right on this racy frame.
I wanted to do the shakedown before winter really hit so that the parts that need a re-paint can go off in the knowledge that I won't be swapping them out (I was really unsure about the 145mm stem). So what did I learn, well firstly the cassette needs replacing as it slips in all but top and bottom gear (hey ho it was a bonus freebie and I have a spare hardly used XT cassette anyway), secondly the chainrings might also need replacement too but we'll see once the sprockets are changed tomorrow.
It was more comfortable than I thought it would be (I found my old 1990 Pathfinder too long and stretched and it did my neck in) and I didn't feel too far forward over the bars, the slipping gears put the kybosh on a long ride (OK the cold might have had a little to do with it as well) but I can now confidently get the stem re-painted all ready for next years Retro national series as this will be my bike of choice next year. The seatpost didn't slip and the SE cantis work really well (I stuggled with setup on my Raleigh team badly).
Might get the cassette swapped and take it to Swinley tomorrow for a bit of a run.
Here's a couple of post ride pics I took in the garage with my phone, will get some decent ones up when I find the battery charger for the DSLR.


Frame: Muddyfox Tig Welded Tange Prestige Oversize
Fork: Tange Prestige Tig Welded
Headset: JL Evo Alloy
Stem: Zoom Competition Nickel plated
Handlebar: Tange Prestige
Grips: Ritchey WCS
Barends: Onza Ski Bend
Brakes: Suntour XC SE
Brake Pads: Suntour
Brake Cables: Jagwire
Cantilever cable hangers: Black Alloy (from Racerx)
Brake Levers: Suntour XC Pro/Comp Black 2 Finger
Shifters: Suntour XC Pro 7's
Front Derailleur: Suntour XC Comp
Rear Derailleur: Suntour XC Comp
Derailleur Cables: Jagwire Teflon Coated
Cassette: Shimano HG41
Chain: SRAM
Cranks: Suntour XC Comp
Bottom Bracket: Shimano Sealed
Pedals: Shimano XT M735
Hub Skewers: Shimano XT
Rims: Araya RM-17 Dark Anno
Hubs: Shimano XT M730/732
Spokes: Stainless DB
Tyres: IRC Mythos XC
Tubes: Halfords
Saddle: Charge Spoon
Seatpost: USE Polished
Seatpost Binder: Unknown
Weight: 27.2lbs