Sinister Ridge rides again

I acquired this frame in a swap on RB from IWish here http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=196817&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

I wanted to build up a winter thrasher that was cash neutral, so this bike is made up of parts that I already had, traded on RB or purchased from the proceeds of surplus parts sold on RB.

I already had a Magura Thor with 140mm travel - this is borderline long enough for the frame, but it had a very short steerer, so I had to buy a Hope internal headset top cup.

The only other bits purchased were a new shadow plus XT rear mech and 10 speed Saint shifter, and flat pedals. Total new spend has been about £150.

The rest came out of the parts bin.

Spec as follows:

Frame: Sinister Ridge (2006?)

Fork: Magura Thor 2010

Headset: Hope internal top cup/FSA bottom cup
Stem: Thomson x4 80mm zero rise
Handlebar: Race Face Next carbon, flat 630mm
Grips: Kona lock on
Barends: NA

Brakes: Hope Mono M4
Brake rotors: Magura 180mm F/160mm R

Shifters: Saint 10 speed
Front Derailleur: NA
Rear Derailleur: XT shadow plus
Derailleur Cables: Gore
Cassette: XT 11-36
Chain: Mavic 10 speed
Cranks: Truvativ basic jobbies 170mm 104bcd
Crank Bolts: ?
Chainrings: Truvativ 32 tooth steel with Hope bashring
Chainring bolts: ?
Bottom Bracket: Shimano UN52
Pedals: Nukeproof electron

Hub Skewers: Maxle front/XT rear qr
Rims: Stans Olympic
Hubs: Hope Pro 2
Nipples: DT Swiss 14mm prolock black
Spokes: DT Swiss Comp black
Tyres: Geax Datura tubeless
Tubes: NA

Saddle: Ancient Selle Italia gelflow
Seatpost: Forca dropper post
Seatpost Binder: Hope qr

Weight: something around the 27 pound mark


It's great, a lot of fun to ride and it's the bike I hoped my much more expensive Nicolai Argon was going to be. I have even learned to ride up steps - up to about a dozen now depending on steepness.

I've gone back to flats after 20 years of spds and I'm enjoying them.

Very nice, I enjoy a long forked hardtail (love mine) and love the look of those sinister frames, awesome bike

A wider bar would make all the difference in the world.

I did have a 680mm bar on it but most of the tracks I ride are narrow and through the woods so I went back to the 630mm wide bar. If I was off to serious big mountains then I'd stick the wide bars on again.

630mm...man that takes me back.
Smallest i run now is a 750mm on my Evil Imperial and a 800mm on my Stab.

My arms don't stretch that wide.

When you were still allowed to use flat bars in the 3 peaks cyclo cross we used to think that the flatty users were cheating a bit - and they were only allowed a maximum bar width of 500mm. Luxury.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQmVqxVJvao

For an exmaple, look about 5.50 minutes in.

Very nice. Seems small, what size is the frame?

long travel hardtail, all the bike you ever need

Love it- great looking bike. Impressive parts bin!

Thanks gents. Yes, the parts bin had built up and I had lots of things that I didn't want to sell so I just had to get a frame to put them on.

My riding style isn't extreme - but I'm pleased how well the Stans Olympics are holding up.

The frame isn't so small. It's a 17.5" centre to top seat tube and 23" top tube (actual) or 22" virtual horizontal.