skinheadjc
Retro Guru
A little while back i had the idea to build an XC trail/race bike that it would be as light and high spec as possible for as little money as possible, using ebay, bits i had lying around and trawling the online forums and shops for the best deals.
I then drew up a spec sheet, all of the items i wanted with no compromises. I worked out that with a little luck i could scrape together about £500 by selling odds and sods on ebay. Number 1 on the list was a carbon frame and i bought an old Alan semi carbon (3lbs dead on). However, after building this into a single speed i decided that i may want front sus eventually so i looked around for a 'modern' frame (sorry guys).
With a bit more trawling i won a JBC carbon (1300g) which was a bit of a bargain at £195 as it came with the seatpost and headset.
Its been a few months but i've just got the last bit being delivered tomorrow (the rear wheel).
The result is the spec sheet below:
frame. JBC Carbon: £195 (ebay)
fork. Carbon Cycles Excite 44.5cm: £70 (ebay)
headset. Woodman: £- (came whith frame)
stem. WTB TXC: £10 (stif)
Bar. Easton Monkey Lite CNT SL: £25 (private sale)
Grips. THE £8 (chain reaction Flood sale)
seatpost. Control Tech £- (came with frame)
Saddle. Fizix Gobi Wing Flex £- (already had)
bb. UN71 sq taper £6 (ebay)
Cranks. Middle Burn RS7's £12 (ebay)
Rings. Middle Burn 20,32,42T £36 (private sales, thanks wynne)
Cring Bolts Steel £- (thanks to Bike UK Bristol)
rear mech. XT Shaddow £22 (ebay)
Front Mech XT £25 (merlin Cycles)
Cables Goodridge Carbon £- (already in tool box)
Shifters XT rear / temporary Deore Front £35 (crc)
Brakes Xtr calipers, XT levers Goodridge Hoses £140 (ebay/crc)
Discs 160mm XT £30 (ebay)
Chain Sram PG90 £- (in tool Box)
Rear Cassette XTR £- (in tool box)
Wheels XT hubs on Mavic 717 Black rims £140 pair (merlin cycles)
Tyres Conti Speed King Semi Sonics £- (Spare set)
Tubes Unknown £-(tool box)
Total £746
The best bargains were the cranks, i bought them on ebay listed as Cranks with E13 bash, and recognised them as RS7's, i bought them with the bash and a chain ring for £26, sold the Bash for £14 so £12 RS7's BARGAIN!
Its looking like the best value for money bike i've ever bought!
still looking for a bargain pair of forks though (and the ££ to pay for them)
I then drew up a spec sheet, all of the items i wanted with no compromises. I worked out that with a little luck i could scrape together about £500 by selling odds and sods on ebay. Number 1 on the list was a carbon frame and i bought an old Alan semi carbon (3lbs dead on). However, after building this into a single speed i decided that i may want front sus eventually so i looked around for a 'modern' frame (sorry guys).
With a bit more trawling i won a JBC carbon (1300g) which was a bit of a bargain at £195 as it came with the seatpost and headset.
Its been a few months but i've just got the last bit being delivered tomorrow (the rear wheel).
The result is the spec sheet below:
frame. JBC Carbon: £195 (ebay)
fork. Carbon Cycles Excite 44.5cm: £70 (ebay)
headset. Woodman: £- (came whith frame)
stem. WTB TXC: £10 (stif)
Bar. Easton Monkey Lite CNT SL: £25 (private sale)
Grips. THE £8 (chain reaction Flood sale)
seatpost. Control Tech £- (came with frame)
Saddle. Fizix Gobi Wing Flex £- (already had)
bb. UN71 sq taper £6 (ebay)
Cranks. Middle Burn RS7's £12 (ebay)
Rings. Middle Burn 20,32,42T £36 (private sales, thanks wynne)
Cring Bolts Steel £- (thanks to Bike UK Bristol)
rear mech. XT Shaddow £22 (ebay)
Front Mech XT £25 (merlin Cycles)
Cables Goodridge Carbon £- (already in tool box)
Shifters XT rear / temporary Deore Front £35 (crc)
Brakes Xtr calipers, XT levers Goodridge Hoses £140 (ebay/crc)
Discs 160mm XT £30 (ebay)
Chain Sram PG90 £- (in tool Box)
Rear Cassette XTR £- (in tool box)
Wheels XT hubs on Mavic 717 Black rims £140 pair (merlin cycles)
Tyres Conti Speed King Semi Sonics £- (Spare set)
Tubes Unknown £-(tool box)
Total £746
The best bargains were the cranks, i bought them on ebay listed as Cranks with E13 bash, and recognised them as RS7's, i bought them with the bash and a chain ring for £26, sold the Bash for £14 so £12 RS7's BARGAIN!
Its looking like the best value for money bike i've ever bought!
still looking for a bargain pair of forks though (and the ££ to pay for them)