"Moon Blue" 1998 Orange Clockwork

[Captain Stupido]

Not so much a build thread as a "built" thread - this has taken longer than I'd planned due to the usual issues that old parts can throw up, all too boring to document, although I did post a couple of times with issues/questions - so thanks to all who helped!

Frame is ex-Racingsnake, ex-Spibblo and was bought off here in autumn. This is my second '98 Clocky, the first is at the link below. The grey one is really the bike that got me into MTB riding proper - I loved riding it so much that I had to stop myself from making "upgrades" and leave it exactly as it was. Well, it's had a new chain.

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=359549&hilit=c16r+1992

Ignore what's written in the thread - I'm now fairly convinced that it's not a '97 C16R but a 1998 Clockwork. Anyway... rather than risk ruining my first one I did the only sensible thing and built another.



Frame: 1998 Orange Clockwork
Fork: Pace RC36
Headset: FSA Orbit X
Stem: No name steel
Handlebar: RSP Titanium
Grips: etc.
Brakes: Shimano Deore XT M739
Brake Pads: Ritchey (blue)
Brake Levers: Avid Speed Dial 5
Shifters: Gripshift SRT-600
Front Derailleur: Shimano ST-X
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Deore XT M739
Cassette: Shimano Acera CS-HG41
Chain: KMC X-8
Cranks: Deore LX M567 175mm
Crank Bolts: Generic stainless allen key
Chainrings: Real Designs 48T, Stronglight 38T, Shimano 28T (alloy)
Chainring bolts: Lite Pro
Bottom Bracket: Sunrace 78x113mm
Pedals: DMR Bikes V8
Rims: Alexrims ACE 18
Hubs: Novatec A141SB / A162SB
Tyres: Panaracer Fire XC Pro / Specialized Fast Trak LK
Tubes: Vittoria Ultralite
Saddle: Selle Italia Flite TI
Seatpost: Orange
Seatpost Binder: Orange
Weight: ?

So far I'm really pleased with how it's come out, having taken it on one almighty shakedown "exercise" ride over varied, hilly terrain, green lanes, rutted woodland paths, fords etc. It performed brilliantly! A couple of minor issues to sort, mainly chainline related I think, may well post on them in due course when I get round to fiddling with it.

Generally I'm pretty happy with the spec it's ended up in and I've got no plans to make major changes. It's remarkably different in feel to the grey/silver one - much more solid feeling if a little less lively. I'm putting this mainly down to the wider tyres and stiffer stem/bar setup, but also the riding position is different, stem is slightly longer etc... It's amazing how different two very similar bikes can feel.

Will add some more pics when the sun shines - but as you can see the bike is muddy already :mrgreen:

 

[brocklanders023]

Re:

Nice build.

 

[Captain Stupido]

Re:

Well... I’d planned to swap the forks with a nicer second set of RC36 Evos. The better set had a slightly too short steerer so I was going to swap that around.

I’d also noticed some slight looseness from the front so was going to investigate that.

Turns out that the steerer has taken a fair bit of abuse given that this has only really had one decent shakedown ride... You can see a groove in the picture which would coincide roughly with the top of the headset.

I can only guess that the stem bolt wasn’t doing a proper job of holding everything tight. It was a karma jobbie and although nice the single pinch bolt showed signs of over tightening in the past. I’d done it up pretty tight.

So I have declared the long pace steerer and the no-name stem unfit for purpose.

It’s always possible that I missed something but it’s once bitten twice shy with the stem, so if anyone wants it, karma, drop me a PM.

Anyway, I’m actually really pleased with the look of the bike now. I think the Manitous fitted are 1999, and they might not have the cred of the Paces but they add nicely to the rainbow vibe and they worked well when I used them previously. I’ll cut down the steerer once I’m happy with the setup.

Kids are saying I need a green saddle and purple pedals now. :mrgreen:

 

[Paul R]

looks great lucky you spotted the steerer

 

[Captain Stupido]

Re:

Did a little battling with bottom brackets and chainsets this afternoon in an attempt to get the chainline spot on and the shifting working nice. Settled on a 107mm UN52 and switched over to a standard 4 bolt LX chainset as the other one had a worn/enlarged square hole and wouldn’t play nicely with the other bits...

It’s frustrating setting up indexed front gears - it’s been a while as I usually use thumbies or otherwise non-indexed shifting on the front. Position of the mech is more critical, so is chainline, I fiddled for ages and in the end accepted compromise...

Also cleaned up the threads on the crud bosses (must have been filled with mud etc) and fitted a crud guard and a shark tooth type thing.

Took it for a ride and it is much better. I actually find the Manitous much more planted and stable feeling than the RC36s.

But I’m sworn off front indexing. 7 speed shimano with thumbies is the pinnacle for me. I do like 97/98 bikes cos V-brakes and aheadsets were a real improvement, but they should have left the drivetrain alone... When I rebuild the silver/grey one it’s going to be a parts era mash up as it was before. In fact I probably should have just left it alone...

 

[Captain Stupido]

More change... and it looked so nice in that first picture... :facepalm:

But more important is function. Since I finished building up my Giant Cadex, it's become my go-to back road / green lane go anywhere bike. The blue Clocky is the bike I chuck in the boot and take for a quick blast around the forest. On these rides it hasn't left the middle ring... so I've gone all retro-mod and ditched the other two.

I've only ridden it round the block so far, but so far so good, it's a cheap mod with a chinese narrow/wide ring and scruffy truvativ cranks. Chainline has worked out well.

No more having to put up with the chain rubbing on the front mech at extremes, we've lost some weight and I can use the LX chainset my C16R... it's a win-win. :mrgreen:

Next up I'm going to ditch the Manitous... but don't hold your breath!

 

[Paul R]

very simplistic

 

[Captain Stupido]

Next up I'm going to ditch the Manitous... but don't hold your breath!

As I was saying...



...Dirty bike, shiny forks. Couldn't resist these NOS lovelies. Lightweight they ain't but hopefully they'll be an upgrade on the tired Manitous all the same. Pretty happy with the colour anyway!