Introducing Niki, pritchet74's MTB build

[pritchet74]

How do you shorten the fork like that? Is it easy to do?

[über-goober]

The Marzocchi mechanics did the modification at their booth at Mammoth nationals a long time ago.

I don't know how rocky your trails are, but the bike is really nice on a rigid fork.

[RTW]

Pritch, my beautiful Klein, from 2002 was designed for a 80mm fork. I have had two different Rock Shox Rebas on it, both of which you shorten to 85mm travel by moving a spacer inside. Not sure if this is still the way they are built. This is, however close enough for travel / length.

Rock Shox are great forks, and the Reba is excellent value for money.

The Ritchey BreakAway has a 100mm SID on it. Not ridden it yet, but just packed it for its first trip.

[Egregious]

I realize this thread is most likely dead, but that's a gorgeous frame. I have a '96 Merlin also -- I think yours is the only other one I've ever seen. I hope you've gotten it up and running.

[Ypsylon]

As Andy Coggan once said about Boardman's superman position in cycling:

"Superman is not dead, he's just forced into hiding"

Now that I think about it, the UCI and have quite a few things in common.

[pritchet74]

Nope, not dead at all. Actually the build is abou to start build steam again. Just last weekend I purchased some Crank Brothers Egg Beater 11 pedals. I have been waiting for the 2013 forks to come out and it appears that has just happened. I am just trying to decide whether to stick with SRAM grip shift or to go with Di2. Being that I suck at adjusting derailleurs I really love Di2. I actually already have an extra Di2 rear derailleur sitting around.

So, more to come soon....

[Fibre-Lyte]

The 2013 Rockshox forks are definitely available....at least they are in my little town

Now if only work wouldn't get in the way of a bike build!

[pritchet74]

Well, no 2013 fork for me. I just scored a new 2012 Reba for under $300.

Other items purchased this week:
Crank Brothers Egg Beater 11 pedals
SRAM XX Rear Derailleur
Sidi Dominator shoes

The only items left look to be handlebars, cranks, and a front derailleur!

[Boonen]

We need some pictures here Pritch
Looking forward to see where this is going!

[Fibre-Lyte]

Wow, that's some nice kit! Love those pedals

[pritchet74]

New arrivals today...

Lighter than expected. That's just pure awesomeness.

[pritchet74]

Almost forgot these lil' guys


So all that's really left is handlebars and cranks. For bars I will go with one of the light offerings that FWB has in stock.

For cranks, well, I still ain't sure. I kinda wanted to go old school and get some Coda Magic Motorcycle cranks, but I don't know if I could get 10s chainrings to work on it. Also, those are only in 175mm and I really want 170's. My other top choice was the XX narrow q-factor 2x cranks, but I have to take some measurements to see if it will even fit on the frame. Of course I really want an SRM, but hey, I am a baller on a budget. Need something affordable.

[Ypsylon]

So, how's it going?

Maybe you should just put all the pieces together and take a pic. That might make it easier to decide on a crank.

I pulled out my MTB a couple of times over the last weeks and it was a lot of fun, even though it's really muddy right now. I need to figure out what to do with that bike, too. The fork is just shot, which is not a surprise, considering it's 7 or 8 years old.

I wonder if I ever started a thread on that one.

[pritchet74]

Cranks have been purchased. The only thing I have to get are handlebars. Just need the time to call FWB and order one...

[pritchet74]