Build for Cubester's birthday

[Cubist]

I've been pestered to build a bike for Cubester. He is mad keen on a particular bike, and hasset about raising enough budget to build a good spec MTB. I won't give too much away, as I would also like to document the build stages.

I've spent the last three weeks researching and scouring for bargain/discount components, and at the end of last week was ready to put the first orders in. The full build will be around the £1200 mark, with Cubester selling everything he owns to raise enough cash for me to start. The first of the boxes have arrived, so we'll start with some opening and teasing:

 

[Cubist]

Can you tell what it is yet?

 

[Cubist]

It's gone to the LBS tonight to have the BB faced and fitted, and the fork fitted. The rest will be added once I've clamped it into my luvverly new Lidl workstand. (I bought the last one in Huddersfield yesterday, )

Another box of goodies from CRC:

 

[Cubist]

Well it's back from the LBS, fork and Chainset fitted:

The stem might be the last clue you'll need!

Fashion statment? Or jkust good kit. Everybody's raving about double and bash

 

[Cubist]

Only had a few hours to spare that evening, so the wheels were the next thing to go together:

 

[Cubist]

Front mech

Then rear, cables are tomorrow's job!

COuldn't resist geting a feel of what it'll look like

 

[Cubist]

Check these bad boys!

 

[Cyclist33]

Let's just hope that in a year's time he's not just using it to pootle off to the shops and back for a big bottle of cheap Laser.

 

[Cubist]

Let's just hope that in a year's time he's not just using it to pootle off to the shops and back for a big bottle of cheap Laser.

No chance.



A bit of skilful and dedicated parenting and he only drinks White Lightening......

 

[fossyant]

Looking good - don't drop any grease on the carpet you here..............

 

[Cyclist33]

Nice bike tho. What's with the forks?
stu

 

[ChrisKH]

I can only say what a lucky son Cubester is to have you for a Dad. Lovely looking bike.

 

[ColinJ]

I can only say what a lucky son Cubester is to have you for a Dad.  Lovely looking bike.

Agreed. I'd make sure that he keeps a close eye on it and have it well insured because I can imagine it being a thief-magnet!

 

[Cubist]

Nice bike tho. What's with the forks?
stu

They're 140mm big hitters. The build is an all-mountain hardtail, designed to take big drops and rocky stuff. The sort of stuff his current XC style hardtail will suffer on! I got them seriously reduced. The LBS owner bought them to put on his own bike and in a moment of serious stupidity cut the steerer to 180m, thus rendering them completely useless for his bike. I came along mentioning the new build and of course we soon worked out that they would fit the 4.5 inch headtube on the Ragley. So I end up with a £650 RRP fork at £400 fitted. Lucky me.

 

[Cubist]

I can only say what a lucky son Cubester is to have you for a Dad. Lovely looking bike.

I have wanted to build a bike since I was a teenager. This is the first chance I have to try my hand at it, so I'm actually every bit as thrilled as he is.

I was also moved by Mishun H Sugworth's gratitude for his first bike: If you are a father I challenge you not to be moved by it too!
http://homepage.mac.com/pfellows1/thisiswhy/stripsforweb/302july09thanksdad.jpg