Hi from a newbie!

[The Rookie]

Hi, just joined the forums, I used to ccyle a lot as a kid, but now my daughters are older (12-15) and want to go out on their bikes more I'm back in the saddle, I had a horrible 'mountain bike' which will no longer cut keeping up with the eldest (need all the help I can get!) so having picked up a Giant ally frame and Suntour NCX forks I'm building something that will give me a chance! Most is going well thanks to ebay, rode it for the first time last night, but still need to sort the gears and a saddle post, its a real bitsa as I'm on a budget but hopefully riding it will be as much fun as buidling it!

Breif spec of parts to date!
Giant 'Rincon' ally frame - XL (I'm only 5'10"!)
Suntour NCX forks (exact spec unknown, coil and HS lockout) both from the local tip's recycling (no pun intended) centre
Front no-name wheel from ebay
160mm front disc from ebay
'Zoom' (yuck) cable front caliper from a box of bike bits bought from Woolies when it was going bust
Rear wheel, Shimano SLS (?) hub and mavic rim from the tip
Pedals from Woolies BobB
All Cables from Woolies BobB or my old bike
Rear brakes will be Shimano V's (added in place of the horrible pressed steel V's on my old bike) once I get the screw in pivots.
Ally riser bars (no name) frm ebay
'Zoom' stem from my nephews old bike until I can get something nicer to use - I need to keep the bars high/close as I suffer wrist problems.
Front and rear mechanism are Shimano (can't recall spec) and came on the frame (as did the chain)
Levers and shifters are Shimano combi items which I like, although will have to go if I upgrade to hydraulics!

To finish it I need seatpost (why does it have to be 30.8mm!), and see which of my 3 available saddles will fit/be most comfy, finish the rear brakes and sort the shifts, then setup the preload on the fork.

Wish me luck keeping up with the girls! (the eldest wants to convert her V's to cable discs using the other caliper and the forks from the Woolies BobB as well now!)

Simon

 

[Dayvo]

Hello The Rookie! And welcome to CC!

Hopefully you'll feel at home here and post as much nonsense as I most of the others do!

Lots of good advice and tips to be had, and plenty of laughs and tears.

 

[rich p]

Welcome aboard. How much are you going to have to spend on your mongrel?!

BTW, I took my driving test in Leamington Spa. In those days there was only one STOP sign and barely a hill which made 2 of the elements easier!

 

[The Rookie]

Thanks guys, Budget is as small as possible, currently spent about £55 plus my old bike (value about £20 at most!), so keeping it sensible, weight is quite good at 29lb right now (the Giant is quite a 'big boned' frame!) got the rear mech working sweet last night, front is giving trouble....

Shimano SIS mech, Shimano lever, set the lower stop OK, upper stop is past the point it works on, so ignored, but if I set enough cable tension to get up into top, it won't drop back down without relieveing it and vice versa, mech is quite worn so will compare with the brand new and older working ones I have to see if that is the cause, otherwise is there a good 'how to' guide to setting it up please?

Simon