Right then

Getting to the point where a new bike is on the cards. My 456 works very well but its more suited to throwing down trails rather than long distance bikepacking.

Looking for something:
29er to help cover the miles
bikepacking friendly
reasonably priced
single speed friendly for winters in Yorkshire

Any suggestions?

You know this is coming ... 29" slot dropout Inbred ticks all the boxes or maybe a swap-out Scandal?

Yes swap out Scandal is on the list, and gives me the opportunity to build it up myself. Have been thinking Salsa fargo as well, just a bit unsure on drop bars.

Just wondering if theres anything else out there which i might have missed.

Never built up a bike myself. How hard can it be.

isn't particularly cheap nor is it SS friendly but it's pretty and rides bloody lovely!!!

ok, ok, if you insist on those two criteria then i'd agree that the Inbred looks like the way forward.

Charge cooker ss comes out soon and looks really nice. Not so good if you want ss and gears.

Building a bike up is pretty straight forward. As long as you remember righty tighty you're all set.

RobertH wrote:
Building a bike up is pretty straight forward. As long as you remember righty tighty you're all set.

Headsets and starnuts are the easiest to mess up if your not careful in my opinion.

Today's on one newsletter had something carbon going cheap?

Alternatively, for dirt drops, a Singular Gryphon?

Building bikes is easy. If I can do it I reckon anyone can.

Singular Swift? I have a Hummingbird and the farme rides really well and the build quality is great.
I also have an Ogre hanging on the wall awaiting build-up, really nice frame with lots of drop out options, including Rohlof.
I would avoid a Carbon frame if you intend fitting frame bags, I think the rubbing would eventually impact the weave/integrity of the frame.

Never built up a bike myself. How hard can it be

If you buy something in kit form you're welcome to either send it here and I'll put it together or bring it down and we'll put it together ... but as CM says, it's really not very difficult.

It's a very satisfying feeling building a whole bike from scratch.
I thoroughly enjoyed building the wife's Niner earlier this year.

Love my Swift, I think it's pretty versatile
Not the lightest frame or the way I have it built up but it's pretty bombproof
So far I have had it
- Rigid single speed
- Single speed with front sus
- alfine 8 hub gear

Will also take a dangly multi gear selector thingy at the back but I'm not keen on them
The EBB makes chain tension easy

Rides beautifully and I love it any configuration
(rigid SS is the best tho)

flatfishy wrote:It's a very satisfying feeling building a whole bike from scratch.
I thoroughly enjoyed building the wife's Niner earlier this year.

agreed!

nothing beats heading out on a bike you've built from scratch - every bolt was tightened by you - every component is there because you chose it (not because the frame manufacturer got a bulk deal from a supplier) - everything is perfectly set-up the way you want it.

you should be warned though that it's a slippery slope as once you've got some left over bits you start thinking that maybe you should build up that old frame as a spare bike and then that spare bike gets some upgrades and on and on.....

before you know you've got a workshop with 4.5 bikes in it and an angry wife!

s8tannorm wrote: If you buy something in kit form you're welcome to either send it here and I'll put it together or bring it down and we'll put it together ... but as CM says, it's really not very difficult.

Might take you up on that offer Stu. The only thing that phases me, is the frame/headset/fork combo, everything else is easy enough.

*goes off to look at shinny stuff*

Chew wrote:The only thing that phases me, is the frame/headset/fork combo, everything else is easy enough.

it's not that tricky.

i always just knock headset cups in using something soft (like a bit of wood and a mallet) and gently tap it into place making sure that it's evenly inserted and sitting straight - i've never used the headset fitting tool and never had any problems.

as for the crown race again it's fairly simple - the main time of hassle if removing an old one with causing damage (and even that's not that tricky with a little patience).

you hear a lot of scare stories about how it's possible to ruin a frame by incorrectly inserting a headset but i don't know of anyone having actually done it (the fear keeps the Park tools folks in the manner to which they've become accustomed).

but.....if you're worried then it definitely wouldn't hurt to use a Stuart!

Re: physically fitting, what Gary said.

Choosing the right headset for frame and forks is a bit more complicated than it used to be but nothing too bad.

I've used all sorts of stuff to fit headsets but a proper press (or a cheaper home mechanics version) is great, everything goes in simpler and straighter.

But enough of this cobblers. Whatchagonnaget?

Whilst I appreciate the comment about carbon durability it can be easily managed via strategic placement of tape etc much like a metal frame. I wouldn't let that factor put me off one any more than it would put me off a metal one. HYOH 8-)

Just seen this:

http://www.pipedreamcycles.com/product/ ... 29er-r853/

£395 for 853 sounds good and can be made s/s.

I looked at this before I got the singular, it says on the site that it is made for a 130 travel fork so wasn't sure what the head angle would be with a Salsa FargoV2, which is what I wanted to run on it.
If I was in the market for a hardtail trail bike though, this would be up there for sure.