Midaircrisis Geordie Mountain Bikers update September 2006

Coming out for a ride? E-mail us bailout@midaircrisis.org.uk

My Newer Bike (May 2007) - another eBay Special!

The spec for my DDG Mutha:

2003 DDG Mutha Frame 17"
X-Fusion O2 Pro Air Shock with Lockout
RockShox Revelation 426 Dual Air 2007 Forks
Shimano XT Hollowtech II Chainset
Shimano XTR M970 SPD Pedals
Hayes HFX-9 DH Disk Brakes 203mm
FSA K-Force Carbon XC Mountain Bike Riser Handlebar
Sram X-9 Rear Mech 2007
Sram X-9 9sp Front Mech 2007
Sram X-9 Twist Shifters 9 Speed 2007
Sram PC991 chain
A2Z Titanium QR Skewers
FSA Carbon Pro Seatpost
Hope QR Seatclamp
Maxxis Larsen TT Folding Tyres 26x1.90
Mavic CrossMax ST Tubeless Wheels

First build weight was 28 lbs with wheels borrowed from my last home-build, the Barracuda. Expecting to head down towards 26/27 lbs with the final build. Here's my Mutha posing against the Mountain Rescue Hut at the foot of Lamb Hill on the Pennine Way during it's first outing. The magnificent Hayes 8 inch disks are fantastic stoppers, this is the third bike I've used them on. Couldn't get them properly bedded in on this first ride as I only used them a few times due to the lay of the land (upwards), but using it for work two days later they were nicely fettled.

LATEST ON THE BUILD

Somewhere else on my own pages (see here) you'll find a friendly warning about spending too much on an upgrade, and how easily the cost can accelerate way past the cost of a decent complete bike (mainly concerning my Barracuda "play bike"). I built this one with all new parts (now, at last) from the ground up, with almost everything sourced on eBay or the best of the online bike shops (see here).

Following the untimely demise of the second hand Mavic XC221 front wheel thanks to Arthur's Landing (not an American TV series - see here) I managed to cajole a pair of Mavic Crossmax wheels out of the missus in exchange for building her new kitchen. When I put these on, together with my secret DIY GollyMix® of tyre and tube (or not tube) this bike weighs 25 lbs. That's NOT a misprint. I was stunned when I double checked it and had to seek a second opinion. The point of this is that yes, with careful buying you can indeed produce something special at a pretty special price. This has cost me £1600 and if you try to match the spec and weight off the shelf it'll cost you at least double, IF you can get the weight down to this level. And yes, it has made a big difference to my riding. I can lift this over a stile or fence without crippling myself or having to ask for help. Seriously though, it accelerates like a scalded Gollum and even though I can't maintain the pace for long, a decent rider could do anything on it. If you iz one, ask me for a tryout and see what you think. (of the bike, silly).

With 100mm Reba forks, or 80mm SID Race forks, and an XTR chainset, and a lightweight saddle, this thing could get near 23lbs for a total build cost of about £1,700 if I were that way inclined - maybe you are?

***I put on a Tioga Red Phoenix 2.0 rear and a Bontrager Jones ACX 2.2 front tyre for the Arran trip and it's gone up half a pound. No big deal, I don't race. Much. Well, not up. Just sometimes.

Have you Killed A BIKE THIEF TODAY?

Keep watching and if you fancy a ride out with us, drop us a line here: bailout@midaircrisis.org.uk