For a couple of years I’ve been following the various threads on here about building up a 24’er for a nipper. He’s had the usual suite of Islabikes (Rothan, Cnoc 14, Beinn 20) so I’ve been looking forward to getting something else to build up for his coming birthday…

A while back I was keeping an eye on a Cannondale Street 24 which was on sale at Pauls Cycles for 300 notes (down from 430). Spotted a used one on ebay and one quick trip to Manchester later I had it for 200 notes.

Pic as specced:
[url=https://flic.kr/p/UoxSVd]Street24[/url] by richard sowden, on Flickr

When I got it home and stripped it down, it emerged it had basically never been used – the packing grease was still on the mechs! But the frame had quite a few scratches and marks from being stored. Anyway, flogged on all the gubbins and have been rebuilding it:

Lefty in all its glory.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/UoxeXA]IMG_1226[/url] by richard sowden, on Flickr

Stem is now a Cannondale 50mm, seatpost USE Alien Carbon 27.2, Saddle Odyssey BMX saddle.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/TScdUs]IMG_1227[/url] by richard sowden, on Flickr

Front wheel is the one it came with – 36 spoke ACE20 on a bespoke hub. Very odd wheel indeed! Bars are 580mm ABR epics off the ‘bay – 130g or something. Brakes are Deore 615 off here. Grips out of my spare drawer.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/UoxvGm]IMG_1231[/url] by richard sowden, on Flickr

Zee mech – 1×10 off here, Islabike rear wheel (960g)
[url=https://flic.kr/p/TSctR1]IMG_1237[/url] by richard sowden, on Flickr

And here we are so far! Suntour XCT cranks, Wellgo pedals.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/Usf7yX]IMG_1242[/url] by richard sowden, on Flickr

Tasks to do – fit both tyres tubeless (which I’ve never done before).
Shorten both brake hoses – the rear is through the frame which I’ve never done before and it seems to be stuck…
I’m missing a spacer for the 10sp cassette which I may have dropped.
Somehow the front disc bracket is a 180mm when I’m running a 160mm so need to acquire new one.
New BB might be needed as the crank to frame spacing is alarming!
Set up gears n brakes, etc.

Thanks for all the help, pointers and bits recommended by folks on here. There are too many to mention – but special thanks to nre for the advice and those who have provided bits and bobs very cheaply or even cheaper (you know who you are).

Apologies for the neighbours’ gardens, etc.

BB should be a 118mm for the suntour cranks

Looks great!

OK, thanks poah.

Why did you strip it down? gear range?

Yeah, it was 3×7 on a freewheel so not ideal. Gripshit as well, which I hate.

Does your nipper hate it as well?

Did you buy the rear wheel direct from Islabike?

Yes, rear direct from isla. 55 quid I think.

Dickbarton – he puts up with it on his isla, but I’m sure deep down he hates it. 😆

Rich: did you need to use a magic codeword to buy those from Islabikes, or did you just phone them up and ask for a pair of wheels from the Crieg?

Just rang up and asked. Had a series of bluffs ready – none were required.

The Creig wheels, I presume? Got them up tubeless yet?

Not tried yet. Are they a bugger?

No idea that’s why I was asking 🙂

Haha! I’ve never tried tubeless before – this could be interesting…

Well the Creig ships with tubes from what I can tell, it’s just the Pro series that is tubeless (and that uses Crest rims). I wouldn’t try too hard…

New BB might be needed as the crank to frame spacing is alarming!

If you’re changing the BB I have some pre-cut/tapped 140mm Alivio’s you can have for the postage.

That’s very kind Steve. Will mail you later this evening.

What model are the pedals please?

Wellgo kc001
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/nice-little-flat-pedals-for-kids

Excellent link, thanks. Are the pedals good, the holy grail of grippy without being unpleasantly sharp?

Yes, they are. Small, light, grippy enough but not too spiky.

Some photos of them on my son’s bike if you want a close look:

A mini Lefty!!! Love it!! <3 😀

Looking good 😀

Just received a Creig 24 wheelset from Islabikes, £95 posted and pre-taped with tubes, skewers and a 11-36 10-speed cassette. I’ll weigh them up later for reference, and will see if they hold a tyre without a tube… (I suspect not, looking at the profile).

So far, so good.

Nearly done – front disc setup being a pain due to spacers/lack of space. Both brakes need bleeding and final setup, then gears to (hopefully) finish.

Not bothered with tubeless setup as life is frankly a little bit short. I might convert the front one once I figure it out on my grown up bike, but right now I just want the bike ready to ride in plenty of time for his birthday.

9.55kg on my hand held scales = bang on 21lbs. Happy days! Dropped 6lbs off the original bike. I reckon a set of 24h crests would drop a further 1lb, maybe more if tubeless… but finances will not allow!

Anyway, very happy with it as long as I can get the final few tweaks to come together.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/UgGD2u]IMG_20170516_112405424[/url] by richard sowden, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/Tzgct9]IMG_20170516_112501743[/url] by richard sowden, on Flickr

that is awesome!

Wow, what a cracking little bike, hope your nipper appreciates it! How’re you going to follow that when he grows?

Sweet. Lefties are still silly though. 🙂

That looks amazing! Never seen a 24″ lefty before

Think it’s time so start a similar project for next summer, this is awesome

Nice bike!

I built this for my daughter – does she ride it? Twice in two ruddy years!!! Sat in the shed gathering dust…

…hope yours gets more use!

Looking even better!

Looks great! 6lb is a fair chunk to save too

Well, I hope the little swine does appreciate it! Not ended up being that expensive really either, as I sold on some of it and people off here have been so generous.

Thanks for all the kind comments – all I’ve got to do now is get the darn thing working!

And as for what’s on the horizon… in case swmbo reads this, then nothing. We have 2 other younger kids to fix up yet.

(She won’t read this far)
Dialled holeshot in short currently stashed in the loft 🙂

Gonna go 24″ then 26″ with it. Maybe respray – 130mm revs and crests etc.

Forgot to say, I’ve got some ex-twonks (off here) RST 80mm forks to put on it next year – that means new front wheel and I’ve just grabbed a 24h dt swiss front hub for buttons off Graham also of this parish. Build that onto some Alex rims I’ve got and Robert is yer mo’s bro.

I have some marzocchi z5 going spare if anyone wants them for build. Short travel v brake only, not in good nick due to 2 decades of grime, free to any home. Just pay postage.

Well, he likes it… phew!

Gotta say it’s a bitch to wheelie (had to ride it to get the brakes bedded in!)

[url=https://flic.kr/p/Vavg79]IMG_20170530_145015439-2 (1)[/url] by richard sowden, on Flickr

Awesome…just looking to embark on a similar project myself, really good to know Isla will sell 24″ wheels…what cranks did you run?

Size/brand?

My daughter is 130cm/4’2″.

Stevextc off of here kindly donated a set of shortened 140mm Alivio cranks, but the pic above is of it running Suntour xct off Amazon cos I wanted to see how much difference it made
https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Sports-Outdoors/Kettenradgarnitur-SR-Suntour-T20242-Z%C3%A4hne-schwarz/B0029MP3AO
I’m going to pop the Alivios back on and aim to swap back in 6-12 months time as he grows.
Scary thing is, his little brother is showing some talent very quickly so I might need to upgrade a smaller bike as well very soon… Oh well 😀

Great looking bike!

To answer one question: no, the standard Creig 24 rims won’t go tubeless. I gave it a good go, but they weren’t even close to sealing.