I'm looking top build up a light / fast XC HT and am looking for frame options. Looking at something like a Specialized Chisel frame set or maybe a Scott Scale. Is there anything else worth considering? The only quirky requirement is that it must have capacity to fit 2 bottle cages in the front triangle. Budget for the frameset would be upto £900 or so. Happy to look at a full bike option if there is a bargain out there!
Thoughts?
Trek Procaliber as frame donor? Used complete 9.6 gets you carbon frame or go higher 9.8 etc and better parts also
Ahem... See the classifieds...
Yeah, if you're the right size then Snotrag's Scale in the classifieds would be my choice. They're so flipping fast.
Ahem... See the classifieds...
I'm 180cm and usually ride a large... Need to do see if I can find a store with a full bike in to check out. Could be interested in this.
I've a Santa Cruz Highball which I rate highly. I had an older version which was just as good. A large would be spot on for you I think. I'd like to try a Yeti ARC sometime, too.
I love my Cannondale Scalpel HT, way more than I thought I would. It makes me smile every time I ride it. It's so comfy yet still so quick. I bought the whole bike second hand for £1100, I have upgrade the wheels though. The only things to be aware of is that it has a 27.2mm seatpost and the crank is SI, so not many fot it, although the stock Cannondale one has been fine for me.
Here's mine.
Procaliber here. Love it and I think the isospeed genuinely helps the compliance, it sticks to the ground rather than pinging you out of of the saddle on every little bump.
My mate had a Procaliber and it was a decent bike. Not massively light though and had a very short head tube for a XXL. I had a Cube Reaction C:62 which was a tidy little thing and cheaper than most.
Just single speeded my procaliber, it does have a short head tube for the size. Running mine with a rigid carbon fork and carbon trek wheel set. It's so much lighter than my gravel bike even with 2.2" tyres
I’ve been tempted to try that rocket dog. Pics please 🙂
I can highly recommend the new Scale, they're bloody awesome, you'll be on a large at your height, I'm a smidge shorter and ride a large.
I bought mine as a stock 930, took everything off bar the stem and fitted a M9100 XTR groupset inc brakes, Hunt Proven XC Carbons, Fox Factory 34 SC which I left at 120mm and set the headset cup to their steepest setting, Fox Transfer SL dropper and some carbon bars, the thing flies and weighs 10kg on the nose, with pedals, computer and cage.
I love my Cannondale Scalpel HT
And I love mine. If you can get one in budget it's an awesome choice.
Paint job on that one is lovely.
Lots of options here, thanks!
That is a thing of beauty, it makes mine look a bit shit in comparison 😄
But then I couldn't afford a new one. There's some old saying about beggers and choosers that comes to mind.
This is the colour I'd pick if available......
Have any of the 'Chinese carbon' frames caught up to 'modern' XC geometry yet?
I've had a couple of SPcycle frames. decently made. the latest is reasonably modern geo, BSA BB, Boost, UDH and internal headset routed cables. Responsive to emails too.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005010471653021.html for options.
67 head angle, 75 seat, short rear centre, 485 reach on a XL (19.5" seat tube)
probably end up being c£450 inc shipping and taxes.
edit: actually aliexpress price inc vat. So would be under £400 easily.
That could be an interesting option! It's half the price of the Chisel frame I'd seen....
Headset cable routing is the only thing that makes me wince a bit
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/358194326113 Some carbon Bizango frames here. I think they have modern geometry but limited tyre clearance.
Headset cable routing is the only thing that makes me wince a bit
me too.
I have seen, although I can't seem to find it now, a headet thta uses a more standard upper bearing and routes the cables outside of it. not sure how well it works as the cables don't move with the headset, but may be a solution.
personally, I'd find the highest quality upper headset bearing I could find. it'd do me for a good few years.
Have any of the 'Chinese carbon' frames caught up to 'modern' XC geometry yet?
The Meinier Snake is probably worth a look
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/406037945527?
Yeah, but headset cable routing again.
It does seem to be 'the way'. :-/
TBH I'd probably end up using sticky cable guides and external routing....
TBH I'd probably end up using sticky cable guides and external routing....
Tricky for the seatpost though
ah, yes, I often forget about that as I don't use droppers on my hardtail.
Yeah, but headset cable routing again.
Headset cable routing using normal bars and stem isn't that much of a pain unless you regularly swap brakes. I think it's essential to use high quality stainless steel bearings though.
After trying a few (Titus, Scott, SC, etc) I settle on a Yeti Arc. The higher front end just makes it a better fit for me. I feel like I’m in it, not on it. At 1.34kg (frame) and using the same SID SL fork, it’s 10kg on the nose with 2.4 tyres, AXS gears and a 179mm dropper.
I've an ARC and 'tis a thing of beauty, but it fails the two bottle cage requirement, and really it's trail bike not fast XC
Yeah, but headset cable routing again.
It's not really an issue unless you're totally ham-fisted, I've got it on 3 out of 3 XC bikes, one road bike and one trail / enduro bike. Sure it takes a little bit longer to get the cables in there initially, but we're talking a few minutes more than a normally routed internal frame and it does look a whole lot better IMHO.
My lads Epic WC looks superb with just the rear brake cable heading into the headset, aided no doubt by the AXS gears and reverb and lack of lockouts on the clever old Spesh fork & shock. My Scott Scale by comparison is a bit more jumbled as I have mechanical XTR and a Fox Transfer SL dropper, but it's still proper neat and tidy. Plus there's no cable rub to worry about, no patches that eventually peel off and its moar aeros obvs 😉
Headsets seem to last forever nowadays if you get a decent one to begin with, so it's not really an issue maintenance wise there either.
After trying a few (Titus, Scott, SC, etc) I settle on a Yeti Arc. The higher front end just makes it a better fit for me. I feel like I’m in it, not on it. At 1.34kg (frame) and using the same SID SL fork, it’s 10kg on the nose with 2.4 tyres, AXS gears and a 179mm dropper.
Lush. Sadly I'm too tight to follow through, but having seen one locally I'd love to upgrade to an Arc