Thank you for looking but after scouring to find information I have come to the conclusion I need help I am a complete novice to this. What it is I am currently building a freeride mtb that being a santa cruz vp free all with secondhand parts apart from the parts that I have to buy new and this is where I have come into trouble after reading various forums and various posts by various people over the years it seems the sc vp is a nightmare to setup getting the right bb chainrings etc. for the chainline. So what I am asking yourselves is there anyone who can tell me what to buy it seems I am better going down the 2x10 route and not the 3x9 route so please please can anyone with past experience with this frame tell me what to buy
Best bet is to have a look on the MTBR.com Santa Cruz forum.
(oh, and a freeride bike should never have 3x anything on!)
this gets my vote for "stream of consciousness post of the week" 😉
Thank you for your reply JonEdwards only thing is I cannot get onto the mtbr forums at the moment for some reason also the bike would be more for trail riding to be truthful having only just got into mtb but thank you for your reply
Dem some big-ass sentences
MTBR's working for me, shut down all your browsers and try again.
Never had the VP but used Blur Classic and LTc now for some time and not had an issue with them, don't see or know why the VP would be any different.
Still, on that I'd be tempted to go 2x? anyway and fit a bash, you'll prefer it in the long run.
VP Free can be used for trail riding, in much the same way as a JCB can be used for planting flowers. You might be better off starting with something else
Cheers thered I am going to go down that road of 2x10 for that reason that I would probably regret it in the future and honourablegeorge i have got something else its only a marin b-17 hardtail it's ok probably not everyones cup of tea It was my first adventure into mtb so forgive me, but I just fancied building something with an option in the future for doing something else i know it's a bit ott for the moment but it's there if it's needed if I could just sort out what chainrings/crank/bb to buy so I don't get it wrong and I still have no joy with the mtbr forum even after clearing my cache etc. Why did I not just buy a s/h complete bike
I have a VP Free with 9x2 set-up and a Blackspire stinger.
The thing with a VP free is that it has a 68mm BB shell (normally giving a 51mm chain line), but requires a 56mm chain line (normally achieved with an 83mm bb). Sorry if that's confusing.
The two ways I know of achieving this are:
Use the 56mm Chainline version of a Truvativ Howitzer Team Bottom Bracket 68/73mm - and a set of suitable crank arms such as Truvativ Holzfeller 2.2 RG Chainset like [url= http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=78471 ]this[/url] and [url= http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=40823 ]this[/url]
Or
Buy an 83mm version of a Raceface chainset and get the spacer kit like [url= http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=45215 ]this[/url] and [url= http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=8243 ]this[/url]
My emails in my profile if you've got any questions.
Bluebird is spot on!
I found out about the chainline issues on the VP in a very bad way. I had a really bad accident caused by the chain slipping on the pedal into a jump which meant i ended up in a cast for 6 months and with a foot that will never function correctly again in my life.
I went for bluebirds second option (as it worked out cheaper and less complicated to get the parts).
Yes I can confirm that even geting a vp set up with a 1x9 chain device setup takes a bit of fettling. Although I pedalled mine all the way up inners fireroad once way back when it was 40lb plus in weight even at its current svelt 38lb I wouldnt want to pedal it up many hills! Reconsider my friend.
Thank you for your replies wenanwhere, Itheisinger and bluebird unfortunately wenandwhere it's too late to reconsider and truthfully I really wish it wasn't with the nightmare I have had, not the best frame to buy for building your first bike that's for sure. I have opted for the first configuration the truvativ 67/73bb/56mm cl with a truvativ dh 2.2 oct crank. I have also purchased a blackspire stinger after looking at the tensioner after reading your setup above bluebird and also I have purchased new some 2x10 xt f/r mechs and shifters, Im sure it would have worked out cheaper for me to buy a complete freeride/dh bike but at least it's the setup I have wanted but to be truthfull I would much prefer a shimano crank setup.
My first full suss was a vp free, ran it 2x9 with saint cranks. Not too bad with rub but did suffer fairly regularly with snapped chains. As for riding it, you certainly won't be the first to the top but it is perfectly possible if you are fit. Mine had triple crowns etc... And as my only bike was used for xc as well. Used to get a few funny looks at trail centres. Enjoy its a hugely capable bike. Still wish I hadn't sold mine for the nomad
DT78 fit I am not lol oh dear what have I done !!!!! looks like i'll be sticking with the Marin, mind you it will be nice to look at least 🙄
VP free ace frame, if I recall do you not have to remove the shock to get the chain length sorted? I only used it 1x9 set up only for DH with 888s sorry not much help I know but how about 1 x 10?
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Yes I have read that somewhere spanishfly in my quest for knowledge on setting up this frame correctly the first time I think it is actually Santa cruz that mention it because of the vpp suspension and how it uses chain growth or something well like I have said earlier it isn't the easiest frame for a complete novice it's like my old cars of years gone bye its a money pit 🙁