Snap! Built mine up fast ‘n fun. Feels slack with 100mm forks. Loving it so far. Think I will get the Crests on the rear replaced with Arch EX, but otherwise spot on for me.

Nick

8.4kg, using luggage scales. Frame/fork are very light, components reasonably so …

Now split, as all the parts are on my new bike (Stanton Sherpa), and frame and forks getting ready to sell.

Nick

Nice spot. Have set it up to record.

8.4kg measured on luggage scales …

@Trimix, that would be a cool butler job. How much does sir pay 😉

Thanks. Resisted clicking on that post before.

Niner EMD, Medium. I’m 5’9″. 50m stem perfect!

Love the SS bikes above. Ska-49, sorry, but what frame/forks are those. They look fantasic.

Nick

I’ve just got the Garmin FR220. I think it’s brilliant. Had the 405 before, and this is much simplier, gets GPS lock in seconds, can be used as a normal watch (small and lightweight), and the battery lasts about 2 weeks before charging (even when using GPS for an hour a day).

Highly recommend.

Nick

Peter Kennaugh is riding the Tour de Suisse, and I would expect him to be a consideration for the TdF (he was excellent last year).

Yeah, love mine, now my only bike. See pics:

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/niner-emd-or-or-niner-air-9-or-santa-cruz-highball

Nick

@ normal man – thanks, full fat bar, cut to 750mm. Hope 50mm stem, with 25% rise. Shouldn’t work, but does! Very playful yet still epically fast.

I’ve got a Niner EMD. I bought the frame secondhand off here, to see what all the 29er thing was about. Bought some Hope/Crest wheels, rigid forks, and the rest of the kit was from spares. To say I love it is an understatement. Since putting together, I’ve sold all my other bikes (Five, road and SS CX). I use it to commute to work (25% road, 75% woodland trails), weekend local blasts, and occasional Peaks rides. It is soooooo fast – made my Five feel sluggish in comparison, and made the CX obsolete. It does feel out of depth on rocky trails (mainly because it shakes you to the bone), but that is only a small percentage of my overall riding, so figured that I could just cope with it. I have thought about putting suspension forks on it, but think it would detract from the “purity” of the bike. I ride it 1×9 and seems to suit it perfectly. If it broke/got stolen, I’d buy the same again without hesitation. A few pics:

Nick

It would help if there was a thick/thin road chainring in 46/48/50 format – I’d drop the front mech in a flash if that were the case. Works so well on a MTB.

Howies Dyfi in bright orange?

http://www.howies.co.uk/dyfi-turkish-sea.html?nosto=Nosto_Mens_Clothing__Jackets

Very, very good.

Nick

Gratuitous pic …

Thoroughly recommend (plus the EMD is great too).

Nick

I was going to say anything from Cove, but “Checkerpig” wins by a mile.

at work 🙁

So yep, cycled in today. Looks like a headwind for the way home though.

OP, I think I ride the same places as you (NG16 area), running tubless I’ve not had a puncture this year (including commuting). There are plenty of thorns and twiggs blown off the trees from the stong winds a week or so ago.

Nick

That’ll look nice with a Thomson stem 😀

Nick

Spud alley – has more flow. Both are ace though.

9 speed non clutch mech with Works Components N/W ring (no guide), and not had a drop yet (on a hardtail). Actually better in the mud as well, as there is less build up of mud, and makes it far easier to clean!

Nice spot roverpig (although the 650b frame may have something to do with the price now).

For reference, it was the 2011 model that was the first with the tapered headset, 30.9mm seatpost size, and external dropper guides. I umm’d and err’d for ages over a secondhand 2010 full build, but bought a 2011 frame and forks from those decent chaps at bikeactive (when frame and Fox RLC forks were about £1600).

I’ll pretend that I race …

Nick

Thanks!

Discs yes, 700cc wheels, almost (well it could take 700cc tyres at a push) …

17 miles a day commute, 25% road, 75% cheeky woodland trails.

Nick

If this thread tells us one thing, it’s that we all like showing our bikes off!

750 miles in 36 to 38 days! Bloody ‘eck, is he doing a 9-5 as well? (OK, it MAY be colder down there than in Nottingham).

Yunki, it gets ridden more than the fun bike, so why not!

P.S. They share most of the components.

Nice bikes everyone. Fun bike:

Posh commuter:

Notice the fence has got better over time!

Nick

I had the Superstar 10mm QR. First time I took it out from the bike it was a rusty mess. Didn’t lock in place very well either. Get the DT Swiss one, no issues so far (2+ years) – worth the extra money.

OP, sorry to point this out, but your bike looks broken 🙁

Ahhh

Looks heaps better with a short stem and proper bars.

P.S. Do they only come with red pedals?

Yeah, I do most of my commuting on a SS CX.

Gearing is 39/14 (or maybe 15), and suits how I like to ride. I started off 39/18 and was far too spinny. The great thing is that rear cogs cost about £3, so you can trial and error until you get it right.

Nick

Fair enough, must have been lusting after something else last year 😳

Looks like the frame is different from last year. For a start the rear brakes are within the seat/chain stays (which seems like a better design, and the braking loads can be shared by both parts of the rear triangle). I like it!

Pictures you ask (better late than never) …

All secondhand bits apart from the wheels, which were the Wiggle specials a few months back, which shows how long I’e been building it.

Nick

I’m a convert too. Even works with a 9 speed set up on a hardtail. Impressed how even in the lowest gear, and the alignment to the chainring is less than perfect, that it still doesn’t drop the chain.

In my experience, you cannot get good breathability and fully waterproof. I tend to wear a lighweight wind protector until it gets really cold, then just accept that you’ll get sweaty (and warm) with a waterproof jacket.