Its been a while since the old Stumpy had been put away, but having signed up to race the SSUK 09 in June, I though I better get building. :roll:
The old Stumpy hadnt been built up for a while and not being very flush with cash I decided to try and build it with as much bits and peices that I had about the place. This was incase I then rode it and didnt like singlespeed I wouldnt lose out too much. It was also a good excuse to use some of the NOS stuff that had been kept just in case.
The build went something like this:
Frame - 1994 16.5 inch blood red Stumpjumper - prestige steel -
a mans bike.......well....a miniture mans bike
Forks - NOS Specialized Direct Drive (thanks Kai)
Headset - NOS Dia Compe Aheadset
Cranks - I could use my S Works hollowtech type but ended up using the original LX with a 32 middleburn ring.
Pedals - XT Bear Traps
Brakes - XTR cantis with NOS Suntour XC Pro champagne levers
though I will probably be changing these for a full XT V brake setup I have.
Pads - Ritchey
Bars - NOS Specialized team bar in red (thankyou sidekick)
Stem - S Works
Grips - new specialized lock on style
End plugs - Specialized
Wheels - I could have used the silver retro DX pair I have, they are very shiny and clean but decide to stick with the black theme and used my Mach 1 Deore race wheels, they are getting on but still look cool.
Tyres - after it raining a fair bit during the week and it being wet and muddy up here in the far north I decided to fit a pair of NOS storm controls. Look great but wrong move as the first ride down south near Glagow at Carron Valley it was hot, dry and very rocky.
Seat - Specialized Prolong
Chain tensioner - DMR tensionseeker
Chain - BMX
The bike had its shakedown ride at the Carron Valey meet up of the Macretro Clan as it was only finished being built around an hour beforehand due to getting some last minute parts the evening before and a 500 odd mile round trip for this meet.
There is a write up on this meet elsewhere here but it does detail the loss of three of my five chainring bolts but this was my fault. As the bike was put together over the previuos fortnight I think when I recieved the chainring I losely bolted it on to make sure it fitted, then obviously forgot to do them up tight.
The bike ran really well and I was pleased. Pleased on many fronts to be honest. First it felt like my old Stumpy but didnt because it looked a bit different and had no gears :? It was also red and black instead of silver, sounds strange but it was but wasnt my old friend. I was pleased it stayed together as I had some issues with the brakes and the chainrings but really as a singlespeed theres not really much that can go wrong. It felt comfortable quickly as usual it fit like a glove and the prolong worked well.
I was also pleased as the singlespeed gearing worked fine and i didnt have any trouble at all with the 32/16, climbing was more like my roadie than a mountain bike. Felt good afterwards with no aches or pains so that was a suprise. Gaz thought that a 17 on the back may negate the need for a tensioner and make it a bit easier to climb with.
Overall very pleased.
Things to change or do?
Well I need to put my bar ends on for sure, I have a pair of Specialized ones in my kit bag but I ran out of time to fit them, shame as I think they would have been more use on a singlespeed. i must also change the tyres for summer. I have a couple of more drier trail friendly tyres about.
This old Stumpy has had many faces and I am sure this wont be the last and it does show how versatile these frames are when used within context.
Will add stuff as I go. If youve read this far then thank you for your interest as I think this is more for me to get this out of my head, probably why it rambles
Jamie
The old Stumpy hadnt been built up for a while and not being very flush with cash I decided to try and build it with as much bits and peices that I had about the place. This was incase I then rode it and didnt like singlespeed I wouldnt lose out too much. It was also a good excuse to use some of the NOS stuff that had been kept just in case.
The build went something like this:
Frame - 1994 16.5 inch blood red Stumpjumper - prestige steel -
a mans bike.......well....a miniture mans bike
Forks - NOS Specialized Direct Drive (thanks Kai)
Headset - NOS Dia Compe Aheadset
Cranks - I could use my S Works hollowtech type but ended up using the original LX with a 32 middleburn ring.
Pedals - XT Bear Traps
Brakes - XTR cantis with NOS Suntour XC Pro champagne levers
though I will probably be changing these for a full XT V brake setup I have.
Pads - Ritchey
Bars - NOS Specialized team bar in red (thankyou sidekick)
Stem - S Works
Grips - new specialized lock on style
End plugs - Specialized
Wheels - I could have used the silver retro DX pair I have, they are very shiny and clean but decide to stick with the black theme and used my Mach 1 Deore race wheels, they are getting on but still look cool.
Tyres - after it raining a fair bit during the week and it being wet and muddy up here in the far north I decided to fit a pair of NOS storm controls. Look great but wrong move as the first ride down south near Glagow at Carron Valley it was hot, dry and very rocky.
Seat - Specialized Prolong
Chain tensioner - DMR tensionseeker
Chain - BMX
The bike had its shakedown ride at the Carron Valey meet up of the Macretro Clan as it was only finished being built around an hour beforehand due to getting some last minute parts the evening before and a 500 odd mile round trip for this meet.
There is a write up on this meet elsewhere here but it does detail the loss of three of my five chainring bolts but this was my fault. As the bike was put together over the previuos fortnight I think when I recieved the chainring I losely bolted it on to make sure it fitted, then obviously forgot to do them up tight.
The bike ran really well and I was pleased. Pleased on many fronts to be honest. First it felt like my old Stumpy but didnt because it looked a bit different and had no gears :? It was also red and black instead of silver, sounds strange but it was but wasnt my old friend. I was pleased it stayed together as I had some issues with the brakes and the chainrings but really as a singlespeed theres not really much that can go wrong. It felt comfortable quickly as usual it fit like a glove and the prolong worked well.
I was also pleased as the singlespeed gearing worked fine and i didnt have any trouble at all with the 32/16, climbing was more like my roadie than a mountain bike. Felt good afterwards with no aches or pains so that was a suprise. Gaz thought that a 17 on the back may negate the need for a tensioner and make it a bit easier to climb with.
Overall very pleased.
Things to change or do?
Well I need to put my bar ends on for sure, I have a pair of Specialized ones in my kit bag but I ran out of time to fit them, shame as I think they would have been more use on a singlespeed. i must also change the tyres for summer. I have a couple of more drier trail friendly tyres about.
This old Stumpy has had many faces and I am sure this wont be the last and it does show how versatile these frames are when used within context.
Will add stuff as I go. If youve read this far then thank you for your interest as I think this is more for me to get this out of my head, probably why it rambles
Jamie
