As a happy owner of a 1994 Sunn Revolt, it was logical to follow the founder Max Commencal to his new venture in 2000. After a few emails with him, I decided to order their first "flagship" bike : The Flame. The bike saw some heavy usage and in 2002 I bought the latest version. Both bikes were used in parallel and the 2000 model was upgraded over time
Fast forward 2020 and Lockdown 1, I decided to sell my "2000 frame" before changing mind and - to the contrary - rebuild it all as it was when racing marathon with it in 2001...
The "endless quest" to dream part started, with a Rock Shox SID Blackbox edition sourced from Belgium, then the Fizik saddle with matching blue. That bike had to be "Race Faced" so sourced "pretty NOS" Evolve Bar, RF XY Seatpost, System stem and RF Cranks ( had sourced some in NY for my build at the time but those ones were on Retrobike )
The brakes were heartbreaking, having given the first ever XT disc brakes - BR M 755 to a friend back in 2004, I had to "pay up" to source a fantastic set, but those had to go on the bike as they were the original spec...
For wheels, this was pre UST tubeless days and not fan of Crossmax so found a great set of Hope wheels laced onto the M317 the bike was fitted with initially. Fitted with FRM Q/r to give the bike a bit more "euro-trash" DNA
Tyres for early Commencal had to be the then best selling Hutchinson Python
Transmission was pre SRAM rear derailleur days and when XTR ruled the world so found some fantastic mechs in Germany and the SRAM Attack grip shift as the rockets are now impossible to find in working order. Chains / cassette are still available as new kit so went for "quasi period perfect" PG 950 in Red to match the... headset top spacer and cap...
The Chris King headset in "US Colour" seems like a great match for the bike.
The frame itself was reused, it had been swapped in 2002 for a 2001 model as the frame cracked at the head tube junction but the frame plate was swapped so this is a "2001 Frame # 103". I think Max stopped numbering them at end of 2000.
Hope you like it as much as I do, rebuilding it was great fun, and the great thing about 2000 bikes is you can still find "top bling" parts at not silly prices as - unlike early nineties - early 2000 was dominated by more mainstream parts manufacturers and the ultimate bling was from Race Face or FRM
Frame : Commencal Flame 2000/2001, # 103
Fork : Rock Shox SID blackbox, carbon, blue
Headset : Chris King 1/18, "USA"
Stem : Race Face System, 100mm ( slightly shorter than the standards at the time but bike rides better ! )
Handlebar : Race Face Evolve
Grips / Shifters : Sram Attack
Brakes : Shimano BR M 755 , Braided brake lines
Wheels : Hope silver hubs built onto M 317 wheels
Q/R : FRM Dark Blue
Tyres : Hutchinson Python
Front / Rear Mech : Shimano XTR M 950
Cassette : Sram Pg 950
Chain : Sram 9 speed
Crankset : Race Face Turbine, 175mm, Dark blue, 22/32/44 TA Chainset
Pedals : Ritchey Logic, Dark blue
Saddle : Fizik Nisene, White and Dark blue ( still have the orignal Nisene on 2002 edition but preferred the Blue one typically found on Cannondale's for this one )
Fast forward 2020 and Lockdown 1, I decided to sell my "2000 frame" before changing mind and - to the contrary - rebuild it all as it was when racing marathon with it in 2001...
The "endless quest" to dream part started, with a Rock Shox SID Blackbox edition sourced from Belgium, then the Fizik saddle with matching blue. That bike had to be "Race Faced" so sourced "pretty NOS" Evolve Bar, RF XY Seatpost, System stem and RF Cranks ( had sourced some in NY for my build at the time but those ones were on Retrobike )
The brakes were heartbreaking, having given the first ever XT disc brakes - BR M 755 to a friend back in 2004, I had to "pay up" to source a fantastic set, but those had to go on the bike as they were the original spec...
For wheels, this was pre UST tubeless days and not fan of Crossmax so found a great set of Hope wheels laced onto the M317 the bike was fitted with initially. Fitted with FRM Q/r to give the bike a bit more "euro-trash" DNA
Tyres for early Commencal had to be the then best selling Hutchinson Python
Transmission was pre SRAM rear derailleur days and when XTR ruled the world so found some fantastic mechs in Germany and the SRAM Attack grip shift as the rockets are now impossible to find in working order. Chains / cassette are still available as new kit so went for "quasi period perfect" PG 950 in Red to match the... headset top spacer and cap...
The Chris King headset in "US Colour" seems like a great match for the bike.
The frame itself was reused, it had been swapped in 2002 for a 2001 model as the frame cracked at the head tube junction but the frame plate was swapped so this is a "2001 Frame # 103". I think Max stopped numbering them at end of 2000.
Hope you like it as much as I do, rebuilding it was great fun, and the great thing about 2000 bikes is you can still find "top bling" parts at not silly prices as - unlike early nineties - early 2000 was dominated by more mainstream parts manufacturers and the ultimate bling was from Race Face or FRM
Frame : Commencal Flame 2000/2001, # 103
Fork : Rock Shox SID blackbox, carbon, blue
Headset : Chris King 1/18, "USA"
Stem : Race Face System, 100mm ( slightly shorter than the standards at the time but bike rides better ! )
Handlebar : Race Face Evolve
Grips / Shifters : Sram Attack
Brakes : Shimano BR M 755 , Braided brake lines
Wheels : Hope silver hubs built onto M 317 wheels
Q/R : FRM Dark Blue
Tyres : Hutchinson Python
Front / Rear Mech : Shimano XTR M 950
Cassette : Sram Pg 950
Chain : Sram 9 speed
Crankset : Race Face Turbine, 175mm, Dark blue, 22/32/44 TA Chainset
Pedals : Ritchey Logic, Dark blue
Saddle : Fizik Nisene, White and Dark blue ( still have the orignal Nisene on 2002 edition but preferred the Blue one typically found on Cannondale's for this one )
. Are Commencal of 0 interest to the crowd here ? still in love with that build....
