GTTurbo's Yeti F.R.O.

[gtturbo]

A few weeks back another member listed a Yeti FRO for sale. To be honest I don't need any more projects, I still haven't finished my Ultimate and have loads of others waiting for me to get around to, but the FRO is another bucket list bike for me. My rationale was buy this and get rid of some of the other bikes. So far I have sold exactly O.



Spec wise it was pretty good already. I could have chucked a few bits on and had a working bike but as always these things are subjective and I wanted it how the younger me would have built it. Fortunately I have a good spares stash so havent really had to buy much.





If you dont like purple maybe best to give up now. It has quite a lot but hopefully not to OTT.







and some new ferrules courtesy of @synlos

 

[gtturbo]

The first thing that struck me with both this and the Ultimate is they are not light weight. Being a weight weenie I like to try and reduce weight, sensibly where I can.

The first thing to sort was the wheels. It came with Bullseye's on Araya RM20's. I must confess RM20's are not my first choice, I think I bent every set I have had, but for now they will stay. However Bullseye hubs would have been my choice for this build so it was handy it came with those. As normal the hubs had some play so new bearings fitted. And they still have play but hey I guess that's just Bullseye's for you. Picture of the bearing number for reference.



Here is a couple of useful links from elsewhere on the site for anyone overhauling their Bullseye's.

Spacer arrangement
Servicing instructions

Tubes were replaced with Michelin Latex which is an easy 100 gram saving for the pair. But I must admit I had forgotten quite how quickly the latex's leak air.



No picture at the moment but I already had a set of Yeti FRO tyres so they seemed like an obvious choice despite not being the lightest option.

More updates to come shortly..

 

[Retro Spud]

If you dont like purple maybe best to give up now. It has quite a lot but hopefully not to OTT

Dude - as the old 90’s mantra goes “if in doubt add more” and go large

If you need any 6mm SLR in white give me a shout I have 40 meters of it

 

[gtturbo]

I have been pretty useless updating this thread. The bike was about 80% done a couple of months back but then I keep buying other things and not the parts I needed to finish this. So today I bit the bullet and have finished it off with parts I already have. No point it sitting there when I could be out riding and can always swap a few bits later on.

The wheels all finished up with new hub decals and the Yeti tyres fitted.





Topline cranks on a Cook Bros Ti Bb is now fitted. I did buy the bike originally with Cooks cranks but they were compact which to my mind was slightly too new for this, so I will use those on something else.



Critical racing cantis front and rear with WTB pads. In all honesty I will change the pads before it gets much use as it seems a shame to wear them out.



And finally for now an XT rear derailleur with Bullseye jockeys. I still need to find a purple hanger bolt to fit, that was one of the parts holding me up. Not sure about that cable adjuster, that may get swapped back to standard yet. Eventually I will get the Ringle QR"s reanodised as they are pretty worn and faded but I will live with them for the moment.



An hour or two of tinkering and cutting down a couple of bolts etc and it should be up and running. It also needs a wash as it covered in dust from just sitting. Pictures of the full bike when it's all finished up, hopefully very soon now. Also the big weigh in, I think sub 25lbs is a bit optimistic at present.

 

[gtturbo]

Still a couple of little jobs to finish but the weather was too nice so I had to get out and ride the thing. No wall hanger here.







First impresions are good. The stem needs rising as the position is a bit to racey for my old back and I will get the little bits sorted later this week. Then I will get started on another bucket list bike. I need a smaller bucket !.

 

[zonoskar]

Super nice. The purple is totally not OTT. But not diggin' the white saddle though.

 

[slackboy]

Lots of purple bolts for sale here to finish it off:

https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/lots-of-retro-parts-new-used-nos.470033/
And if you ever decide to part with it....

 

[lukewheels]

that is well balanced IMO.

 

[gtturbo]

In true it's never finished style I've changed up a few parts on this. The Topline cranks will be going in a few weeks to be replaced with CQP's but for now a change of chainrings and outer bolts.



Not sure I like the chainring bolts but they may grow on me.



Thanks to @scant for some Ti SPD axles.



In case you were wondering.

Std Shimano axle



Ti



I don't think I ever listed the finished weight of the bike. Still a couple of small parts to change but nothing substantial.

Currently it stands at,

 

[27motorhead]

I read that brand of your digital scales as Well Hung!

Lovely build and great to see it never “finished” like all the bikes we owned in the 90s where bits were constantly getting changing/upgraded over a period of time...