So as you can probably tell from the above, I chose to abandon my Suntour build plan.
I thought long and hard about it, but ultimately decided the group I have belongs on another bike.
I wanted this OR to feel exactly right, and in keeping with what the Race was designed for: a high quality, tough-as-nails XC machine from the early 90s. Which meant functional components instead of flair. Not that XC Pro isn't functional, just that if any bike is calling out for the classic XT treatment, it's this one.
So the usual M730/32/35 mix was sourced. All in good mechanical shape, with some pieces in more aesthetically pleasing condition than others! The highlight being this very low mileage crankset:
Brakes, levers and thumbies all quickly followed, most of those coming from John, the same guy that supplied the XXL frame. The brake calipers came from eBay, arriving in quite possibly the best packaging I've received yet:
Nicely done!
I thought long and hard about really committing to the all black Johnny Cash build and sourcing the black XT calipers, rings and cranks, and I still may switch over to some of those at some point, but my gut told me to stick with classic silver components. They always work so nicely against a black frame and fork, and the Suntour seatpost would stick out a little without them there to balance everything out.
On the subject of...
I found a cheap, cheerful and very, very thrashed pair of Suntour XC-II's at the Marin swap the other week. And they felt like the perfect addition to this build. Well-worn, hard-ridden, and, hopefully, right at home:
Now, I think most other bikes would suffer from having something this beat-up on them, but for me they just add to the charm of this particular build's overall vibe. I want it to feel like it's been raced! Although, admittedly, I won't think twice if I can source another set in better shape at a similarly reasonable price. ($25!)
I'm not sure anyone needs to see another photo of an old XT cockpit, or the matching brakes, but just in case...
And that's most of the bike covered, except for a few small finishing touches.
Those I'll save for the "final" update, with photos of the finished build and the accompanying spec sheet.
Mainly because I also forgot to really take any photos during the finishing stages! Other than these two during cabling up:
It was pretty fun figuring out all the correct lengths of housing and getting the Bontrager approved cable routing just right.
Anyway, the bike was completed last week and went in for a tuneup at the LBS on Monday. I always like to have them checkover my work, and I'm pleased to report that this time there was very little at all to be done.
I'm getting better at this, I guess!