cammas
Seamstress
After @Ben-e posted his very nice Surly bike a while ago I said I should post mine, so here it is finally. It’s not gonna be everyone’s cup of tea but then again I didn’t build it for anyone else, I built it for me. Also it’s a bit of read
The original build took about 10 months as I was in no hurry to build it, originally for bike packing only but it’s now my main ride as I really enjoy it. My biggest priority was comfort for multiple days as I’ve had multiple injuries, surgeries including a hip replacement and have now been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Also had to be able recharge my devices when away from home so a dynamo was a must.
This was built on a budget most parts were bought second hand including the frame which was still in its box never built so no high end carbon wheels or that, the fork was the best bargain I bought it for about $200. It was a bit of gamble being so cheap plus from interstate so something could be wrong and it was but I did not find it until after it was built. Turns out the axle was dodgy it was a 15mm Rockshox QR one that tendency to come loose and creak. So I replaced it with a Wolftooth bolt through one and no more issues, problem solved.
Since I built back in September 2018 I have been tweaking it as I go changing out things that didn’t work, didn’t end up liking or failed but the core of the build has remained the same as you can see changes in some of the photos. The ride is great and the frame is versatile, it can convert to singlespeed if needed, I have run suspension up front and regular bars. I have left the cable and brake lines a little longer than normal so I can fit my bag in there, I have purchased a K-lite light and charging system from a mate to charge cache batteries for when away. The rear wheel has now been rebuilt with DT 350 hub.
Anyone who rides at the Youies will see me trundling around there a bit, I’m still amazed what this bike takes in its stride I ride both sides of the park and ride down Lactic Acid, Boulder and Junction track but Cressys is a tad out of its depth or maybe it’s me? I’ve done everything from a couple multi day bike packing trips, 100k gravel grinds, 3hr races to 50min XC races and never tire from riding it.
Well COVID-19 has put a damper on some of the plans I’ve had but I would like to do the Mundi Bindi and the Mawson trails. Below is the specs and some photos with changes along the way.
Frame - 2016 Salsa El Mariachi steel hardtail medium 29er
Rear shock - Nope
Front fork - Salsa Carbon Fire Starter rigid with 15mm axle, did dabble with a SID 100mm fork which did liven the ride up.
Handlebars - Jones 710mm 2.5 riser bars (not as wide as they look)
Stem - Thompson 80mm zero rise
Headset - Cane Creek
Grips - Jones 210mm
Saddle - Started with a Fizik Gobi but now running a Specialized Henge
Seatpost - Usually my Syntace P6 I have swapped this from bike to bike best seat post for a hard tail, sometimes a Thompson post when loaded up.
Front brake -Shimano XT
Rear brake - Shimano XT
Rotors - XT 180mm front and rear
Cranks - Currently Race Face Aeffects with a 28T but will be switching back Shimano XT’s with a 32 when I get some fitness back
Chainguide - Nope
Chain - XT 11spd
Pedals - Shimano XT trail
Front derailleur - Nope
Rear derailleur - SRAM X1 11 speed
Front shifter - Nope
Rear shifter - SRAM X0
Cassette - Started out with Sunrace 11-46 now a Sunrace 10-46
Front hub - SP dynamo
Rear hub - Started with a Chris King but now DT 350 for the XD driver I prefer this to the King
Rims- Spank Oozy 350 (30mm internal)
Spokes - DT Swiss comps
Nipples - Red ones
Tyres - Currently trialing Maxxis Aspens 2.4’s but have run Bonty XR2 2.6 up front with XR3 in the rear, great XC combo
Tubes - No they go in the spares bag just in case.
Extras - K-lite light and charger to run off the dynamo, it charges my cache battery during the day to recharge my phone and computer at night, currently a cheap out front mount from eBay but will change that eventually. I have a variety of bags to go on it mainly brought off Facebook when someone upgraded or didn’t work for them. I have now brought a Snugpak Stratosphere (which I’m yet to test, it’s cross between bivi and a tent packs down small and light) plus one of there jungle blankets for warmer weather.
Total weight - 13.5
Further changes - new headset bearings are required and toying with the idea of an angle set to replicate the feeling of the suspension geo, as it sits around 72 degrees with the rigid on there.
Anyway here’s some photos from over the last couple of years in different configurations as it’s a very versatile bike. When I’m feeling better I’ll get some shots in its current configuration.
The original build took about 10 months as I was in no hurry to build it, originally for bike packing only but it’s now my main ride as I really enjoy it. My biggest priority was comfort for multiple days as I’ve had multiple injuries, surgeries including a hip replacement and have now been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Also had to be able recharge my devices when away from home so a dynamo was a must.
This was built on a budget most parts were bought second hand including the frame which was still in its box never built so no high end carbon wheels or that, the fork was the best bargain I bought it for about $200. It was a bit of gamble being so cheap plus from interstate so something could be wrong and it was but I did not find it until after it was built. Turns out the axle was dodgy it was a 15mm Rockshox QR one that tendency to come loose and creak. So I replaced it with a Wolftooth bolt through one and no more issues, problem solved.
Since I built back in September 2018 I have been tweaking it as I go changing out things that didn’t work, didn’t end up liking or failed but the core of the build has remained the same as you can see changes in some of the photos. The ride is great and the frame is versatile, it can convert to singlespeed if needed, I have run suspension up front and regular bars. I have left the cable and brake lines a little longer than normal so I can fit my bag in there, I have purchased a K-lite light and charging system from a mate to charge cache batteries for when away. The rear wheel has now been rebuilt with DT 350 hub.
Anyone who rides at the Youies will see me trundling around there a bit, I’m still amazed what this bike takes in its stride I ride both sides of the park and ride down Lactic Acid, Boulder and Junction track but Cressys is a tad out of its depth or maybe it’s me? I’ve done everything from a couple multi day bike packing trips, 100k gravel grinds, 3hr races to 50min XC races and never tire from riding it.
Well COVID-19 has put a damper on some of the plans I’ve had but I would like to do the Mundi Bindi and the Mawson trails. Below is the specs and some photos with changes along the way.
Frame - 2016 Salsa El Mariachi steel hardtail medium 29er
Rear shock - Nope
Front fork - Salsa Carbon Fire Starter rigid with 15mm axle, did dabble with a SID 100mm fork which did liven the ride up.
Handlebars - Jones 710mm 2.5 riser bars (not as wide as they look)
Stem - Thompson 80mm zero rise
Headset - Cane Creek
Grips - Jones 210mm
Saddle - Started with a Fizik Gobi but now running a Specialized Henge
Seatpost - Usually my Syntace P6 I have swapped this from bike to bike best seat post for a hard tail, sometimes a Thompson post when loaded up.
Front brake -Shimano XT
Rear brake - Shimano XT
Rotors - XT 180mm front and rear
Cranks - Currently Race Face Aeffects with a 28T but will be switching back Shimano XT’s with a 32 when I get some fitness back
Chainguide - Nope
Chain - XT 11spd
Pedals - Shimano XT trail
Front derailleur - Nope
Rear derailleur - SRAM X1 11 speed
Front shifter - Nope
Rear shifter - SRAM X0
Cassette - Started out with Sunrace 11-46 now a Sunrace 10-46
Front hub - SP dynamo
Rear hub - Started with a Chris King but now DT 350 for the XD driver I prefer this to the King
Rims- Spank Oozy 350 (30mm internal)
Spokes - DT Swiss comps
Nipples - Red ones
Tyres - Currently trialing Maxxis Aspens 2.4’s but have run Bonty XR2 2.6 up front with XR3 in the rear, great XC combo
Tubes - No they go in the spares bag just in case.
Extras - K-lite light and charger to run off the dynamo, it charges my cache battery during the day to recharge my phone and computer at night, currently a cheap out front mount from eBay but will change that eventually. I have a variety of bags to go on it mainly brought off Facebook when someone upgraded or didn’t work for them. I have now brought a Snugpak Stratosphere (which I’m yet to test, it’s cross between bivi and a tent packs down small and light) plus one of there jungle blankets for warmer weather.
Total weight - 13.5
Further changes - new headset bearings are required and toying with the idea of an angle set to replicate the feeling of the suspension geo, as it sits around 72 degrees with the rigid on there.
Anyway here’s some photos from over the last couple of years in different configurations as it’s a very versatile bike. When I’m feeling better I’ll get some shots in its current configuration.
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