Jarrett2

So, I've been riding for 3 years now. I really enjoy riding, but I've also found that I really enjoy wrenching on bikes. Over the last 3 years, I've slowly learned how to work on each of the various parts of a bicycle. That being the case, I got it in my mind that I'd one day want to build a bike from the frame up. I figured I could use stuff that I had laying around the garage and buy what I didn't have and throw it all together.

So, I started keeping my eye out for steel frames that I wanted to build. Initially, I was just thinking of buying something and selling it, but as I got into it, I figured I might as well build towards something I would like so I could keep it and ride it. After looking around for a while, I started this thread: https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycli...tml?highlight=

I finally settled on the Black Mountain Cycles road frame after heading good feedback from @dr_lha on his build with them as well as speaking with Mike Varley. I liked his one man approach to producing affordable, steel bikes. Not to mention, I dug the color of his current road frame. So, I reached out and talked to him about what I was planning. He made me a good package deal on the frameset + the parts I was missing, so I ended up ordering everything through him. Paid via Paypal, he got it all shipped out fast and it showed up, well packed at my door last Tuesday.

My goal was to take my time with it, but it was too much fun and I got it 98% knocked out by Friday afternoon. I was missing a couple of parts, so I stopped there. I did a 150 bike tour over Memorial Day weekend, then had some stuff to catch up on when I got back. Today, I finished the build.

It was a fun process. Not really any gotcha's at all. I'm sure buying the stuff from Mike certainly helped with that. I have to admit, I was a little disappointed how easy it was. I thought there would be some tougher part in there, but all in all, it just worked and went by fast. I did goof up one brake cable, but picked up another one over the weekend and fixed that.

I didn't use any books, just stuff I've picked up along the way, GCN videos and a couple of calls to Mike. He was very cool about answering some questions over the phone and getting everything squared away.

I'll post some pics up in the following posts. With no carbon fiber parts (that I can think of) no-name Taiwanese steel frame and fork, lower end SRAM Rival, run of the mill wheels, the bike came in weighing 20.0 lbs with every thing but the pedals. I tried hard to get it to say 19.9, but 20.0 was the best I could get the scale to read. So with Ultegra, Force, DuraAce, Red, it would be well under 20. For a no-name, nothing special, non branded tubeset and cheap steel fork.

Hoping this rain will let up so I can put some miles on it. Thinking about taking it on vacation with me next week if all the long test rides go well.

Here's a pic at the final build point with pedals:

Jarrett2

More pics from the build:

Jarrett2

dr_lha

20lbs is great with the steel fork. Looks great as well. Yep, building bikes is easy, I rebuilt my DB over the weekend and it took no time at all.

I love my monster cross, took it out for a 20 mile gravel ride on Friday and it was so much fun. Sadly my riding is curtailed right now while I wait for my wife to go into labor!

Jarrett2

I should mention this is for a 56cm with the headset already pressed in and the front DR installed. Not sure how much less that would have made it.

Turzy

great looking bike !

ColonelSanders

Why does the scale read "411.0"?

Jarrett2

Hehe, its 4 lbs 11 ounces or 4.6875 lbs which includes the frame, the Chris King headset, the front DR clamp, shim, front DR and chain catcher.

The uncut fork weighed 2lbs 2 ounces or 2.125 lbs. I'm not sure how much it weighed after I cut the steerer tube down.

ColonelSanders

Thanks.

Did you keep the bit of the steerer tube you cut off?

If you weigh that you can then subtract from the uncut fork weight.

Jarrett2

Looks like it was a little over an ounce. So around 2 lbs for the cut fork.

Looks like I'd save 1.2+ lbs if I went to an Enve 2.0 fork, putting it in the 18 lb range similar to my Gunnar. But that would also increase the price $387. Might as well get a Ritchey Road Logic or Fairdale Goodship frameset for that amount.

Duck0872

Nice build, that's a good looking ride. I must admit that for myself, riding the bike is really only half the fun. Wrenching on it is the other half!

dr_lha

Sometimes it's not about weight. The lugged fork looks really nice IMHO. Not as nice as the one on the Monster Cross... but there you go.

Jarrett2

Say wha?

Jarrett2

Just punching some numbers in, this $595 no-name tubeset Asian frame (with free fork) weighs essentially the same (.2 lbs more) as my $950 Gunnar Roadie True Temper OX Platinum frame. Something to keep in mind when considering a new steel frame.

I'm sure the Ritchey Road Logic frame is lighter than both, but I wonder how much the Fairdale Goodship frame weighs by comparison.

It seems paying for a named tubeset these days doesn't necessarily mean significantly lighter pr perhaps even better.

corwin1968

Nice bike! I enjoy following Black Mountain's blog. The guy knows his stuff.

I also dig the "Grok" mixer bottle in the background!

DMC707

Yes --- I have "nicer" framesets in inventory, -- but I am very pleased with the Columbus Aelle framesets I used in my youth - so much so that I am restoring my Aelle tubed race wagon from 1995, and while I am busy compiling parts/ getting it re-sprayed, etc. - I purchased an identical Aellle frame from the same maker, only different color to ride in the meantime with a triple chainring groupset on it

Difference, --- about 1 to 1.5 pounds over the super thin Pegaso tubeset w/ carbon rear seat stays on my recently built Pinarello with Dura Ace

-- basically not enough to quibble over for my tastes

americanrecluse

Ooh that brand new unmolested paint job on the frame is so pretty! Great job. You got a handsome bike!

hammond9705

Nice bike. It's fun building up frames, and allows you to get it just the way you want

2 small notes
-I think that you have too much cable housing going into the rear der
-I would rotate the bars some. Typical is to have the ends parallel to the ground

Jarrett2

Yeah, newbie mistake. I added too much housing at the rear. Shifts great, but I'll fix that when I change cables at some point. And I rotated the bars down this morning as part a fit adjustment.

I just got back from taking the new bike out for a 40 mile shakedown, group ride and I came back really impressed. That frameset is nice! Rides really smooth. No flex detected even when I stood on a 10% hill and got after it. Got it up to 34.4 mph on a descent and it was nice and controlled. The SRAM Rival 22 shifted great. I think I can tweak it once the cables break in and get it even smoother.

Overall, I came back way more impressed with this bike than I expected to. Mike Varley is making some cool bikes out there. Everyone that saw it really dug the orange. At first, I didn't like the color as much as I'd hoped, but once I got all the parts on there, I think it looks pretty dang good.

dbikingman

Nice looking bike. Thanks for the detailed report and information I found it useful.

Kobe 

Mike Varley does make it easy to put his bikes together. Almost everything about what you need to know is on his website.

I do like like new orange of his road bikes better than my V3 cross bike. It's a bit more subdued.

Steel is such a comfortable material to ride. Last week I rode 72 miles into Philly and it felt great.

Rdbkdave68

That's my dream bike! I'm hopefully picking one of them soon.

rgconner

Oh hey, they are out in Point Reyes Station, one of my favorite towns!

Gonna have to hop on the BMW and ride out there to check them out... safer than the car, I don't think I could strap a bicycle to it!

Jarrett2

I don't think you'll regret it. Working with Mike Varley on my two bike builds was one of the best cycling purchases I've made.

NoGears

Try getting warranty service on a no-name asian frame. If it happens at all...you'll be out months of time and a lot of money for shipping the frame back to the factory. So sure...if you aren't concerned about warranty...sometimes the cheap frames are a good option. But if paying more gets you a good warranty from someone reputable...that's worth some of the cost IMO.