650b Croix De Fer - Congratulations, it's an apple.

Purchases made!

105 10sp 50/34 cranks
XT 9sp 11-34 cassette
Deore 9sp rear derailleur
KMC 9sp chain.

So I think I just need to order mudguards, tyres & tubes, and then if I can talk my LBS into helping me build up on the weekend, I'll be ready to roll pretty soon.

On tyres - Compass Babyshoe Pass or Grand Bois Hetre?

Went for the Babyshoe Pass in the end, Velovitality had them in stock and I forgot to look at Acycles for Hetres.

I think everything's ordered now, more or less! Waiting on the wheel build, changed tack from Arch to Crest rims, as I wasn't keen to wait another 3 weeks for more stock of the Arches.

Might not get it built up this weekend, but hopefully try and get some bits done through next week if the wheels are ready.

Really looking forward to seeing how this pans out!

Hah! Me too. I am getting tantalising picture messages from the mate that's building my wheels!

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This has ended up being one of those really shit threads where there's not many photos and loads of talk and then just a bike at the end of it.

Over beer and pizza it was built up last night, with the help of (i.e. I mostly stood and watched) my mate Luke in the LBS' workshop/cave. A hugely generous man.

It rides super nice, feels really quick, and feels only fractionally heavier (if at all) than the pompino it replaces.

Still need to fit guards (so fiddle, very spacer, wow), and the lights, which might prove to be a bit of a bastard. The handlebar switch for the light is not very long, definitely not gonna reach the bars. Not really sure what to do about that.

On the long(ish) to-do list is a Mitto M18 and a Big Top rando bag, but I think my bank account needs a rest.

Sorry about the iphone pic.

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Looking very nice. I may have both the items you seek, Bigtop and M18, pm me if you're interested.

Hah! Awwwwww shit. Will do in a mo!

Like it! Sorry if I missed this earlier but what do you reckon the max tyre size you can use with/without guards?

Cheers man!

They're 650bx42 and the guards will be fine. Plenty of room at that size, though things might get tricky if you went much bigger!

Not really sure what mudguard options exist above the 52mm zeppelins I test fitted, but they were/would be getting a bit tight on the rear as the stays narrow...

looks great, are the guards fitted yet? how different does it feel compared to a 700c wheelset? is the BB height ok?

Not really sure what mudguard options exist above the 52mm zeppelins.

Fat 26" MTB one will do, or 55mm road.

Thanks man! Might even take proper photos once it's "finished" :)

Mudguards: Not yet - was working all weekend so didn't touch the bike! Planning to get them on this weekend. Luckily it's been largely dry.

The wheels, I think, feel pretty light. They seem to spin up pretty keenly. I can only really feel the weight of the bike while climbing.

However, the rear did go hugely out of true (resulting in at least 6 very loose spokes) on the nds whilst riding home tonight. Going back to the shop tomorrow so they can take a look. Don't remember barrelling through any big potholes or whatever, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen.

No pedal strike issues whatsoever on 165mm, but we've not been off-road yet.

Sound like poor build rather.

I kinda thought so too, but if so I'll put down to an "off day". Not hugely worried or annoyed at all as the same guy built my last set of wheels and they were excellent - utterly bombproof. Maybe hasn't built with these rims before..

Maybe hasn't built with these rims before..

Or build a wheel with disc, as the wheel lacing pattern must be build around disc braking.

I think that sound very likely what happened since it's on the NDS, he must have build it like a conventional rims brake wheel resulting in the spokes getting loose when applying the brakes.

Nah he builds a lot of mtb/disc wheelsets. They're laced as above.

How's this riding?

Lovely bike, glad you went with this over the LHT. Can you take a photo of the tyre clearance on the front when you get a chance, considering using that fork on a future project.

Yeah, thread needs more pics! Looks like a great bike.

Oops! Haven't been on the forum for a while!

Thanks all! Sorry about the lack of pics - been busy riiiiddding and didn't want to take proper ones till it was more or less done. Will take some at the weekend :)

Finally got the mudguards fitted and the front lamp wired in ahead of a few miles this weekend.
A few more jobs to do - like fit mud flap & rear lamp, but that's less important for now.

@Silly_Savage I'll try to remember clearance pics, but I'd say it's ample - the front mudguard is spaced 12mm down from the underside of the fork crown to meet the tyre. Less clearance at the sides of course, but still pretty good.

Awesome build.. where did you get your front rack?

Oh yeah, I read that just after, don't worry about the photo, sounds grand!

Thanks! It's a Minourah Gamoh from the super-helpful Really Useful Bikes :)

One photo was all I could manage. Sorry :(

There's a long-ish, low priority to-do list. Fitting a Nitto M18 is at the top of that list, but that'll wait till I've got a BigxTop rando bag.

Did 70something mixed surface miles on it last Saturday and had a great time. Can't really fault the bike at all, in fact I am in deep smit.

Rode my alu framed, 23c tyred road bike today and had nowehere near as much fun :(