GT Peace SS build - newbie

Some help please.

Am committed to building up my first SS. Just bought a second hand GT Peace frame. The seller included a crane creek headset (without the star nut).

The frame is disc only and has a EBB. It is a small frame size.

Can someone give me some guidance on building this up. I have a modest budget.

I do not know where to start in trems of a suitable BB, cranks and chainset.

I think I will go for rigid forks - again any suggestions?

Are there any websites that will guide me through the steps and processes of building the frame up from scratch?

Thanks in anticipation.

Scott

You're intending on riding this SS off-road, right?

Yes. Assuming I can get it built...

Hmmmm. In which case I bow out, I know nothing about off-road SS. Some dudes on here do though - and also try search function. Good luck.

the hard jobs are bottom bracket and headset fitting, if you don't have the tools and have no intention of buying them, it might be better to get a shop to fit these items.

park tools website has step by step instructions for most jobs

Thanks. I guess my main problem is not knowing what type of components etc to get in the first place.

i would get hollowtech II cranks with the external bearing bb, nice and stiff and reasonably light.
sell the chainrings and treat yourself to a surly stainless ring, they last for ages.
forks either kona p2's bontrager, superstar or on-one carbon ridgids.

Buy the Shimano XT hollowtech cranks that Tynan was selling.

External bottom bracket are the future, extremely hardwearing! I have truvativ howitzers on my dirtjump mtb thing.

Theres really not much to concern yourself about when building a SS mtb, singlespeed kits (spacers, cog) and chain tensioners are readily availble very cheap and reliable.

Cheers guys. I may come back for more help as things progress.

tynans xt's, all you need, you obviously don't need a tensioner. persoanlly i prefer narrow cassette body ss hubs (hope, profile etc) for a dishless wheel rather than converted 9speed or screw-on freewheels as they are all crap apart from the white industries ones which are bling expensive but worth it

middlebrun uno cranks; possibly get the arms from ebay then new chairing from CRC. local bikeshop should fit for a couple of quid if you have no tool.

kona p2 forks; looks like the frame was intended for sus

i looked at these myself. grab it off ebay?

can somebody please explain why a square taper middleburns are mentioned whenever singlespeed mtb's are? they are expensive not particularly light and certainly not as stiff as an external bb crank with a wide hollow axle. if they were a better choice for a MTB why are they not specced on full mtb builds (geared)? is it just a fashion thing?
everybody knows isis bb's are crap as the bearings are small and the axles on square taper flex more compared to a larger hollow tube (hollowtech 2).

maybe it's like velocity deep-v's, harsh ride when built with a high flange hub, heavy but essential for the aerodynamic advantage riding between hoxton and the mile end road?

square taper BBs are proper shit on mountain bikes if you ride anything other than canal towpaths

External bearing b.b are one of the best improvements in road and mbt technology for a long time. Better by design on every level.

yep, the only reason you see ST set ups on track and TT bikes is Q-factor..

and DA track is splined anyway now innit.

anyway, I digress

oh, I have two pairs of rigid mtb forks.

re; the rigid forks.

if you are offering for sale - how much? I am interested.

yup, have a pair of kona p2 forks. Black, with disc mounts. used.

And a pair of brand new unmounted, chrome BMX style forks for 26" wheel. Pretty rare, dont know where they are from. 100% Chromoly. With canti mounts.

£20ish each? not based in London, but can bring em on saturday if you are definetly interested.

yup, have a pair of kona p2 forks. Black, with disc mounts. used.

And a pair of brand new unmounted, chrome BMX style forks for 26" wheel. Pretty rare, dont know where they are from. 100% Chromoly. With canti mounts.

£20ish each? not based in London, but can bring em on saturday if you are definitely interested.

careful on your fork choice. the original forks on a GT Peace are unusually long at 470mm axle-to-crown. at this length the bike runs a teensy bit unresponsive but i've also run rigid 445mm forks on it (and 100mm RS Toras suspension) and it runs great. Any shorter - will cock up the ride.

can't comment too much on BB and cranks. I've run sq. taper with no problems for years. I've also had little complaint with ISIS (maybe I'm a light rider?) for the year I ran them. I haven't gone to external BBs yet but i've heard mud and dirt ingress can be a problem on these.

thanks Skeletonboy/Minsterman. very helpful.

Minsterman - what brand of square taper cranks/BB have you been running?

yup, have a pair of kona p2 forks. Black, with disc mounts. used.

And a pair of brand new unmounted, chrome BMX style forks for 26" wheel. Pretty rare, dont know where they are from. 100% Chromoly. With canti mounts.

£20ish each? not based in London, but can bring em on saturday if you are definetly interested.
I'll take the chromes if the OP doesn't want them.

thanks Skeletonboy/Minsterman. very helpful.

Minsterman - what brand of square taper cranks/BB have you been running?

Shimano UN52 / UN53 run fine.