Hi all.
I don't post much here, but since I basically got the idea to build my daughter a custom MTB from other MTBR users who had done the same, I thought I'd share. I'm a fairly avid mountain biker - get out as much as I can. I've been riding some easy trails with my 10-year old daughter, but she struggled with her 30 lbs 24" Cannondale not-quite-a-MTB bike. It's suitable for pedaling around the neighborhood, not so much single track. I considered getting her one of the nicer, kid-specific MTBs - maybe a TrailCraft or Transition Ripcord. But after reading here about some of the great builds based on the TideAce FM-M001 frame, I decided to go that route. I was pretty sure I could put something together that was lighter and for about the same cost as some of the nicest kids MTBs out there (and I'll admit, I work in the bike industry and have access to some pretty good pricing - especially on wheel components). In the end, I still probably went a little overboard trying to get this thing under 20 lbs. But once that seemed doable, I shot for 19 lbs. Finally ended up at 18.4 lbs (with pedals and sealant), and that was only because we couldn't get first choice of heavier tires to set up on the Crest rims. The Rocket Rons worked - and came in lighter than expected. I probably could have pushed it under 18 lbs (titanium bolts, I9 hubs and titanium spokes...) but this thing was already kind of ridiculous!
Shoutout for the nice people at TideAce: great service, fast delivery, well-packaged, weights right on target, and beautiful product. Chameleon paint job was a little darker than I expected, but still very nice and my kid loves it.
Anyway, here's the build:
TideAce FM-M001 14” Frame
TideAce Handlebar – 660mm
SuperCaz Siliconez Grips
Wake Stem
TideAce Supplied Headset
Unbranded Carbon Seatpost
SDG Component Fly Jr. Saddle
RockSox Factory Float 26” 100mm QR
SRAM NX Crankset – 155mm
AEST Ti Axle Pedals
North Shore Billet ChainRing 28t x 94mm BCD
SRAM GXP BB
SRAM PC X1 Chain
SRAM GX 11sp Shifter
SRAM GX1x11 Long Cage RD
SRAM XX1 XG1199 10-42t
SRAM Guide RS Hydraulic Brakes
Campy AFS CLD Rotor – 160mm
Stans 24” Crest Rims – 24h f/r
Bitex BX106 Front/Rear CenterLock Disc Hubs
Pillar PDB1416 Spokes
Sapim Polyax 14mm Alloy Nipples
Schwalbe Rocket Ron 24x2.1 Tires
Orange Sealant
Titanium QR Skewers
Total weight (w/pedals): 18.4 lbs
My daughter is just on the cusp of being able to ride 26" wheels, so we'll rebuild these when she's tall enough. But the 24s work perfectly right now and look just fine. I expect the frame will last her into high school - and when she outgrows it, I'll just put the components on another $300 carbon frame. The weather here has been kind of lousy since Christmas, so we've only done some gravel roads - most of the local trails have been closed. But man can she move on this bike! She had struggled with even small climbs, but now should be able to handle most of what's on offer here in central NC.
Anyway, to everyone here who did this before me and shared their builds, thanks for the inspiration!
(Oh, and for the record, Annika always wears a helmet - this was just a quick spin on Christmas morning around the driveway - a photo op really!)
I don't post much here, but since I basically got the idea to build my daughter a custom MTB from other MTBR users who had done the same, I thought I'd share. I'm a fairly avid mountain biker - get out as much as I can. I've been riding some easy trails with my 10-year old daughter, but she struggled with her 30 lbs 24" Cannondale not-quite-a-MTB bike. It's suitable for pedaling around the neighborhood, not so much single track. I considered getting her one of the nicer, kid-specific MTBs - maybe a TrailCraft or Transition Ripcord. But after reading here about some of the great builds based on the TideAce FM-M001 frame, I decided to go that route. I was pretty sure I could put something together that was lighter and for about the same cost as some of the nicest kids MTBs out there (and I'll admit, I work in the bike industry and have access to some pretty good pricing - especially on wheel components). In the end, I still probably went a little overboard trying to get this thing under 20 lbs. But once that seemed doable, I shot for 19 lbs. Finally ended up at 18.4 lbs (with pedals and sealant), and that was only because we couldn't get first choice of heavier tires to set up on the Crest rims. The Rocket Rons worked - and came in lighter than expected. I probably could have pushed it under 18 lbs (titanium bolts, I9 hubs and titanium spokes...) but this thing was already kind of ridiculous!
Shoutout for the nice people at TideAce: great service, fast delivery, well-packaged, weights right on target, and beautiful product. Chameleon paint job was a little darker than I expected, but still very nice and my kid loves it.
Anyway, here's the build:
TideAce FM-M001 14” Frame
TideAce Handlebar – 660mm
SuperCaz Siliconez Grips
Wake Stem
TideAce Supplied Headset
Unbranded Carbon Seatpost
SDG Component Fly Jr. Saddle
RockSox Factory Float 26” 100mm QR
SRAM NX Crankset – 155mm
AEST Ti Axle Pedals
North Shore Billet ChainRing 28t x 94mm BCD
SRAM GXP BB
SRAM PC X1 Chain
SRAM GX 11sp Shifter
SRAM GX1x11 Long Cage RD
SRAM XX1 XG1199 10-42t
SRAM Guide RS Hydraulic Brakes
Campy AFS CLD Rotor – 160mm
Stans 24” Crest Rims – 24h f/r
Bitex BX106 Front/Rear CenterLock Disc Hubs
Pillar PDB1416 Spokes
Sapim Polyax 14mm Alloy Nipples
Schwalbe Rocket Ron 24x2.1 Tires
Orange Sealant
Titanium QR Skewers
Total weight (w/pedals): 18.4 lbs
My daughter is just on the cusp of being able to ride 26" wheels, so we'll rebuild these when she's tall enough. But the 24s work perfectly right now and look just fine. I expect the frame will last her into high school - and when she outgrows it, I'll just put the components on another $300 carbon frame. The weather here has been kind of lousy since Christmas, so we've only done some gravel roads - most of the local trails have been closed. But man can she move on this bike! She had struggled with even small climbs, but now should be able to handle most of what's on offer here in central NC.
Anyway, to everyone here who did this before me and shared their builds, thanks for the inspiration!
(Oh, and for the record, Annika always wears a helmet - this was just a quick spin on Christmas morning around the driveway - a photo op really!)
