Needed to replace my Ross Mt. Whitney I purchased in ~1982, my oldest son took it to college and I really wanted a MTB. Build up a Giant 860 frame with a Trek component set from a bent 970 frame a friend abandoned at my house for 8 years. Beat the crap out of my old body, so it was time to drop some cash on a new bike. After looking around, getting abused by all the LBS (sorry, but I know crap when I hear it) it was time for a MO bike, started researching and it was clear a 29er was for me. After much hand wringing I arrived at the FantomPro29.
Bike arrived UPS as per web based tracking. I immediately stripped the bike down to the frame and repainted it. I hate having the same old look everyone else has. I have always like Shimano products so I changed the cranks, not really needed, stock cranks are very nice. Gave the stock seat to my son and changed to a fatboy gel seat.
Pluses:
Nice frame, clean welds, nice ride.
Decent component selection, esp the derailleurs/shifts/fork.
Minuses:
- I didn’t really like the wheels. The spokes aren’t loaded correctly, the rims don’t have eyelets and 32* rims don’t give this 240lbs Clyde confidence. I rebuilt them correctly and turned them into my commuter wheels.
- Seatpost, stem and handlebars are throw away.
- Juicy 3 aren’t really my idea of good brakes. I upgraded them to BB7s.
So here it is:
- Tora 318 Solo Air (stock)
- Shimano LX cranks
- Shimano 520 pedals
- Shimano XT derailleurs (stock)
- Shimano LX shifter (stock)
- Ritchey seatpost
- Easton Monkey Lite CB low risers 25.4mm bars
- Forte 100mm stem
- Chris King Dreadset (not needed, I just like his products)
- BB7 180mm rear/203 front with Avid levers
- Street wheels: Stock WTB rims, rebuilt with correct spoke loading, Michelin City 47mm tires with stock 11-32 cassette.
- Off road wheels: XT 756 hubs (36 hole), DT 2.0mm spokes, Mavic 317 rims with stock WTB Raptor tires, LX 11-34 cassette.
Pix are with my commuter wheels and rear view mirror, sorry, it’s deadly in the NW ‘burbs.
Bike arrived UPS as per web based tracking. I immediately stripped the bike down to the frame and repainted it. I hate having the same old look everyone else has. I have always like Shimano products so I changed the cranks, not really needed, stock cranks are very nice. Gave the stock seat to my son and changed to a fatboy gel seat.
Pluses:
Nice frame, clean welds, nice ride.
Decent component selection, esp the derailleurs/shifts/fork.
Minuses:
- I didn’t really like the wheels. The spokes aren’t loaded correctly, the rims don’t have eyelets and 32* rims don’t give this 240lbs Clyde confidence. I rebuilt them correctly and turned them into my commuter wheels.
- Seatpost, stem and handlebars are throw away.
- Juicy 3 aren’t really my idea of good brakes. I upgraded them to BB7s.
So here it is:
- Tora 318 Solo Air (stock)
- Shimano LX cranks
- Shimano 520 pedals
- Shimano XT derailleurs (stock)
- Shimano LX shifter (stock)
- Ritchey seatpost
- Easton Monkey Lite CB low risers 25.4mm bars
- Forte 100mm stem
- Chris King Dreadset (not needed, I just like his products)
- BB7 180mm rear/203 front with Avid levers
- Street wheels: Stock WTB rims, rebuilt with correct spoke loading, Michelin City 47mm tires with stock 11-32 cassette.
- Off road wheels: XT 756 hubs (36 hole), DT 2.0mm spokes, Mavic 317 rims with stock WTB Raptor tires, LX 11-34 cassette.
Pix are with my commuter wheels and rear view mirror, sorry, it’s deadly in the NW ‘burbs.