I wanted to build a mountain bike for trail and cross country riding. I rode on a number of different bikes, both 26 and 29s, to compare the ride and performance. I wasn’t going to race, especially not downhill. I wanted a “comfortable” bike. I wasn’t too sure what I meant by that but I found, for example that hardtails that I had ridden were “twitchy” to me, transmitting every rocky bump. When I rode a 29r I said, “that’s it!”, and I wanted a full suspension 29r.
I am not getting any younger nor any stronger, quite the contrary, so I wanted a light bike, anything but the battle tank weight of the full suspension Raleigh that I had been pounding along the trails for the past several years.
I started with the frame. I wanted the latest technology in 29r frame design, so a 2012 frame, not last year’s model.
I wanted a light frame, but this year’s carbon 29r frames are very, very expensive and I wanted to spend nearer to $1,000 than $2,000 and beyond.
From everything I had read about modern frames, I wanted a relaxed head angle.
Horsethief frame, small, 16inch
RockShox Revelation RCT3 Dual Position Fork 2012
Stan's Custon Wheels, ZTR Arch EX Rims, 3.30HD Disc 20mm front hub, 3.30HD 12x142mm Thru Axle rear hub
Easton Haven Stem 0 degrees, 31.8mm 1 1-8th inch, Bronze 85mm
Azonic Fusion magnesium platform pedals
Cane Creek 110 series Headset, Tapered ZS, black, ZS44 upper cup, ZS56 lower cup.
Ergon Performance Grips
Forte Pro Carbon Seatpost 31.6mm
Kenda Navegal 29 x 2.2 tubeless tires
Pro Moto 3 flat, 11 degree, 660mm Handlebar
SRAM Elixer 5, 160mm, 6-bolt, HS1 Rotor & lever front brake
SRAM Elixer 5, 180mm, 6-bolt, HS1 Rotor & Lever rear brake
SRAM GXP, 73mm English, Bottom Bracket
SRAM PG 1030 SRAM XG01080 11-36, 10 speed cassette
SRAM X0 3x10 - bottom pull, tube mount, front Derailleur
SRAM X0 ten-speed arear Derailleur
SRAM X0 Trigger Shifters , 3x10 Pair
SRAM X.0 crank
SRAM X.0 GXP 3x10 crankset
Avid Elixer Break Hose (red)
When I put all those together, I found a 2012 model, a 6.5lb aluminum frame, with head tube angle of 68.6degrees, at a cost of $1,399. I followed the line across the page and read the name: Salsa Horsethief. It had been a matter of logic and not of color of tube, nor advertising, nor name salivation. I had never heard of the Horsethief.
So I read up on the salsa Horsethief. It was not even available at the time so I read the reviews of the pre-production rides and the descriptions fitted the conception of the ride I wanted. So Horsethief it was and I ordered the frame.
Then I researched a list of compatible components. They had to be lighter than the stock items in the Salsa build and of a higher quality but always baring in mind my age-limited ability. I had fallen in love with the SRAM components on my Jamis Endura II road bike. Great engineering (Double Tap) and excellent, reliable build quality. this led to SRAM XO drive train set and other SRAM compatible components. I also found a cheaper and lighter front fork, RockShox Revelation RCT3 Dual Position Fork 2012.
The other component that gave me a lot of trouble – other than finding a compatible headset, what a jungle head sets have become! – were the wheels. I wanted t go tubeless. Stan’s, no question. But none of their standard 29r builds had the requisite combination of hubs and axle sizes so I had to order custom built Stan’s wheels. And I am glad that I did. I never thought that I would salivate over a pair of such beautiful bike wheels!
Here is the complete list of components with weights – actual weights since I weighed them myself to an accuracy of 1 gram – and cost.
Finally all the components arrived and I had a bike in a box.
