nomad build kit

[dryfly]

i am buying a nomad with fox talas fork and fox rear shock. i need some advice on the rest of the bike. i ride potapsco and would like to do some moderate downhill stuff later on. i dont want the best or most expensive of everything, the frame and suspension is where i wanted to put my money, and it seems like the nomad is the best all around bike. im 6-1 190lbs if that makes any difference?

thanks.

[gaz]

Urm, depends on your budget and preferences. For example, I personally don't like Shimano stuff, and tend to avoid it. SRAM all the way. XO is very tasty, but I have X9 on both my bikes, and it does the job nicely. Cranks are kinda relative too - I know a lot of people rail on ISIS cranks, for example, but I love my Race Face Turbines and have never had an issue with 'em. (Pete Beers I think is a fan of these too.) Get a Thomson post, whatever saddlee/bars/grips/stem works for you.

Wheels are another matter, though. Get the best ones you can afford. King if you can, DT 240s are almost as good, and Hope Pro seem to be the best bang for the buck. Get 'em custom made to your weight and terrain (there might be a couple of folks on here that could build them for you if you asked really really really nicely - or do what I did and call Mike Garcia at Odds and Endos) and you won't be sorry.

[DMarchy1]

If you are going to ride rocky tough terrain, invest in a very good Wheel set, such as Mavic XL or White industries or american Wheel systems. Second get a strong crank set. Shimano XT is very durable and medium priced. XTR is just too light and will bent to hell in rocky rooty stuff. As for shifters and derailures I agree with Gaz go SRAM but avoid XO as it is way to expensive to destroy or a regular basis on logs and rocks, and You will surely destroy quite a few. Just my two cents. Dave Marchyshyn. Titus Moto-Lite. Learning Patapsco and how to ride Rocky fun stuff.

[DMarchy1]

You may want to talk to the guys at Speedgoat. They are a big Santa Cruz shop and all of their local trails are rocky and technical like Gambril and Patapsco. They will steer you right for a proper build up for your riding prefferences. Locally, Mike at City bikes in chevy chase has a ton of knowledge for a Durable build, But he will first try to get you to sell your nomad frame and Buy a Specialized bike. But after that he will be helpful. Also for a very small but local shop, Owned by a guy who rides Patapsco very frequently, Talk to Jonathan Siebold, Owner of Family Bike shop In Crofton Md 301-261-3618. He will be very helpful with no pressure whatsoever. Let us know how you build it, Please include pictures. Dave Marchyshyn.

[pirate]

If you think you might get into Downhill/Freeride later, I would get some beefy wheels now. This will save you from being pissed later, when you find out you need stronger wheels. A freeride wheel would probably suit you pretty well.
I'd also go with a FR/DH crankset, with a 2 chainrings and a bash guard.
Other people may disagree, but I'm all about getting stuff that I'm not gonna have to upgrade later, and stuff that isn't going to break. Or, if it does break, it won't cost me a fortune to replace. (ie rear derailleur)

Good choice with the Nomad. I hear those things can do EVERYTHING. :)

[pirate]

Also for a very small but local shop, Owned by a guy who rides Patapsco very frequently...

I would check out Fleet Street Cycles, too. Those guys are Santa Cruz dealers and also ride Patapsco a lot.

[dryfly]

ive been talking to donald at fleetstreet about building me one. my freind just bought a heckler off him 2 weeks ago, and is very happy with it. they treated him pretty well, and thats a change from the other local shops ive been too. i haven't heard of family bikes, thats not crofton bike doctor is it?

[DaveG]

ive been talking to donald at fleetstreet about building me one. my freind just bought a heckler off him 2 weeks ago, and is very happy with it. they treated him pretty well, and thats a change from the other local shops ive been too. i haven't heard of family bikes, thats not crofton bike doctor is it?


But if you've been dealing w/ Donald I see no reason to swap. The Nomad is a sweet bike.

As for a good budget build?

I would go SRAM for the shifty bits. X9 is more than good enough. The new LX external bearing cranks are much cheaper than the XT's and look to be almost exactly the same. That's what I put on my Turner.

Disc brakes are very subjective. Try as many as you can and get the ones you like the feel of. I'd get 8 inch rotors though for a Nomad.

Personally I think King hubs are over-priced. I got rid of mine after a year or so because they either were loose or they dragged. Other people swear by them though. I had a lot of problems w/ the DT240's I had as well (cracked the hub shell twice) but I understand that has been taken care of. I think Hope hubs are about the best bang for the buck. Plus some of them are convertable to a 20mm through axle if you really get into the FR stuff and get a bigger fork. Just make sure to get them built by a good wheel builder.


Have fun building your bike!

Dave