Sep 08
25
Yes I know i haven’t finished the niner yet but I’ve started my next project. I’ve had the itch to swap out my intense 5.5 to something newer for my main ride. Originally I had planned on just getting an updated 5.5 frame. As it turns out my beloved 5.5 frame is no more, it’s being replaced with the new tracer. The new tracer is actually a really versatile bike being adjustable from 5.5 to 6″ in the rear. It also has an upgraded vpp system as well as built in grease ports. All in all I think it’s a worthy successor to my favorite ride. Demand seems pretty high so I had Paul at Bike Doc order me one up. As it turns out I may have this in my hands sooner than I had hoped. Maybe in as little as a few weeks.
After riding Douthat a couple weekends ago on my 5.5 I decided I couldn’t bring myself to dismantle it for parts as I had intended. The plan now is to keep the 5.5 in tact as my backup ride and instead break the blur down for parts and use the parts to bring up the niner.
I have pretty much the whole build kit for the tracer in hand now.
It’s going to shake out as follows
Avid Elixir CR brakes
Shimano XT Cranks
Thomson Post
Thomson x4 0 stem
Revelation 426 Dual Air/Air U-Turn with maxle
FSA K-Force XC Riser Bar
XTR 34.9mm top swing/top pull front derailleur
Sram X9 Rear Der
SRAM X.9 Trigger Shifters
SRAM PC91 Chain
King 1.5 – 1 1/8 Headset
Hope Pro II / Mavic 717 wheels
I picked up the kit to convert my current hopes to thru axle for the maxle. The DT wheels from the blur will then get swapped over to the 5.5 after I rebuild the rear wheel. The blur parts are going to slide over to the niner emd and I’ll have the Blur on hand as a backup frame.
I haven’t been this excited over a new bike in a long time. I can’t wait to get her built up and out on my fav trails.
Some photos of parts etc are here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashmorefamily/sets/72157607485929402/
