Big Wheels - IF Ti Deluxe 29'er

this bike is insane!

set-up the "bike shop" in front of the sox game sat night since the living rm is cleared-out for painting (notice the blue painter's tape in other pics to hold cables on). this is the 3rd or 4th bike i've built from the frame-up, but the first one i've done outside of andy's basement (ie, w/o him building!). it's amazing what happens when you read the directions and have solid local bike shops like Stark Mtn and FitWerx.

the last box of parts arrived friday. a lot taken off the steel deluxe, other items sold to pay for new stuff, a bike in the planning for over a yr is finally born! i like to call it my first 10-yr rig, but that's probably being a bit ambitious. it's my 6th mtbike since 1995... is it the best? got-out for a 3yr shake-down yesterday ride to figure that out.

igleheart's custom 29'er fork w/51 offset. this bike has a lot of "trail" and handles unbelievable well. need to tweak the cockpit a bit, but i'm stoked!

it just rolls over everything. feel like i'm sitting-up way high, but that doesn't effect balance or handling. looking fwd to getting to know these big wheels over the next cpl wks, the final prep rides b4 the co trail. the racks go on today!

thanks for IF for taking some extra time on the geometry, to bruno of IFRacing for getting me parts, to Andy and Igle for the wheels and that killer fork, and to the local bike shops, FitWerx and Stark Mtn for last minute parts/tweaks. i love it when a bike come together. almost as much as riding one.

IF Ti Deluxe 29'er - custom geometry (all their bikes are custom)
Stans Arch Hoops w/Mavic hubs (for touring)
Hutchinson Python rubba
XT cranks and cassette (11x32)
XTR dual-control shifters/brakes
Easton (soon-to-be carbon) bars
Igelheart custom rigid fork - 51 offset
XTR pedals
Thomson seatpost and stem
Fiz'ik Aliante Saddle
King headset

Old Man Mtn Racks
Arkel Panniers