Anti-Mango Build

For those of you who don't know, I recently posted a conversation about how I was nervous about committing to a single speed. One of the big takeaways from it was that I shouldn't get a Mango Bike. While I was slightly upset that I shouldn't get get the bike which I coveted the most (in that price bracket), the Mango Point Blank, it gave me an idea: try and build a better bike for the same price.

Now compared to most people here, I know nothing about bikes, and I've never built one, so I decided I would make a thread to get advice on what parts I should be getting. Ideally I would like to base this off the Dolan FXE frameset (with carbon fork) as I find it the most aesthetically "pleasing", but I'm still opening to change. A flip-flop hub would be nice, but it isn't essential.

My main aims for the build are:

1. Keep it minimal (matte black for the win)
   
2. Keep it light
   
3. Keep it £400 or less
   
   

So far the parts list looks like:

1. Dolan FXE Frameset (with carbon fork and seat post, though I might downgrade from the carbon) - £215
   
2. Deda RHM01 Dropbars - £20
   
3. Extra Ahead Stem - £20
   
4. Tektro Aero Brake Levers - £20
   
5. 2 x Shimano R450 Brake Caliper - £54
   
6. Mango Bikes Rear Flip Flop Wheel and Front Wheel - £65 +£55 (respectively)
   I know this is the anti-mango bike, but their wheels look nice and have the hub already. This will probably change
   
7. Pure Fix Crankset 48T - £44
   
8. KMC B1 Chain - £4.50
   
   

I already have pedals and a saddle, so no need for those

Total - £497.5
Budget - £400
Over budget by £97.5 (Hopefully with your help we can get this down!)

I appreciate any advice on parts, and would also like to know whether the Dolan FXE is a worthwhile frame.

Thanks!

CJ

1 Attachment

FXE seems like a good starting point.

those bars are cheaper that £20 if you look around. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/deda-elementi-rhm01-road-handlebar-black/rp-prod84200?gs=1&gclid=CjwKEAjwi9K4BRCQzq7d1c6A_XASJABueAO2Lt-XwrFgA6GnpWganFSTgsKwooab9Iy8I68VJL2UkRoCc7Lw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

those calipers can be had cheaper also http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Shimano-Tiagra-R450-Brake-Callipers-57-mm-Long-Drop-Pair-Front-Rear-Silver-/172095437844?_trksid=p2141725.m3641.l6368

check this thread for wheels https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/174082/

and those pure fix cranks look horrendous. maybe consider something like this http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CSSTTR2K/stronglight-track-2000-crankset

I don't think the fxe requires long drop brakes. Tiagra regular drop are cheap at ribble.

You should be able to pick up a set of tektro levers for about a tenner. Try ribble again.

I'll echo the comments about varnos wheels. I'd probably try and pick up an alfine chainset for black and external bottom bracket.

You can pick up those levers or similar Cane Creek ones for a tenner off here quite easily.

You'll need a freewheel, brake cables and bar tape.

Those Stronglight cranks are a good choice (served me well for 3.5k or so thus far), but assuming the FXE has the same chainstays as a Dolan Pre Cursa, the back of the crank spider will hit the chainring on a 107mm bottom bracket (as recommended by PX), so you'll need a 110mm. If none of that makes sense, let me know!

Yep, you should be able to get bars and stem for about £20 total. For things like stems, check out ali express. The stuff comes all the way from China, but you can pick up stuff for peanuts. A carbon seat post can be had for about £12. I'm yet to have a bad experience. Great if you like things to look all carboney.
http://www.aliexpress.com/w/wholesale-carbon-seatpost.html?spm=2114.01010208.0.332.wwmo8f&site=glo&groupsort=1&SortType=price_asc&g=y&SearchText=carbon+seatpost&initiative_id=SB_20160418045907&shipCountry=UK&needQuery=n&maxPrice=15

For wheels, these look a good deal at the mo, cheaper than what you've listed, but betterer.

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/WPWEIDP18/weinmann-dp18-on-fixed-free-miche-pr1mato-track-wheelset

You will also need to buy a bottom bracket, a bottom bracket tool and a chain tool if you don't want to have to pay a shop to do this. Depending on your location, you may be able to borrow this type of thing if you ask in the right place nicely but I would recommend purchasing for future use.

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/129742/?offset=1050#comment12597729

you've forgot tyres and tubes as well.

What size frame are you after?

Careful you don't crash your antimango into a mango or both will be obliterated producing only a lot of high-energy photons.

I'll be freeing up a pair of tektro levers this week if you're interested. They've probably only done 50 miles. Bike is too far away from my cup of tea at the moment, but i'm pretty sure they're a strong VG+/EX.

@ffm Haha

Yeah definitely. I'll message you

Not quit sure yet, but I know that the size I'll need won't be available 'till July. Only 52cm and 54cm are in stock right now I think.

Yeah I did that on purpose with the tyres, because I think I will be able to reuse a spare pair or something. Likewise with pedals and saddle.

I'm sure I spotted a pair of condor track wheels on the classifieds here earlier today for £70 or so. Sounds better than the PX ones.

Also, @CJWilliams, how tall are you? What size do you think you're after?

Thanks @Scrabble Those wheels look great! Do you know if I need to buy a freewheel to put on the hub, or does it come with? (Apologies for being idiotic)

Yeah...I might need an explanation...

Oh are brake cables not included with those Shimanos?

I'm 6ft 2.5in

.

Will do

Ah so these were the wheels: But they're not singlespeed, the rear hub takes a fixed gear cog on both sides. Good price though (I can't see imgur links as work, so this is assuming there's not a pic of them looking knackered).

6ft 2.5in suggests you'd need a 58cm minimum, maybe more like 60 or 62cm. Unless the hive mind thinks differently?

Edit: Regarding the crank spider/chainstay clearance issue, here's an example. Now imagine that not quite clearing it.

Got a dolan pre-cursa and its set up basically as you might a FXE; mudguards, single break, relaxed(ish) position and love it. Both great frames but I would like to run bigger than 25c tyres but it won't clear that well on my front fork. I'm about 6ft 1 and ride a 56cm frame.

Whilst the hive mind may well have covered avoiding Mango, ensure that you avoid Foffa too.

6ft 2.5in suggests you'd need a 58cm minimum,

I concur. Someone over on singletrackworld was selling a Genesis Day One Disk for £400. I'd be more inclined to grab something like that.

There was a pinnacle arkhose as well for similar.

On the wheels, loads to choose from, many appear similar under different name badges with varying price tags.
I have the older on-one double fixed 30mm rim wheelset, bombproof, used for mountain biking as well.
Worth checking out is http://www.v-sprint.com as they operate on the forum and did have a discount code for the forum, not super light but you get to pick from a small range of rim's and 2 brands of hubs.

The cheaper wheels tend to have cheap bearings (my on-ones did) this is an easy fix for diy and a cheap upgrade and to be expected on cheaper sealed cartridge bearing hubs.