A white full-suspension mountain bike with knobby tires, a dropper seat post, and a rear derailleur parked on grass, with gloves, a helmet, and other bikes visible nearby.

Mountain Bike Build

Winter 2020 - Winter 2021

A friend of my dad gave us a bicycle frame. We bought components and I built the bike from the frame up. I then rode it on mountain biking trails and even raced it in mountain bike competitions.

  • 1

    At this stage I had already put some pieces on the frame.

  • An image of the Cultural Center.

    A picture of a hydraulic brake caliper that I would end up installing on the bike. I also had to get new pads and refresh the piston.

  • An image of the Cultural Center.

    This is a picture of the cassette mechanism. I had to put new ball bearings and adequate lube.

  • A silver mountain bicycle frame without wheels or pedals, mounted on a stand in a workshop. The workspace has a green floor, a red cabinet, and various tools and objects around.

    Getting assembled!

  • A full-suspension mountain bike with a silver frame, white fork, and Maxxis tires, hanging on a cluttered workbench in a garage.

    Wheels are on!

  • White mountain bike leaning against the beige house siding, with a gray car parked on the street in the background, on a sunlit sidewalk.

    Not too shabby!

  • A white mountain bike leaning against a beige house wall on a concrete driveway. The bike has front and rear suspension, knobby tires, disc brakes, and a white seat.

    In this picture I put wider diameter disc rotors for better stopping power.

  • Close-up of a mountain bike's crankset showing Shimano Deore XT components, chain, pedals, and part of the frame, with mud on the tires and frame.

    I switched out the triple front sprocket to a single gear that is oval.

  • A mountain bike with a silver frame, black suspension, and knobby tires, leaning against a bike rack on grassy ground. There are other bikes nearby, and a safety helmet on a stand behind the bike.

    After some time, I installed a 12 gear cassette in the rear with a matching 12 speed derailleur. Also, I put new, more aggressive tires on the bike.

  • Young cyclist participating in a race, riding a mountain bike on a grassy trail, wearing a helmet and sports gear, with other cyclists and spectators in the background near a red and white fence.

    The bike worked well. I rode it on the trails and raced it in mountain bike competitions.