I'm currently riding an Echo Pure 26" frame and have put over a year of mostly urban riding on it. It's built with with Pashley TV series steel forks, Maguras at both ends, a rear XTR hub with BMF rim and front Sachs Quartz with D521. The cranks are Middleburns, the handlebars are Aluminium DMR wingbars and the stem is a brand X CNC jobbie about 100mm long. It's running an 8 speed road cassette and chain and a tiagra derailleur. I like the Echo geometry a lot compared to the other frames I've tried (Monty/Toxsin), so another echo is definitely on the cards. The problem is I'm based in the west of Ireland and there are a grand total of about 4 trials riders, 3 with Montys and another Echo, so I won't get a chance to try loads of frames before I have to commit to buying it. Mostly I do urban stuff, but nothing stupidly big. I like technically difficult stuff rather than stuff with a big risk and definitely prefer 26" wheels to 20". For the new build I'm thinking of getting a front freewheel, singlespeed fixie rear and probably maguras again, though I've tried the Hope trials brakes and am very impressed, just worried about the cost when I snag the disk on ledges and stuff. So the first thing is what frame and fork combinations do people like - I like a longish top tube and short chainstays, so the bike feels as comfy as possible on the back wheel. 4 bolt Magura mounts would be my first choice for rim brake mounts, but canti mounts are usually OK (Though I did have one mount pull off on a fork once). If the frame/fork also has disk mounts that would give me more options if I do decide to go with disks later. What rear hubs and chain tensioners are good? - The more chain wrap the better. A zero dish rear wheel would be very desirable too... What sprockets do you use for the rear hub? Are they screw on type ones? Is there chainline adjustment? What chains do people rate for trials? The 8 speed SRAM chains I've been using are OK till all the rollers get mashed and they snap without warning... What cranks, BB and front freewheel combination gives a suitable chainline for singlespeed fixie hubs - do different frames need different chain lines? I've built all my own bikes (Mostly XC machines) for the past decade and I tend to build up bikes for everyone else I know too, so the mechanical work of building isn't an issue unless obscure tools are needed (I have tools for pretty much everything needed for XC/DH bikes). My problem is mostly that there aren't enough trials riders in my area to allow me to try stuff before I buy it. Well done to anyone who's made it to the end of this post - apologies for its length... :$
