On One Scandal 29er Review

[Brian Fantana]

One One Scandal 29er review

 

I purchased the frame in June 2010. This was the first step of my bike build. After thorough research I sourced all the components needed. I purchased some of the components from my local bike shop, others from Chris Willemse Cylces, and I bought the fork second hand from a Hermanus cycle shop. I sourced the rims and tyres from CRC after having little success in ordering 29er tyres and rims from my local shops.

 

Here is a breakdown of components:

 

• Frame: On One Scandal 29er 16”, British Racing Green

• Fork : Rock Shox Reba SL 29er 100mm

• Headset: Cane Creek S3

• Seat Clamp: Hope 31.8mm gun smoke

• Seatpost: Thomson elite 27.2mm X 410mm

• Stem: Truvativ Stylo Team 31.8mmX90mm

• Handlebar: Truvativ Stylo Team flat 31.8mmX600mm with Tek bar ends

• Saddle: Comfortline Hyperformance Handmade Leather(German brand)

• Crankset: Shimano XT with Blackspire Super Pro 38T on middle ring tabs and 26T on inner ring tabs.

• Front Deraileur: Shimano XT

• Rear Derailer: SRAM X9

• Shifters: SRAM X0 twist

• Brakes: Shimano SLX

• Wheelset: Shimano SLX M629 29er specific hubs with Mavic TN719 29er rims and DT Swiss Competition 2.0/1.8/2.0 spokes. (heavy but reliable)

• Bottle Cage: Lezyne mtb specific

• Tyres: Maxxis CrossMark 29x2.

• Cassette: Sram PG980 11-34

• Chain: Sram PC971

 

The wheels were built by Cycle Service Centre in Port Elizabeth, and the workmanship and quality of the wheel build is exceptional to say the least. Theuns is an expert wheelbuilder.

 

 

Races Completed on this bike:

 

1. Transbaviaans

2. Karoo Cycling Bazaar

3. St Francis mtb Challenge

4. Karoo to Coast

 

I have done 1900km with this bike so far.

 

Background

 

I have been cycling for four years and have done a number of national marathons and national XC races. I have done a few of the harder races in the country as well including the Jock cycle classic, Attakwas, Magalies Monster and Panorama tour. My favourite marathon route is the Induna, and my favourite XC course is a tie between Woodridge(national XC course at Van Stadens Valley) and Mankele.

This review is not on 29er vs 26” but for this specific bike. I have been riding a steel 29er single speed for 2 and a half years now, so I know how 29er ride and my positive feedback is not related to the bigger wheels only

 

The Bike

 

The frame is exceptional value for money. The frame is light and stiff but at the same time it is not a bone shaker on the rocky downhills. So far the bike has been handling very well and I have found that the bike is very solid irrespective of terrain and conditions. My bike came down to 11.4kg with the components named in the list.

The bike climbs very well, but the wheels does make climbing harder, and calls for a different approach to climbs than on a light wheeled 26” bike. The plan is to get a light weight wheelset ie American Classic or ZTR Crest to use as a racing wheelset with the Mavic wheelset then being used as a training wheelset.

This frame has amazing tyre clearance. When I built it up I have put my single speed wheels on it with WTB Exiwolf 29x2.3 tyres on, and there was enough clearance to put a 2.4 tyre on, I believe.

The frame (16”) weighs in at 1560g, and for R3600 it is very good value.

The only downside I could find was that I would have preferred a 31.8mm seatpost instead of the 27.2mm peg I have on there now, but is not a fault nor an issue, but more a preference.

Overall the ride quality is excellent, and the bike is very comfortable, I can easily say it is the most comfortable bike I have ever owned.

 

Issues

 

The only issues I had was the following:

• The paintwork on the frame chips easily – I installed BBB tubeskin on the downtube when I built it up. The chips I am mentioning are on the seatstays and just under the seatpost clamp.

• The headtube, bottom bracket and brake tabs don’t come faced and chased, which means that this has to be done before you can assemble your components.

 

Summary(All scores out of 5)

 

Value for money(bike): 4/5

Value for money(frame): 5/5

Frame weight: 3.5/5 (niner air 9 carbon at 1.2kg will get 5/5)

Frame appearance: 4/5

Tyre clearance: 5/5

Frame Ride quality: 4/5

Geometry: 4/5

Grin on your face: off the charts

 

The cost to build up this bike was R17800, which is great value for money in my eyes, because I had a look in the cycle shops and everything in that price region was component wise about two levels down, with only frame, wheels and fork on the same level.

[Brian Fantana]

another pic

[Brian Fantana]

some more

[pedal pusher]

I will agree with you 100 %.I think the Scandal frames are great value for money & provide a really comfy ride that comes nicely together with the geometry & build quality.I have done 3 custom builds with these bikes & I must say they are a close second choice to my Niner.

Just make sure that you get the vertical drop out if you are plan to go the geared route.

Pity Scandal has stopped with the anodized frames.