Velobuild VB-R-218

[gruengelb]

I wasn't aware you could chose different shopping. Mine says "EMS" on the invoice. The final delivery in Germany was done by DPD.

Apparently the shipping went through Belgium ans I didn't have to pay any additional fees other than the ~160€ that I paid to velobuild. Not sure if they are avoiding customs that way or if that already was included.

Nice one, paintjob looks very good, especially for that price!

Which shipping method did you chose to Germany? Did you have to pay any additional duties or fees?

Thanks and greetings from Germany! 

i asked chris and he said i should use xbd shipping to avoid any customs etc. (that is for shipping to austria, which is probably the same as for germany)

[Sebastian]

I’ve done around 2000k now on my VB218. No issues. I recently serviced my chain and noticed that my crankset spun VERY smoothly. So my initial concerns about possible BB misalignment seem unfounded. I had some seatpost slippage. I have since put some textile tape on the seatpost were it contacts the clamping wedge to see if that helps. We’ll see.

I put a pair of used Bontrager Speed Stop Pro brakes on this bike that I got very cheap. Those are nice brakes indeed. Particularly the braking power adjustment is cool so you can fine trim the brake feel to your particular brifter. The set weighs around 220g. They also have a lot of tire clearance. I’m confident that I could fit 32mm tires (measured width). My Vittoria Corsas currently measure around 29mm. I also put one of those one piece machined superlight SROAD cassettes from Aliexpress on. VERY nice piece of kit. Just around 230g for an 11-32 cassette. Shifting with Campag is super smooth. And, since this is one piece it completely eliminates cassette bite on alloy freehubs which is a bonus.

All this saves a bit of weight. The bike now weighs 7.7kg including power meter pedals, Garmin mount and bottle cages. With my tubular race wheels, I could get it down to 7.5kg. But that’s as low as it’s ever going to be. I’m pretty happy with that.

[madmax]

@Sebastian

What skewers are those in the last pix ?

[Sebastian]

@Sebastian

What skewers are those in the last pix ?

Those are screw axles from German bike retailer Rose: https://www.rosebikes.de/rose-lite-axle-spannachsen-50001

I bought them mainly for the looks. I don’t like how QR skewers look on this bike. Particularly on the fork. Also, I got a multi tool with me anyway when I’m out for a ride. So taking a wheel out isn’t a problem.

[mattgolt]

Finished my build and just went for a short ride to check on everything. Rides very nicely, very stiff (I might change the rear tire from 25mm to 28mm to increase comfort). Overall I'm very happy with it and for the cost I cannot complain (warning: new toy syndrome). The fit is also nice, as I was afraid the frame could be too small. But the aero spacers and saddle setback make up for it.  I'm 188cm tall with a 92cm inseam and long arms, got the XL Frame. I haven't decided on the final bike fit, so I still have 15mm 3d printed spacers on top - thanks to the stranger who designed these and put them on thingiverse! I'll also put some TPU on my 3d printer this weekend and see if I can draw up some grommets for the frame openings that I don’t need due to the electronic shifting and a seat post gasket.

The only issue I have not solved yet is some disc brake rubbing on the rear brake that I cannot get rid of at the moment. Possibly due to misaligned (unfaced) brake mounting points. I went with post mount brakes as I got the Sram Red groupset for 600€ cheaper than flat mount, so I had to use adapters that increase the distance between the calliper and the frame. Not sure if that worsens the issue. I might want to exchange the callipers to flat mount. Does anyone know if changing to flat mount callipers helps with the disc brake rubbing? Or does anyone have experience with DIY facing the brake mounts?

[Yunglord]

Finished my build and just went for a short ride to check on everything. Rides very nicely, very stiff (I might change the rear tire from 25mm to 28mm to increase comfort). Overall I'm very happy with it and for the cost I cannot complain (warning: new toy syndrome). The fit is also nice, as I was afraid the frame could be too small. But the aero spacers and saddle setback make up for it.  I'm 188cm tall with a 92cm inseam and long arms, got the XL Frame. I haven't decided on the final bike fit, so I still have 15mm 3d printed spacers on top - thanks to the stranger who designed these and put them on thingiverse! I'll also put some TPU on my 3d printer this weekend and see if I can draw up some grommets for the frame openings that I don’t need due to the electronic shifting and a seat post gasket.

The only issue I have not solved yet is some disc brake rubbing on the rear brake that I cannot get rid of at the moment. Possibly due to misaligned (unfaced) brake mounting points. I went with post mount brakes as I got the Sram Red groupset for 600€ cheaper than flat mount, so I had to use adapters that increase the distance between the calliper and the frame. Not sure if that worsens the issue. I might want to exchange the callipers to flat mount. Does anyone know if changing to flat mount callipers helps with the disc brake rubbing? Or does anyone have experience with DIY facing the brake mounts?

Nice build Matt what wheels are those I dig the finish and that paint is sparkly!!! Definitely go to a shop and get the brake mounts faced to help with the rubbing!

[Sebastian]

Nice build Matt what wheels are those I dig the finish and that paint is sparkly!!! Definitely go to a shop and get the brake mounts faced to help with the rubbing!

That’s what I was gonna suggest. Your postmount calipers should be fine. The misalignment is most likely due to uneven brake mounts.

Nice bike! I dig the paintjob.

[mattgolt]

Thanks both. I'm also positively surprised by the paint. Its quite hard to capture on camera, but the chameleon effect from green to purple as the light changes is cool. (I would laught at someone who has this on his car, but I'm a bike person after all).

I'll see if I can find someone with that hillariously expensive facing tool next week. But since it is Sunday and nothing is open, I fired up the 3d printed and made a nice gasket for the seatpost cover. Also a front derallieur gasket and rear derallieur gasket since I'm using wireless shifting. If anyone wants the files:

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5917550
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5917583
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5917830

Nice build Matt what wheels are those

I purchased them from velobuild too. VB-RC-50-23/25mm 142x12 Carbon road Wheelset disc 25mm Width

[coffeebreak]

I purchased them from velobuild too. VB-RC-50-23/25mm 142x12 Carbon road Wheelset disc 25mm Width

Nice color choice. Looks fantastic! Will be interested in knowing how those wheels perform - so many VB frames here but not a single review of VB wheels. It makes perfect sense to order wheels too, in the same order as frameset.

[joegal]

so many VB frames here but not a single review of VB wheels.

in fact, Patrick Lino had these wheels (the 38mm version) on his Velobuild 177, but he wasn't overly impressed by their ride feel and the heavy weight.

Check it out here:
and here: https://youtu.be/JIsF_ropxME?t=396

[Cnasta]

Finished my build and just went for a short ride to check on everything. Rides very nicely, very stiff (I might change the rear tire from 25mm to 28mm to increase comfort). Overall I'm very happy with it and for the cost I cannot complain (warning: new toy syndrome). The fit is also nice, as I was afraid the frame could be too small. But the aero spacers and saddle setback make up for it.  I'm 188cm tall with a 92cm inseam and long arms, got the XL Frame. I haven't decided on the final bike fit, so I still have 15mm 3d printed spacers on top - thanks to the stranger who designed these and put them on thingiverse! I'll also put some TPU on my 3d printer this weekend and see if I can draw up some grommets for the frame openings that I don’t need due to the electronic shifting and a seat post gasket.

The only issue I have not solved yet is some disc brake rubbing on the rear brake that I cannot get rid of at the moment. Possibly due to misaligned (unfaced) brake mounting points. I went with post mount brakes as I got the Sram Red groupset for 600€ cheaper than flat mount, so I had to use adapters that increase the distance between the calliper and the frame. Not sure if that worsens the issue. I might want to exchange the callipers to flat mount. Does anyone know if changing to flat mount callipers helps with the disc brake rubbing? Or does anyone have experience with DIY facing the brake mounts?

Great looking bike. Look like a good paintjob as wel.

For rubbing I think trying without adapters is worth a try. Look better as well.

Small detail: your front tire is on backwards/the wrong way around

[ENEP]

I added the geo for all sizes to BikeInsight so you can compare geo with other bikes and get a graphic view of the differences.

https://bikeinsights.com/bikes/641dae592688e1001b2bf5fa-velobuild-218?version=2022&build=base

Example comparing 218 to 177
https://bikeinsights.com/compare?geometries=641dae5a2688e1001b2bf610,604f80118f67120017f7cdfa,

[pierluigi]

Hi All,
Is the handlebar ready for Di2 installation? Is the small hole present in the bottom right part of the handlebar?

Thnaks a lot.

[mattgolt]

Hi All,
Is the handlebar ready for Di2 installation? Is the small hole present in the bottom right part of the handlebar?

Thnaks a lot.

Hello sir,

Your comment just made me research how to install Di2 and I realized what a pain it ist, lol. Glad I went with sram etap.

In other words: no, the handlebars do not have the extra hole for Di2. Also the frame does not have the hole in the downtube like the dogma F has. There is a Di2 battery holder in the bottom bracket, though.

[pierluigi]

Thanks for your comment:
someone has other suggestions?
@Sebastian ?
@kongo ?