After a month and a half since my original order on AliExpress was placed, then automatically cancelled because of tariffs, then reordered via the company's website a week after that, my frame finally arrived to me on the east coast of the US.
My order journey started when I had mistakenly ordered a size 54 frame on AliExpress but realized half a day later that it was too small, and requested to size up to a size 56 instead. To David's credit, he was pretty quick to confirm the size change. However, I was worried that this was a casual confirmation and would just send me a size 54 anyway. Once the order was auto-cancelled on AliExpress, then re-ordered through their website, I wanted to reconfirm the sizing was a 56 before shipping -- but it turned out the frame had already been shipped.
After a month of reading about various issues about SP's supposed poor paint quality, damaged frames, other various issues that have popped up on this thread, I had maximum anxiety that my possibly undersized frame wouldn't survive the trip from overseas. This trip included a 10-day long ocean journey, clearing customs without incurring additional costs (David assured me it would be delivered DDP), and finally a 5 day trip across the US via FedEx ground.
To add to my worries, when the box arrived, there was a small dent in the side of the box... I was filled with dread already. I have to say that although the communication between customer support was sparse, my worries about any potential packing issues, frame sizing, and paint quality were finally put to rest once I unboxed the frame. Even though the packaging probably could have used a couple foam blocks to prevent the frame from bouncing side to side in the box, the mummy foam wrapping around the frame was certainly enough to protect it in the long trip here.
I measured the frame, and it matches exactly what sp-cycle lists on their chart for a 56 frame.
The paint is absolutely stunning to me. I got it in the blue chameleon color scheme and I couldn't see anything wrong with the paint quality. I love the blue-purple shift and I can't wait to see it assembled, in the sun. The only issue is the typical paint overspray onto the BB shell and the caliper mounting points, which I expected. I took the frame to a shop literally hours after receiving it to get the BB shell faced and will file down the brake mounts myself. On the way to the shop, I got a few compliments by other bikers and the shop workers on the paint job.
Looking forward to building this frame up, couldn't be happier with the condition it arrived in.
