Hi all

First of a couple of posts about my build of this bike.

I’ve bought the integrated frameset in XL painted RAL 5025 - metallic effect Pearl Gentian Blue. The frame has arrived and quality of manufacture and paint job is very high, even better than the already good 29er hardtail I bought from Carbonda last year.

I wasn’t sure whether I’d want offset or zero offset seatpost so bought both. And like a number of others looking at Carbonda’s integrated gravel bars, CGB02, ideally I’d have wanted a longer stem and narrower bar than they offer (80x400, 90x420, 90x440, 100x440). But I took a punt at their 44cm bars and 100mm stem version. And as someone else has observed, they actually feel narrower than their stated width, which for my preferences is a good thing. They feel stiff and the cable ports are well finished (and wide).

I’m halfway through building with the parts listed below. Will post pictures and conclusion when finished. For now, a word on the headset:

I wanted to replace the headset that came with the frame - mainly because I don’t trust the bearings (and with an integrated set up I didn’t want to be replacing them in a hurry…), but also because the FSA ACR headset cover looks neater than the Carbonda one. So I ordered the FSA ACR #55, which is compatible with the Carbonda bars (and spacers). Slightly problematic. The headset top cover works well with the bars, and looks better than the Carbonda one. And it is compatible with Carnonda’s top bearing compression ring (which as it happens looks like a better design than the FSA one). But the FSA bearings are a) 51.8 OD wheareas the Carbonda ones are 52 (which is the required size for the frame, the 51.8 bearings are a bit loose); b) the FSA bearings are 36/45 and the Carbonda ones are 45/45 (which makes no difference if you don’t mix and match race and compression ring); but c) the FSA bearings sit much lower in the frame and so (either) top cover rubs against the top of the headtube when tightened. So, I’ve gone and ordered a pair of Hambini MH-P16 bearings and plan to use these with the Carbonda compression ring, Carbonda crown race and FSA headset top cover. We’ll see.

Build list:
- SRAM Force XPLR 2023 1x (with Pass Quest 42T chainring)
- Ali X cheap ‘Carbon Fibre’ saddle. Now use this on all my bikes - cheap and comfortable, even on my hardtail
- ZTTO T47 bottom bracket. Looks ok, not ridden.
- two pairs of wheels: both rims supplied by Leon at Yuananbike - 24mm internal, 39mm depth tubeless hooked. One pair will be built 28/28 with Pillar Wing 20 straight pull on Goldix GDR310 hubs. Waiting on rims. Other pair being built 24/24 with Sapim CX Ray on Malcolm’s Borg hubs (The Cycle Clinic). Will put 33mm slicks on the 24/24 and Conti Terra Trails on the 28/28.
- ZTTO bottle cages.

Cheers
Ben

Hello

A geometry chart with a longer fork (F: 530, 120 mm fork travel) would be more useful. Geometry calculator corrects this, but who uses a 120 mm rear travel frame with a 100 mm fork?

Yeah. I wonder how high the failure rate with first gen er9 actually is. I guess we’ll never know for sure. Mine’s still fine as well. Did a 2h rainy ride today. Cleaned the bike with a pressure washer after, intentionally blasting on the derailleurs. Works fine.

But I got to admit: If it fails, I’m probably gonna bite the bullet and get 105Di2 or Sram Rival AXS instead.

I wouldn't say it's not  racy geo.  Depends on your measurements.  Venge is relatively neutral.  If you've got a long upper body it's definitely not ideal though.

Yishun are LightCarbon AFAIK.  So unless these are business only models, you should be able to order them.

But it's possible they may be B2B only.

The 3cm spacer stack must be factored in, it throws off the stack/reach ratio. No way around it.

My frame has finally arrived! Factory painted, size S. $550 on black Friday. Long delivery due to my problems.
Only quality issues are with the seatposts. But the quality is better in depth.