Deliver they did. Frame was packaged extremely well. I'm not sure how typical this is either because like I said, I specifically asked them to package it with thought.. I'm not sure if this is the standard or not, but at least Peter and Xmiplay obliged my request, and made sure to make the effort to package it well. Good by me.

Couple of pics.. I would advise anyone ordering one of these frames to take pics of the box before opening. If there's any damage that occurred during shipping... it will make the process easier when you contact the seller about the issue.









Money Shot. Difficult subject to photograph.











I'll try to get some pics of the frame out in the sunlight tomorrow and post them in the "056/057" thread. These turned out too dark. My lighting was not playing nice with the matte black finish of the frame.

Xmiplay and Peter came through on all fronts and I'll continue to buy carbon goods from them until I'm given reason to do otherwise. Extrmemly pleased with the overall experience and super pumped about the frame. Can't wait to get it built. 

Now.. I need some tools 

Okay so my frame just arrived. That's FIVE days shipping time from the day I sent Peter confirmation of PayPal payment, til the time it arrived on my doorstep... That's as fast or faster than when I order from Pricepoint that's located here in the U.S. -  I find that highly impressive to say the least. That can't possibly be typical shipping times.. I suppose I just got lucky then, and if you're reading this and considering.. I'd expect more like a 7-10 day shipping time.

Actually, now that I think of it.. Communication has also been superior to some of the more mainstream, big name suppliers. I think I'll boost my rating up to 9.5 overall. Will post some pics of the packaging.. Haven't opened it yet but I went out of my way to specifically ask Peter to package well because I'd seen too many pics of boxes that arrived looking like they had been through some serious abuse. Hopefully, Xmiplay delivers on that front as well.

On the EMS site it shows dispatched 2 days ago.. But when I try to track it on UPS it doesn't show at all so I assume that means it hasn't made it to the States yet. I'm hoping by Friday.

Yes.. anxious would accurately describe my emotional state 

Still have a few parts to order though so even when it arrives there will be some waiting left to do. But at least I'll finally have the frame to start putting some of these fancy components on, rather than having a pile of boxes in my closet. Not that I don't get some odd sense of satisfaction out of the pile of boxes in my closet.. bc I do.

So far, my favorite component is the Easton carbon bar. That thing is just sexy and it's going to look sweet with my UD black matte frame, and black Shimano levers.

Yes, I will be pretending to be batman as I fly through the woods. Don't judge me.

EDIT: Doh! ChainReaction sent me the brake levers with the silver covers. They look pretty nice.. so whatever.

Okay guys.. This is a work in progress so there won't be too much exciting going on here for a couple of weeks, but I thought I'd go ahead and get started anyways, just so I can list out all of my components and keep track of them a bit better than I have been in my scribbled notebook.

My main objective with this build was to be patient and shop around for great online deals, and get the absolute most bike that I could for 2k. I didn't go for the absolute lightest bike that I could build, and instead tried to find a sweet spot for strength, durability, weight, and price. I could have shaved grams in quite a few places but with a riding weight of 220 lbs I tried to choose wisely. The Haven carbon bars and post, for example, aren't the lightest parts and I actually could have saved some bucks AND had a lighter bike. But as I've never owned Carbon and being in the upper range of rider weights, it was more important to me to have as much confidence in the safety of the bike as possible. That said, I realize I may have over built it a bit. But if so.. not by much. Guess I'll find out when I throw it on the scale for the first time, but I'm hoping for 22 lbs.

Bike will be built up as a 1x10 and will be mostly black with a white fork and a few red accents (like most other bikes it seems)

Frame: FM-057
Fork: Manitou Tower Pro QR15 80mm (wanted the 100mm but it sold out and Manitou actually has a slightly higher than normal axle to crown measurement so it should be all good)
Headset: Cane Creek 40 series
Stem: Easton Haven 75mm
Handlebars: Carbon Easton Haven 711mm
Rear Shifter: XT SL-M780
Rear Derailleur: SLX shadow plus
Brakes: Shimano Deore M615 (Should have waited for the PricePoint deal on an XT set for $99. Meh, can't win em all, the M615s are supposed to be equally good and I dig the all black finish)
Rotors: SLX 160mm
Crankset and Bottom Bracket: Shimano M670 triple converted to single chain ring
Narrow Wide Chainring: Raceface 32t
Chain: KMC X10.93
Cassette: XT 11-36
Pedals: VP Vice (flats)
Wheels: Sun Ringle Charger Experts 15mm front, 142 x 12mm rear
Tires: Maxxis Ikon 2.35 tubeless ready, non-exo front - Ikon 2.35 tubeless ready, exo rear (decided to shave about 50 grams off of the front wheel by skipping the EXO)
Seatpost: Carbon Easton Haven
Seat: Fizik Gobi XM
Grips: ESL Extra chunky
Post clamp: Salsa Lip lock
Cables: Jagwire mountain Pro


Okay.. I think that's everything. I'll update with ride impressions, any build issues encountered, and pics and vids of the build in progress, and of course of the final product, soon.

Nice.. 19.5 lbs? I haven't bothered adding up all the individual weights, but was really hoping to come in under 22lbs. Not sure if I'll make it though.

Hey CD, I realize this is in no way scientific.. but if you had to take a wild guess at what the build in the video above weighs.. What would you guess? Reason I ask is that I'm pretty certain mine will be lighter than that one.

Edit: Well, on second thought.. It may not be lighter as he does have a full carbon cockpit and arch wheels whereas my Charger Experts are more in line with the Flows. Mine will be 1x10 though so that will help.

EDIT: After reading the comments below the video, he says the bike weighs around 22 pounds.

Quote from: Carbon_Dude on April 14, 2014, 01:59:55 PM

That's a view from the rear dropouts looking toward the head tube.  This shows just how curved the seat tube is left to right.  Pictures don't do it justice.

Okay.. Perhaps I'm being dense here, but what is the purpose of the seat tube being bent from left to right like that? I understand the bend from front to back, but if I would have received that frame I would have intially thought it was defective. Of course, I know nothing of full suspension carbon frame design.

Not dense at all Izzy.. I echo that same confusion. Unless we're both dense which is quite possible

Doesn't seem like it should be bent like that. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure there's a good reason.. I just don't know it.

Hey Andy. Welcome to Chinertown.. Good to have you!

The 036 is a sweet frame.. good reason to be excited. Can't wait to try one for myself. It is kinda funny how just plain damn giddy I get over a mountain bike. I mean.. I've had cool stuff before (motorcycles, cars) but wasn't excited as I am about this bike build! Lol.  I think something about bikes just taps into the kid left inside all of us. Either way.. tons of fun and can't wait to see your build.

Be sure to check out CD's 036 build thread if you haven't already.. You'll be even more excited.

The seat tube has more curve than I expected.

Looking at these pics again.. What am I looking at here? Is it supposed to be curved from left to right like that? Doesn't seem like it should be but maybe my perspective is off or something.