See likes

See likes given/taken


Posts you liked

Pages: [1]
Post info No. of Likes
Re: VeloBuild VB-R-268 frame Just did my first ride with the 268, and it feels great. I barely feel side winds (also because of the 38mm depth wheels), which is lovely.

Compared to my speeder bike, it feels a lot more stable and comfortable (heavily dictated by the spacers and less aggressive geometry).

In terms of building obstacles, there were no true issues, although I did have to drill the FD guide in the frame, so my shifting cable would fit.

Will get back after I did more rides with the bike.


April 22, 2024, 01:59:22 PM
1
Re: VeloBuild VB-R-268 frame
Clean build, looks really nice! Just wanted to comment on your saddle position as well, then saw that it was already discussed :D
Also what's that thing on your back wheels spoke?

Thinking about getting myself a 268 frame as well. What's the color of yours again? Some silky white?

It is a sticker I have not removed from the wheel. Thanks for pointing that out. The color is Pearl White (Glossy). You can find pictures of the identical frame earlier in this topic.

April 23, 2024, 11:28:02 AM
1
Re: LTWOO ER9 & ERX - Electronic groepsets
Have you tried contacting LTwoo directly?

https://www.ltwoo.com/foot/Contact_us/Contact_us

The support / ticket page i saw said to go via your reseller first, so i did. if i understand him correctly (his English is conveniently dubious at critical times), ltwoo is sending him 2 replacements and then he'll have to ship them to me. I'm not sure i understood correctly, it's happening in real time and he's bad at answering emails and gets upset when i chase him. There hasn't been any feedback on what the problem may be / is. If they are sending replacements i guess they're just broken? I would have wished there would be a software / reset solution to it, because it means 2 RDs just randomly died under normal use.
I have extremely mixed feelings about RD randomly dying for no reason, imagine a cycling holiday, a bike tour, or a long day out, how F'ed you are if that happens...

April 24, 2024, 04:12:01 AM
1
Re: VeloBuild VB-R-268 frame
Yeah, just saw those. Was actually looking for a colorful option but that silky look is really growing on me :D

So many choices ...

My 5 cents: careful with colours. You can get super durable decals cut for cheap locally, and you can change your mind every week. You can't change your mind with a colour. A colour also directly affect resale value. I chatted with a guy on Insta with a 168, white, who said his only regret was getting the frame painted white.
I got mine in glass black and am trolling Factor with Tractor decals. If i grow up one morning, i can remove them, it's fully reversible. My previous bike i painted orange because i loved the Giant propel from 2000 something in matte orange. Let's say my paint job didn't come out neaaaaarly as nice... I wish i had kept it black.

April 24, 2024, 04:16:00 AM
1
Re: VeloBuild VB-R-268 frame
Sounds fun, got any pics of those?

And yeah, I totally get you. I'm just a sucker for colors. Resale value is a good point as well but it isn't a high priority for me.

I don't know about resale value... I expect the resale value of my 500EUR china frames to be 0 in every color...

April 24, 2024, 06:08:23 AM
1
Re: LTWOO ER9 & ERX - Electronic groepsets I'm based in Germany. I used cells from German company (reseller?) PATONA. They do all kinds of batteries including big ones for e-scooters and e-bikes. They were slightly more expensive - something like double the price of the cheap stuff on Amazon. But they're working reliably. I guess you really shouldn't save money on the battery.
May 02, 2024, 01:04:33 AM
1
Re: VeloBuild VB-R-268 frame Update on my 268

Highs
-I love the Mavic thru-axle system. It's quite convenient actually. Being able to keep the axles in place when both transporting the bike and working on it on a mechanic stand is great.

-The bike is both stiff and nimble enough. I can't say there really is any discernible difference in stiffness compared to other bikes. Unless you are truly sprinting or climbing, there will be plenty of other variables in regards to maintaining any set speed.

-Visually I appreciate the frame design. Obviously because it looks like an SL7/Venge. Well rounded proportions. The sloping top tube gives the visual impression of an extreme saddle-to-handlebar drop versus a more horizontal top tube. More exposed seatpost (should?) also means more comfort as the seatpost has the ability to flex. 32c GP5000 tubeless fits no problem.

Lows
-Zero setback seatpost. It's not fully problematic for me, but I had to move my saddle back far more than I'm accustomed to. If this was my only road bike it would most likely be a deal breaker. A non-issue for most folks however.

-7x9 saddle clamp for carbon rails. On my particular clamp when using my AliExpress carbon saddle (7x9 rails), visually it does not appear as if the clamps are fully engaging with the rails. Other 268 owners with carbon saddles have not experienced this, and so far the saddle has stayed put. However, the saddle clamp bolt is now slightly bent from trying secure to the rails. Also a non-issue if you're using 7x7 rails as VB also supplies clamps for that too. Just something to be aware of.

-While the bike as a whole rides better than my previous VeloBuild frames, it does still suffer some from road chatter at the rear triangle. Rough pavement can upset the back end. Thankfully though still far better than my Dengfu R12 and TanTan x38 in this regard. This is completely subjective and anecdotal of course. Over the past few weeks I've made an effort to rotate riding each of my bikes everyday day to get a good feel on the differences and overall riding dynamics.

Closing
It's a great DIY bike at the price point so far. As always, wheel selection and bike fit/position will do most of the heavy lifting. If I could change anything it would be adding more reach to cockpit to offset the zero setback seatpost. Dear VeloBuild: Please make one for me thanks!

May 02, 2024, 03:06:12 PM
1
Re: VeloBuild VB-R-268 frame Double 268 build coming up (when I get the groupsets (105 Di2) and wheels). One 54 cm in Silver Chameleon (for a friend) and one 56 cm in Blue Chameleon (for me), both with black contrast color on the inside of fork and rear triangle. Really pleased with the quality of paint job, no air bubbles, trapped dust etc.
To be continued  :)


May 04, 2024, 03:54:39 AM
1
Re: LTWOO ER9 & ERX - Electronic groepsets
There might be some R&D costs that went into electronic group sets they are still trying to pay off, even if manufacturing should be cheaper than mechanical

That's wishful thinking unfortunately. These companies have been patent trolling for years, it's been the new rule of the game for many years. A friend used to be an intellectual property lawyer in London, representing the likes of Amazon. It is impossible to imagine how cunning these companies are at preventing competition. Amazon for example has patented so much shit related to conveyor belts that it's almost impossible to achieve their efficiency without tripping patents. Is it fair? Absolutely not.
SRAM and Shimano do essentially the same thing.
At these price levels, it's pure price gouging. Especially when you consider the price difference between OEM pricing and retail pricing, especially on Shimano.

May 14, 2024, 02:12:11 PM
1