Here's some pictures of the actual frame and seatpost.

I guess it's time for me to really be a part of this forum with a chronicle of my new TChiner 29er.  Btw, "T" stands for "Taiwan", another country but still a Chiner.

Some of you were aware of me consider getting a Chiner CF frame set from Huapu.  But I ended up with something else and this is what happened.

Last week, I was actually set to make the order but checked out the local bike market Facebook group and saw an ad. A local guy who frequently orders custom CF frames from a Taiwanese CF company for himself and friends got his latest batch.  Turns out 1 of the frames sent was a wrong size.  Instead of 15.5", he was sent an 18.5" (which is around my size range, I'm 5'10").  Since the mess was the factory's fault, they agreed to sent him the right size frame and because it was custom painted, they (the factory) figured that they won't be able to sell it easily at their end.  They asked the guy to sell it locally at a discount with the standard 2 year warranty instead of having it shipped back.  So, I just shell out US$330 for the frame and CF seat post.

It was painted the Peter Sagan color scheme.  I still haven't taken photos of it but below a pic of a similar color scheme.



Built: TChiner 29er carbon fibre bike
Part                            Cost         Weight (kg)
------------------------------------------------------------------
cf ht frame                     US$ 330.00    1.300 (w/ headset)
Carbonium (cf) 29er rigid fork      110.00    0.575

cf seat post                          0.00    0.190
Specialized 60mm stem                28.00    0.130
Crank Bros Iodine 3 handle bar       38.70    0.270
DDK Saddle                           15.00    0.290
Easton grips                          0.00    0.130
Atomic pedals                        19.35    0.360

Shimano XT MT8000 group set         450.00    2.660 (w/ wrappers)
38T narrow-wide chainring            42.00    0.110

WTB 29er Speed Disk rims (pair)       0.00    1.080
Spokes & nipples                     53.75    0.390
Shimano 180mm Icetech Rotors          0.00    -tba-
Hubs (DT Swiss pair)                129.00    -tba-
Wheels (Maxxis Litethread pair)      64.50    -tba-
Maxis Tubes (pair)                    6.50    -tba-
------------------------------------------------------------------
Total:                        US$ 1,286.80    7.595kg (16.709lbs)


If price is 0.00 it simply means it's from my old bike or part of set.  Forgot to weight the rotors and inner tubes.  I'm currently missing only the hubs and wheels.  And will be getting the before the week ends.  Looking forward to have it up and running next week.

Edit:
Wasn't able to weight the hubs, rotors, tubes and wheels individually.  But the parts are currently being assembled in an lbs. 

Just checked out SRAM's pricing.  Wow, it's actually cheaper for me to just go with Shimano 1x11 MT8000 groupset with an extra 3rd party 36T (or 38T) narrow wide chainring.  Gives me the option to switch out chainring size as I see fit.  I think I'll just go the Shimano 1x11 route.

Btw, is the Race Face narrow wide chainrings compatible with Shimano cranks?

Finally paid for my Chinese-carbon fibre frame... although this one's from Taiwan rather than China.  I've pretty much dialed in to a 2x setup.  I loved the simplicity of a 1x but I missed being able to go faster when I do my monthly 100km rides.

Am currently in the crossroad choosing between going 2x10 or 2x11 Shimano XT (38T/28T) groupset.  My current 29er is close to 32lbs and sporting a 1x10 (32T chainring and 11-42T sprocket... 42T expansion ring on the sprocket).  And for the steepest climb in town, in most cases, I can climb it without using the 42T.  The new bike which this group set will be installed on is (l'm hoping) in the 22-24lbs range.  So naturaly, logic says I can get by with a 2x10 setup.  And put the saving and get me a Fox 32 fork. 

But since I'm not exactly that well verse with bike parts I think it's better to ask what am I missing if I don't go 1x11?  Is it just the extra gear range?  Or the shifters, derailure, and/or hydraulic brakes have significant performance differences.

Help make a better decision.  Thanks a bunch.

Thanks for the info guys.  That's a tad sad as I will have to change my intended color scheme.  Allow me to suffer you a few more queries.

Does painting your frame void the warranty?

Re fiber grip, I've seen some folks recommends electrical tape.  Are these better options?

Anyone bought a Chiner frame with a Chiner seatpost to go with it?
Ever painted the seatpost too?  Did it still fit after painting?

The second ride was a 12 mile race that I did last week.  Again, I didn't really notice much difference in feel.  So my current evaluation is that going from the 32 round to 34 Oval seems to feel pretty much the same to me.  What I'm hoping after I ride a little more is that is still feels like pushing the 32, but I carry more speed because I'm actually pushing the 34.

Shouldn't that already be a significant change?  You're pushing the 34T like it's a 32T.  Technically, you're exerting efforts of a 32T but going at 34T speed.  That's 1 step better output.