Chinertown

Chinese Carbon Road Bikes => Cyclocross Frames, Wheels & Components => Topic started by: HyperD on November 01, 2024, 02:28:23 AM

Title: Gravel build advice?
Post by: HyperD on November 01, 2024, 02:28:23 AM
I am just about to start my first gravel bike build and have the following in my plan. What do you think, are these reasonable and would you change something here?

Frameset:
Ican Graro (EU warehouse)
https://icancycling.com/collections/carbon-frame-eu/products/graro-eu
- Includes seatpost and fork
- 828€
- 1560g

Wheels:
Ican G25 (EU warehouse)
https://icancycling.com/en-nl/collections/gravel-wheels-eu/products/700c-g25-gravel-wheels-eu
- 709€
- 1510g

Groupset:
Wheeltop GeX with carbon levers
https://wheeltop.com/products/wheel-top-eds-gex
- 599€
- 960g

Handlebars:
Ican HBG01 integrated
https://icancycling.com/collections/handlebar/products/hbg01
- 182€
- 450g

Crankset:
RaceWork including BB
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006794337930.html
- 150€
- 625g

Cassette:
ZTTO 10-44t
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006352923823.html
- 88€
- 333g

Tires:
Specialized Pathfinder 42
https://www.all4cycling.com/en/products/copertoncino-specialized-pathfinder-pro-2bliss-ready-700x42-nero-para
- 90€
- 1100g

Pedals:
RaceWork SPD pedals
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005931515865.html
- 25€
- 348g

Saddle:
Ryet 3D
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006678046650.html
- 40€
- 160g

Brake discs:
Cheapo and light (Trace Velo recommendation)
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32878710242.html
- 11€
- 140g

Computer mount:
Cheap carbon
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006947196557.html
- 10€
- 20g

All of this should come up to about 2724€ and 7206g.

Missing still is a chain (perhaps 250g and 40€?), bar tape (70g and 10€?) and the tire sealant (100g and 20€?).

Would you choose the same parts and if not, what would you change? Am I missing something obvious? My wish is to have the whole bike under 8kg and under 3000€.

EDIT: I have also reached out to Lightcarbon about their new LCG087-D which looks extremely interesting, but since there's no pricing publicly available I'm not sure if it is a viable alternative.
Title: Re: Gravel build advice?
Post by: HyperD on November 02, 2024, 04:40:51 AM
So I got a response from Lightcarbon and decided to go with them. This is what I ordered:

Frame:
Lightcarbon
https://www.lightcarbon.com/lightcarbon-gravel-frameset-with-micro-suspension-downtube-storage-plus-handlebar_p243.html

Wheels:
Elitewheels Drive G45 CS

Groupset:
Wheeltop GeX

Saddle, cassette, pedals and the other lot from Aliexpress.
Title: Re: Gravel build advice?
Post by: fhold on November 02, 2024, 05:25:25 AM
I‘m no expert but prices seem quite high, I got some of the parts for less. Doing research could safe you some money. Also the wheels seem expensive for the weight. I suppose you should be able to get cheaper and equal quality for sub 600€.

I’m doing a build with similar components and will be targeting 1800€.

Lastly haven’t seen a gravel build sub 8kg yet. I would suppose you would have to buy different components. Around 8 plus should be possible. I’m at 8,35kg (calculated) and my wheels are already 200g lighter
Title: Re: Gravel build advice?
Post by: HyperD on November 02, 2024, 07:29:34 AM
I‘m no expert but prices seem quite high, I got some of the parts for less. Doing research could safe you some money. Also the wheels seem expensive for the weight. I suppose you should be able to get cheaper and equal quality for sub 600€.

I’m doing a build with similar components and will be targeting 1800€.

Lastly haven’t seen a gravel build sub 8kg yet. I would suppose you would have to buy different components. Around 8 plus should be possible. I’m at 8,35kg (calculated) and my wheels are already 200g lighter

That’s exactly why I was asking for advice. Which components did you choose then?
Title: Re: Gravel build advice?
Post by: Ludo on November 03, 2024, 05:12:00 AM
I‘m no expert but prices seem quite high, I got some of the parts for less. Doing research could safe you some money. Also the wheels seem expensive for the weight. I suppose you should be able to get cheaper and equal quality for sub 600€.

I’m doing a build with similar components and will be targeting 1800€.

Lastly haven’t seen a gravel build sub 8kg yet. I would suppose you would have to buy different components. Around 8 plus should be possible. I’m at 8,35kg (calculated) and my wheels are already 200g lighter

I am at 7.2kg on mine minus bar tape, pedal and chain. I will end up around 8.2 I think, so less that 8 is definitely achievable as I don’t have lighter tires, no carbon crankset. On these two points there is easily 300g saving possible I think and my handlebars aren’t the lightest either. I think 7.8-7.9kg is doable with a bit more budget (my build is around 1600$) so probably 200$ would get you there

Title: Re: Gravel build advice?
Post by: fhold on November 03, 2024, 08:12:13 AM
This is my actual build list. The weights are the respective info on from the seller.
I'm still waiting for my frame and my wheels and I then will start building it.

Title: Re: Gravel build advice?
Post by: SirBikealot on November 03, 2024, 08:47:15 AM
This is my actual build list. The weights are the respective info on from the seller.
I'm still waiting for my frame and my wheels and I then will start building it.

1736€ incl. shipping cost? if so your frame gets my atention very quick as we both are from Germany.
Title: Re: Gravel build advice?
Post by: Ludo on November 03, 2024, 08:49:29 AM
Carbon ceankset would shave a little more than 200g (Lexon) but everything else is really on the light end indeed
Title: Re: Gravel build advice?
Post by: fhold on November 03, 2024, 10:59:10 AM
Carbon ceankset would shave a little more than 200g (Lexon) but everything else is really on the light end indeed

Yes incl shipping. I purchased the frame from surprised store with discount codes. You just need a bit of patience to grab the right deals.
Title: Re: Gravel build advice?
Post by: HyperD on November 03, 2024, 11:05:36 AM
This is my actual build list. The weights are the respective info on from the seller.
I'm still waiting for my frame and my wheels and I then will start building it.

Thanks! Here's mine. All of them have the weights also as the sellers have advertised them. I have calculated things like the fork, stem and others together with some of the items.

Title: Re: Gravel build advice?
Post by: Ludo on November 03, 2024, 11:57:15 AM
Yes incl shipping. I purchased the frame from surprised store with discount codes. You just need a bit of patience to grab the right deals.

Mine is slightly cheaper but with Ltwoo groupset and Zrace calipers…
Title: Re: Gravel build advice?
Post by: Alexander on November 03, 2024, 03:22:05 PM
Mine is slightly cheaper but with Ltwoo groupset and Zrace calipers…

Are you doing LTWOOs gravel group? Or just road? I want 2x and it seems LTWOO only has that for road.
Title: Re: Gravel build advice?
Post by: Ludo on November 03, 2024, 04:18:34 PM
I have the gravel, grt one with 10-50 cassette and 46T upfront. I live in Houston, no mountain to climbs here
Title: Re: Gravel build advice?
Post by: HyperD on November 05, 2024, 05:23:25 AM
Just to update here, I've ordered all the parts (and some others too) and will start a new thread here for the build itself when things arrive.
Title: Re: Gravel build advice?
Post by: klindsey00 on November 05, 2024, 08:11:58 AM
Only thing I would suggest is going to a pathfinder pro in 47 if it fits. Wider, almost always, is better for off-road applications. Check out BRR for more info.
Title: Re: Gravel build advice?
Post by: HyperD on November 06, 2024, 04:50:55 AM
Only thing I would suggest is going to a pathfinder pro in 47 if it fits. Wider, almost always, is better for off-road applications. Check out BRR for more info.

Thanks for the tip, I will look into it.
I live in an area where there is an overall great bike infrastructure (i.e. I don’t need to ride on car roads basically ever) but a lot of the bicycle routes are actual gravel so I’ll mostly ride on non-smooth surfaces but don’t actually plan to go off-road.
Title: Re: Gravel build advice?
Post by: zett on November 06, 2024, 06:55:45 AM
Does ICAN also sell frames without decals? I don't like the strange TRIAERO branding.
Title: Re: Gravel build advice?
Post by: Serge_K on November 06, 2024, 09:53:44 AM
Does ICAN also sell frames without decals? I don't like the strange TRIAERO branding.

ICAN has several websites. I interacted with a "crystal" there, and the frame we discussed didn't have logos.
Title: Re: Gravel build advice?
Post by: HyperD on December 03, 2024, 01:14:21 AM
I have now all the other parts gathered, still waiting on the frame and wheels.
Just today I got a confirmation that my frame is ready form the paint shop and will be sent out later today. Wheels are somewhere in transit.
Title: Re: Gravel build advice?
Post by: Lotnik on December 03, 2024, 07:43:18 AM
That is nice looking frame. Is this black or something different?
Title: Re: Gravel build advice?
Post by: HyperD on December 03, 2024, 08:42:00 AM
The colors should be LCB-07HS for the frame and YS 3003-1 for the text and logo

https://www.lightcarbon.com/decal-painting_n28
Title: Re: Gravel build advice?
Post by: Crash217 on December 03, 2024, 09:32:50 AM
Do they offer spare rubber damper pieces?  I think I would want a couple on hand in the event they go bad and who knows how long the company would keep stocking them.
Title: Re: Gravel build advice?
Post by: HyperD on December 03, 2024, 10:22:17 AM
From my interactions with them it seems they are happy to offer pretty much whatever you want so I’d assume spares should be fine. Haven’t asked that though
Title: Re: Gravel build advice?
Post by: noboz on January 03, 2025, 02:29:13 AM
So I got a response from Lightcarbon and decided to go with them. This is what I ordered:

Frame:
Lightcarbon
https://www.lightcarbon.com/lightcarbon-gravel-frameset-with-micro-suspension-downtube-storage-plus-handlebar_p243.html

Wheels:
Elitewheels Drive G45 CS

Groupset:
Wheeltop GeX

Saddle, cassette, pedals and the other lot from Aliexpress.

Hi, do you mind to share the price of the frame?