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Re: Velobuild VB-R-218
Thank you! these are the little nuggets of information that keep me interested in this frame For what it’s worth: the painted stock seatpost I got weighed 226g. Now I got an unpainted one (with clear coat obviously) which weighs just shy of 200g. I upgraded it with a carbon seat clamp that I borrowed from an AliExpress seatpost. That saved another 25g. So you can get closer without spending too much. Also I have to say that I don’t find the cockpit that flexy when actually riding the bike. The stem is super stiff. It’s really just the drops which are a bit flexier, probably because they have a sort of oval cross section. Dunno whether that’s to fit the hands better or whether that’s supposed to be aero. Either way, I found I don’t notice any excessive flexibility when riding it. I got an AliExpress aero bar that is reminiscent of a Zipp design which feels way worse. But even that one I’ve been riding for thousands of kilometres without issues and it actually feels quite comfy because it eats road buzz. August 23, 2022, 02:11:31 PM |
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Re: Velobuild VB-R-218
Hi VB-R-218 owners, how do you guys install a barrel adjuster for mechanical shifting front derailleur in a full internal cable routing frameset like the 218? I thought about doing it. You could access it through the BB cover. But I decided not to bother because it overcomplicates the cable routing if you have to split the housing down there where it makes a bend towards the derailleur. You could also try to cram an in-line adjuster below the cover in the handlebar maybe. But that would be pretty tight and crammed. I found it easy enough to adjust the cable tension when setting up the derailleur and leave it be. September 07, 2022, 03:05:58 PM |
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Re: Velobuild VB-R-218
hello all, does anyone know the length of stock seat post? im waiting for mines to come in I ordered it on the 2nd of sept. its being painted glossy white. I ordered the xxl model im 6,4 or 195 cm. I think it's 35cm, but I'd have to double check. The seattube on the XXL is 54cm. I got the XXL frame and with my seat height of around 81-82cm I got about 10cm of seatpost inserted in the frame. I think that's about as high as you can go with that seatpost. At some point you need an aftermarket post in 40cm length. September 12, 2022, 01:57:25 AM |
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Re: Velobuild VB-R-218
So anyone else have BB issues yet? Mine’s fine. Not as smooth as my prior frame with a thread fit BB into a pressfit shell. But it does spin smooth enough. I got a different issue, though. After a few rides I noticed cracks around the seatpost clamping area. Now I did make sure to have at least 10cm of seatpost inserted. I used a calibrated torque wrench from PRO and tightened it to 4nm. The upside is: Chris and VB were quick to assure me that the frame would be replaced under warranty. I am now waiting for a replacement and it should be shipped any day now. Hope that one will hold up better. Apart from that, I loved the fit and particularly the handling and cornering feel. The steep head angle and low BB feel really great. September 17, 2022, 03:18:07 PM |
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Re: Velobuild VB-R-218
i assume this this may be common but not to major. special for what was paid for the frame. small things like that i expect. This what I'm glad to here about at the end of the day. side note @sebastian how is the fit. if I remeber your a tall rider. The fit is very nice in fact. I like the steep head and seat angle. It makes for a position well above the BB which I like. And also very direct steering despite my 120mm stem. So direct is the steering in fact that I think it would be too nervous for my liking with a shorter stem. I particularly like the handlebar shape. I find it very comfy especially in the drops. The reach is a tad shorter than on my previous frame but I don’t feel cramped so all good. It does even make it easier for me to ride in an aero position with horizontal forearms since I can rest my arms better on the bars. I do have more toe overlap. But at my height and with my shoe size I do get this on all road bikes to some degree. I’ve learned to live with it and it’s basically never an issue. September 18, 2022, 03:23:57 AM |
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Re: Velobuild VB-R-218
Not much to see here, is there? He likes his Tarmac SL7 better than a 500 USD Velobuild-frame. Well, it better feel better than a VB-frame with that price tag. And I don't think anyone of us would expect this frame to compete with bikes with 5digit price tags. About it being sluggish and less stiff. For what it's worth, this sounds pretty similar to the review that Cyclingtips did after one year of riding the actual Dogma F. They found it to feel harsh and criticized seat tube flex. I don't think subjective ride impressions are worth much because everyone has a different frame of reference. To me, coming from a Ridley Helium frame, this frame definitely doesn't lack stiffness. And I always felt that most of the "snappiness" when sprinting or accelerating is coming from the wheels and how heavy they are, unless the frame is a complete noodle. September 26, 2022, 01:57:39 AM |
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Re: Velobuild VB-R-218
I'm 235lbs i started high(100psi on 32mm gatorskin) and worked my way down. the high psi hand my back killing after 16 miles I'd be done. once i went below 80psi i could go all day long. i will never ride anything smaller then a 28 i love myself to much. unless its a short ride 10miles are less. I had 1 flat on my gp5000 on the rear and 3200 miles and non on the gator skins. 110psi in a 32mm tire? Wow! That’s crazy high, IMO. I think I only ever used pressure that high in 23mm tires. I use around 85-87psi in my tubulars (25 front / 28 rear) and even slightly less in my Corsa clinchers with latex tubes (25 front and rear, but 28 measured with) and I’m no flyweight at 82kg. The ride is fast and smooth. I have no troubles averaging 20mph over long rides and I got all kinds of shit roads here, including cobbles. September 30, 2022, 12:37:30 AM |
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Re: Velobuild VB-R-218
The new GP5000S is very easy to mount compared to the older one. And lighter. Yeah. I don’t doubt that. I’ve also had very good experiences with Schwalbe‘s regular One (not the pro version). The truth is, however, that at least with current sealants, tubeless just won’t seal properly at road pressures north of 60psi. When you get a proper cut, it fails. And when it does, the only choice you got is to make a complete mess or try to plug your tire. I’ve done both in the past. Plugs are a bit hit and miss. Putting an inner tube in might or might not be a nightmare, depending on how tight the tire sits. But ever since I realised that my tubulars are just as fast and comfy as my tubeless tires, I decided to go back to cotton clinchers and latex tubes and spare myself the pain of dealing with catastrophic tubeless failures at the roadside. I do run tubeless on my gravel bike and on my commuter. I do like it. But on road bikes not anymore. September 30, 2022, 12:53:29 PM |
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Re: Velobuild VB-R-218
Well yeah that didnt take long. Here is the result from the replica eebrake torture test… A little bit of force off axis and pop goes the retaining c clip flying to my face. Not worth the risk and the time that goes into trying to get these to work! Wow! That happened during a ride? You’re OK, I hope? I just did a big ride today with some fast descents. It’s good to have faith in your brakes on those. To reflect what GC Performance said in his review. I feel this frame is on the harsher end but I don’t really find it uncomfortable. It’s noticeably stiffer in the BB area than my previous Helium frame. If I did have to lament a lack of stiffness then it would be in headtube area. It doesn’t really bother me, but it’s a bit more flexy there. But this bike put a big grin on my face today. Especially whilst descending. I can’t overstate how much I love how this thing handles corners. It feels just so nimble. But, the low BB takes some getting used to. I got 175mm cranks and I clipped my left pedal on the ground once because I started pedalling out of a corner to early. That’s the downside. But it’s worth it because it’s super fun! October 09, 2022, 08:04:30 AM |
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Re: Velobuild VB-R-218
Hi guys, what‘s the tire clearance for 218 ? 32s should fit fine. But I think that’s about the limit between the chain stays. And if it gets muddy, you might get rubbing. Not sure I’d ride this thing off-road. The wheelbase is pretty damn short. It would probably feel a little nervous on gravel. But that’s just me. October 09, 2022, 03:36:06 PM |
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