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Re: ICAN triaero A9
Just semi-finished my build after the wheels finally arrived today... Very happy about the A9, the quality of the frame was Top notch so far (ordered without handlebar and used a Metron 5D ACR Replica). Proper pictures will follow soon.. Going for a first ride tomorrow January 17, 2023, 12:27:08 PM |
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Deng Fu R13
Hi everyone. Longtime lurker, first time poster. I've learned a lot from the forum over the years so it's time to give back by sharing some knowledge. The first frame that I ordered directly from a Chinese manufacturer was a Hongfu FM069 in 2014. It felt a bit more like gambling then. Fewer people doing this, less knowledge about the producers, and not knowing anything about how customs would work. I was out of the game for some time because that frame lasted until spring 2022. The only trouble I had with it was due to a small design flaw. Shimano changed the front derailleur when they came out with Ultegra 6800 and the arm of the derailleur pressed on the frame, but like I wrote, it lasted for years and thousands of KM, until last spring. I noticed what looked like a slight crack on the top tube while sitting at a cafe after riding. It felt a little soft when I pushed on it, but I couldn't tell how bad it was. I road it a few more times and pushed on it, and pulled on it with my fingernail, etc. I eventually decided that I wasn't going to feel safe riding it at speed on the open road, so I dissected it the best I could around the crack. Long story short, I'm convinced that it is next to impossible to properly inspect a carbon frame without professional tools. Full stop. Sure there are visually obvious flaws, but we won't catch anything internal. The other side is just as true. I'm happy I retired that frame, but I'm not 100% that is was necessary. So I decided to order a new frame and use my existing grupo and wheels. It was spring and I needed a frame asap so I panic ordered a Rinasclta 2020 light weight rim brake road frame. They were professional, I got the frame relatively quickly, even with a custom paint job. It rides nicely and generally does what a frame should do: let you focus on riding. I had a little problem with the rear derailleur hanger. It was misaligned and there is so little carbon where it screws to the frame that I'm afraid to use a derailleur hanger adjustment tool to bend it into place. I made a shim out of thin plastic and that got it close enough that it shifts without problems. I can share photos or a tutorial if anyone has questions about what I did. I'm happy with that bike and it is now on my indoor trainer and I use it as my winter bike. I was ready to take a big step forward after putting in the training time the last few years so this autumn I started looking for a new frame to build up from scratch. My priorities were integrated cables, disc brakes, and somewhere on the aero spectrum of frames. After much lurking on the forums, I finally settled on a Deng Fu R12. The Yeoleo R12 (completely different from the Deng Fu R12) did work with me for geometry and taste. A few final contenders had BB86 bottom brackets, which don't play nicely with sram dub cranks. So the Deng Fu R12 with its BB386 was the call. Mia was helpful and answered my questions promptly. The price was nice. Everything was good until I changed my mind about the size. I wanted at 56cm frame instead of 58cm. The 56cm frame was out of stock. I was disappointed because I was ready to pull the trigger, but she got back to me to let me know that they had the new R13 in 56cm. She said it was very close to the R12, sent me a photo, but didn't have a geometry chart to share. I decided to order it anyway. It came about a month later. Mia shared a tracking number when it shipped and it arrived very well packaged in my country without incident. I tried to look at the inside of the frame the best I could without a proper insertable camera. Everything checked out. The only thing that I noticed was some latex leftover from the molding process. I built it up with sram force. The brake cable routing was easy; I didn't need anything other than tape and the plastic tubing that came pre-inserted in the frame. I'm not 100% happy with how the headset spacers are fitting into the integrated bar/stem. The spaces have a little dot that fits into a corresponding hole in the spacer above and then the stem. The space match up perfectly, but the carbon stem is tightened around the steerer tube, which changes its diameter, making this last interface slightly misaligned. It's about 99% there, just not perfect. Certainly not a safety issue. I have zero other comments other than it was easy to build. I used a Token thread together ninja bb. Besides having to find their tool in stock to buy, it was easy and tolerances checked out the best I could tell with calipers. The other part of the project was building wheels. I bought light carbon rims (Hi everyone. Longtime lurker, first time poster. I've learned a lot from the forum over the years so it's time to give back by sharing some knowledge. The first frame that I ordered directly from a Chinese manufacturer was a Hongfu FM069 in 2014. It felt a bit more like gambling then. Fewer people doing this, less knowledge about the producers, and not knowing anything about how customs would work. I was out of the game for some time because that frame lasted until spring 2022. The only trouble I had with it was due to a small design flaw. Shimano changed the front derailleur when they came out with Ultegra 6800 and the arm of the derailleur pressed on the frame, but like I wrote, it lasted for years and thousands of KM, until last spring. I noticed what looked like a slight crack on the top tube while sitting at a cafe after riding. It felt a little soft when I pushed on it, but I couldn't tell how bad it was. I road it a few more times and pushed on it, and pulled on it with my fingernail, etc. I eventually decided that I wasn't going to feel safe riding it at speed on the open road, so I dissected it the best I could around the crack. Long story short, I'm convinced that it is next to impossible to properly inspect a carbon frame without professional tools. Full stop. Sure there are visually obvious flaws, but we won't catch anything internal. The other side is just as true. I'm happy I retired that frame, but I'm not 100% that is was necessary. So I decided to order a new frame and use my existing grupo and wheels. It was spring and I needed a frame asap so I panic ordered a Rinasclta 2020 light weight rim brake road frame. They were professional, I got the frame relatively quickly, even with a custom paint job. It rides nicely and generally does what a frame should do: let you focus on riding. I had a little problem with the rear derailleur hanger. It was misaligned and there is so little carbon where it screws to the frame that I'm afraid to use a derailleur hanger adjustment tool to bend it into place. I made a shim out of thin plastic and that got it close enough that it shifts without problems. I can share photos or a tutorial if anyone has questions about what I did. I'm happy with that bike and it is now on my indoor trainer and I use it as my winter bike. I was ready to take a big step forward after putting in the training time the last few years so this autumn I started looking for a new frame to build up from scratch. My priorities were integrated cables, disc brakes, and somewhere on the aero spectrum of frames. After much lurking on the forums, I finally settled on a Deng Fu R12. The Yeoleo R12 (completely different from the Deng Fu R12) did work with me for geometry and taste. A few final contenders had BB86 bottom brackets, which don't play nicely with sram dub cranks. So the Deng Fu R12 with its BB386 was the call. Mia was helpful and answered my questions promptly. The price was nice. Everything was good until I changed my mind about the size. I wanted at 56cm frame instead of 58cm. The 56cm frame was out of stock. I was disappointed because I was ready to pull the trigger, but she got back to me to let me know that they had the new R13 in 56cm. She said it was very close to the R12, sent me a photo, but didn't have a geometry chart to share. I decided to order it anyway. It came about a month later. Mia shared a tracking number when it shipped and it arrived very well packaged in my country without incident. I tried to look at the inside of the frame the best I could without a proper insertable camera. Everything checked out. The only thing that I noticed was some latex leftover from the molding process. I built it up with sram force. The brake cable routing was easy; I didn't need anything other than tape and the plastic tubing that came pre-inserted in the frame. I'm not 100% happy with how the headset spacers are fitting into the integrated bar/stem. The spaces have a little dot that fits into a corresponding hole in the spacer above and then the stem. The space match up perfectly, but the carbon stem is tightened around the steerer tube, which changes its diameter, making this last interface slightly misaligned. It's about 99% there, just not perfect. Certainly not a safety issue. I have zero other comments other than it was easy to build. I used a Token thread together ninja bb. Besides having to find their tool in stock to buy, it was easy and tolerances checked out the best I could tell with calipers. The only difference that I can see between the R12 photos I've seen online and my R13 is in the seat stays. The R12 has slightly flared seat stays that are separate when they leave the seat tube. The seat stays on the R13 come off of the seat stay as a single, joined piece that then separates to each side. The other part of the project was building wheels. I bought rims from Light Carbon (https://www.lightcarbon.com/super-aero-undulating-rim-depth-700c-disc-brake-carbon-clincher-rims_p207.html). Super easy to deal with. Prompt emails. Answered questions. Shipped with a tracking number and I'm completely satisfied and enjoyed building the wheels. Last, I used a matte 2k clear coat on the frame and semigloss on the rims. I had more elaborate painting plans, but not a place to warm and dry to realize them in the winter. January 19, 2023, 09:38:30 AM |
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Re: Fake/chinese frame or legit western brand bike ? (
You know that Giant is from Taiwan, that can be seen more Eastern than China  My theory is, if you look at a top end branded bikes, you'll pay about half or less, the price for the same or better equipment. Don't buy on the first shiny aliexpress seller you find, but do some homework by reading here what sellers have good reputation. Personally I value more after sales service and reliability of a Chinese brand building their own models, than sellers of copies. I'm having a hard time to find a frame for a 1.95m guy that is less flexible than you. I would go for this one https://www.flybike-asia.com/product/148.html ( by Carbonda ) if I didn't have to put 6cm of spacers under his stem although Carbonda told me it is safe. You should have more luck. January 23, 2023, 04:55:45 AM |
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Re: Rinasclta Granite Aero "All Road" Bike Frameset
Not my photos, but from a fellow YouTube viewer. ICAN Aero 50 wheels. Size 58 frame. Considering I ordered a size 54 (I'm 6ft / 183cm) I'm gonna assume he's about 6'3" 
January 26, 2023, 10:16:33 AM |
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Re: Lexon road frame
I love the frame design but after hearing how they were shipping those Scott spark knock offs with linkages that collided with the frame, I basically refuse to entertain ordering from them.
February 04, 2023, 03:20:34 PM |
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Re: Speeder SC-R48
Justin said it was fine. The Fork utilizes a carbon crown. I’ve since seen this on other bikes too.. I built it up this weekend. It wasn’t easy, but it was also my first time building one up from scratch. At first I went in the frame with a camera but quickly realized I have no idea what I’m looking for so I just started. I was actually surprised how smooth the BB went in, I expected noises. Again, probably because I am used to BSA. Frame looked faultless , a bit a lacquer at the brakes but besides that I did not notice anything else. Ended up at 7.75 kg with pedals, full 105, size 49. Had some creaking from the seat post, tried to torque it to 5 NM or something like that (the clamp says 6NM) heard a crack. Well anyway, reapplied carbon paste and clamped it again. Haven’t heard the creaking afterwards (only a short ride). During the ride I sometimes heard rattling , not sure if it’s from the di2 cable zip ties I installed that serve no purpose or if it was the cover plate on the downtube that was loose all of a sudden. So the thing that is left for me now is: How should I check if that crack is an issue? I don’t really see anything unusual. I’m not sure if it really was the seat post because that thing is massive. I couldn’t even fit the di2 battery with the pro battery holder because the walls are so thick. I’m also a bit unsure about the FSA COMPRESSOR they’ve supplied. February 05, 2023, 09:49:29 AM |
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Re: Lexon road frame
Did you end up buying it ? I didn't. After looking at geometry it's a pretty slow steering bike. Very good for straight, not great for turns February 05, 2023, 09:59:30 AM |
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Re: Elves vs Winspace ?
Everything about this confuses me, the Trek Madone 4 series was never offered in a 61cm size. They are always even numbered sizes. I don't think there exists a Madone with listed size in the 60s but an effective top tube length of ~57cm. Anyways, I suggest you compare your geometry on bikeinsights.com. The closest madone in their database that I could find compared to what you describe is the 2010 Madone 5 Series in a size 58, which has an effective top tube length off 572mm. The numbers you want to compare are reach and stack, not top-tube length. If you aren't familiar, here's an article that explains: https://www.bikeradar.com/features/your-top-tube-length-is-irrelevant/ The new Falath Evo is going to be disc only. Likewise with anything Winspace makes in the future. I personally like the design of the Falath Pro better than the Winspace, but it's going to be heavy (like 1400gr). If you get the "59" Falath, it's going to have a reach that's only 3mm short of the Madone in a 58, which you can easily compensate with stem length. Keep in mind you will also want to compensate for bar reach--your bars probably have a 85-90mm reach, which will be 8-13mm shorter than the 77mm that is standard on carbon integrated bars from china, so maybe a 120mm stem is sufficient, or maybe you will want a 130mm stem. Personally I am stepping up to 130mm from 110 to overcome a similar reach shortfall. February 05, 2023, 10:26:56 AM |
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Re: Elves Falath EVO 2023
They made several social media posts including a size 61, but geo hasn't been released. Had it confirmed that there will be a 61, but no geo yet. They're going to need to boost the stack a shitload. Their suggested sizing chart currently suggests that people up to 198cm can ride the 59. Maybe if their arms are longer than their legs? February 07, 2023, 09:14:09 AM |
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Re: Speeder SC-R52D
7,15kg nice! I tried to measure with cheap luggage analog scale, but was between 7.5kg /7.9kg... so not that accurate scale  Will try to borrow a good digital scale soon. But probably closer to 7.9 I guess.. (incl cages and pedals ofcourse  I took some quick pictures in the sun! Tried to get the effect of the carbon... The carbon + sun really nice effect!  February 08, 2023, 06:37:54 AM |
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