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My Winspace T1500 build
So, my T1500 arrived in the NY, my wheels arrived from Light Bicycle. All in all, I'm really happy with the T1500 frame and the wheels from Light Bicycle. I didn't go with the Winspace handlebars, mainly because they didn't have my size at the time, but partly cost. The other components on the bike are: - 105 disc groupset (mechanical shift) - FSA stem - Prime X-light handlebars (not aero, no internal routing) - mainly got these as they were cheap, light, recommended, and temporary (once, I'm happy with the sizing and fit on the bike, I'll at some point switch to a fully integrated handlebar and move the prime's to my old bike, if I like them). Given no internally routed handlebars, cables are routed through the headset, everything goes into the down tube except for the front break (obviously). OK, so I took on this project with virtually no bike mechanical experience. Before this, the most I'd done was change my cassettes and chains. I generally don't even look under the hood of my car. In terms of the build, I've completed the following, none of which I'd ever even tried to do before: - cut carbon steerer tube down to size (seatpost was OK, just!). - installed forks, stem, handlebars, shifters. - installed seatpost and saddle. - routed brake hoses, cut hoses down to size, installed new barbs and olives, bled brakes. So all, in all, the only things I had left to do were: - bottom bracket installation - crank, chain and pedals installation + tune everything. I'm really impressed with the T1500 apparent quality (haven't ridden it yet). My only feedback is: - I'm a bit concerned that there is no plastic guard separating the gear cables from the carbon on the frame as they run under the bottom bracket area, as the cable for the front derailleur comes out of the frame, and where the cable comes out of the rear chainstay above the thru axle hole. I'm worried about the cables cutting through the frame where there is contact. As a result, I've left some of the plastic routing guides in those particular places. - The seat clamp is really fiddly. It's a struggle to attach the saddle if you don't have 3 hands. You have to use their seat clamp because the seatpost is proprietary. Today was press-fit bottom-bracket installation day. Everything seemed to go really smoothly. The whole thing seemed to be straight and I thought it was done. However, when I tried to put the cranks in, they wouldn't go out the other end. I looked inside and found that the centre tube had not attached to the other side and while the bearings might have been OK, the centre tube had pressed in crooked (see photo).  So, I'm guessing this is not easily resolvable? I'll need to somehow break the centre tube (which felt like plastic before I installed it) so that I can get a bottom bracket removal tool into position, then remove the BB and install a brand new BB (even assuming the BB is reusable, there's probably no way to just buy the centre tube? Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks February 15, 2023, 01:30:51 AM |
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Re: Interesting Aliexpress finds! - good deals, interesting stuff, new products etc!
I ordered GK SS in blue/teal colorway lol here goes nothing. I have the SS in black on my Chiner gravel and those are the only tires I never had a puncture plus they roll super on the road. True multipurpose tires IMO at reasonable prices.
February 15, 2023, 12:25:43 PM |
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Another Seaboard GR02
Heres mine! very similar to the bamboo_mountain build. Seaboard GR02 53 Ltwoo GRT groupset Ryet Carbon Gravel wheelset American Classic Udden Tires 700x40C SRAM 160mm rotors Zrace RX crankset 42T Sunshine 11-46T Cassette Kalloy UNO bars + Stem Toseek Carbon post Carbon Power Saddle knockoff Bling Muck off tubeless valve stems  February 15, 2023, 08:16:08 PM |
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Re: Another Seaboard GR02
Very nice bike. Just saw your post on Reddit with someone replying you are certainly going to die 
February 16, 2023, 12:59:01 AM |
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Re: Another Seaboard GR02
Can confirm, am dead
February 16, 2023, 01:16:31 AM |
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Re: Where is everyone from?
Cornwall in the United Kingdom. The bit right at the bottom on the left! full of history (inc Pirates!) lots of coastline and moors and mining trails(gravel) made by the old tin miners to haul coal one way and tin ore the other. Oh and surf capital of the world (OK the UK!) Kernow Bys Vyken (Cornwall for ever, it also has its own language !)
February 16, 2023, 04:56:20 AM |
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Re: Another Seaboard GR02
Nice Build!! I almost pulled the trigger on this frameset, but wanted a little more tire clearance. I was also looking at those ryet wheels. What are the hubs like? Are they their own design or just rebadged chinese hubs? Wheelset is nice, who knows if its their own design. One thing to note, the description makes it seem that they are hooked, but they are hookless.. the hubs seem quality but time will tell. They do have that high tooth ratchet sound. Sounds like I'm riding a swarm of bee's, Wu-Tang forever. February 16, 2023, 07:29:47 PM |
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Re: Interesting Aliexpress finds! - good deals, interesting stuff, new products etc!
Not Ali-Ex but Wiggle has Panaracer GK SK 38mm tan-walled tires at $25 a pop if anyone is interested. I felt they are aggressive and slow for road use if you are mixed rider like me who does not take the bike in car to the trail but rather ride on the road to reach the trail. But in the wet, snow, loose gravel the SK are simply fantastic. https://www.wiggle.com/panaracer-gravel-king-sk-folding-tire-2 Oh and no tax + very reasonable shipping to the USA. I have paid far more than this for shipping within the USA for two tires. February 17, 2023, 12:50:49 PM |
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Re: My Winspace T1500 build
My build is finally complete! Took me from mid Jan to now. It was a steep learning curve, but it was very enjoyable (most of the time). I also had some help from a friend at a local bike shop at times when I got stuck (bb issue mentioned in this thread, final gear tuning, front brake rub (turned out rotor was a bit bent, getting super-tight tyres onto the rim) Final weight was 7.9kg without pedals and bottle cages for an XL. To be honest, the weight is not a big thing for me. Plenty of opportunity to cut weight on the rider! It's got 105 7020 groupset, chain catcher, not the lightest stem, an old saddle, more stack than it needs, longer seatpost than needed, so weight was to be expected. I've done a quick test ride, but not a proper ride. First impressions are very good. Fit is not right and needs adjustment, stack, and handlebar positioning. The shifting needs a bit of work. Possibly too much friction from the guide lines I left in the frame due to my concern about contact points of gear cables on the frame (maybe I'm being too precious about that). Also I'm comparing it to my SL3 which has 105 7000 with fully external cables. February 18, 2023, 09:59:12 PM |
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Re: Shimano GRX brake adjustment
So I managed to get my brakes sorted today! I took the pads out of the front caliper and carefully squeezed the lever a few times. One piston was extending and retracting properly but the other was barely moving. I lubricated it with mineral oil and then squeezed the levers and pushed the pads back in a bunch of times. It started working a lot better after that. On the rear brake, I noticed that the pads weren't seated firmly against the pistons, and I could wiggle them a bit. I tried replacing the retraction spring with the one from my road bike's Shimano 105 brakes (factory assembled and working well) and that held the pads in place much more firmly. I'm using some cheap Aliexpress pads and I guess the springs they come with aren't very good. The Shimano springs have a couple extra bends so they hold the pads against the pistons more securely. Luckily I had some extra Shimano springs and they got these pads fine, so I replaced both the front and rear. After these changes, I was able to center the calipers by eye and the rotors only needed a few small tweaks to silence them. I didn't have time to test ride it (and won't for a while) but it worked great on the stand! February 18, 2023, 11:57:22 PM |
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