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Re: First bike build, Carbonda CFR 505 SL I've been riding this bike for about a year now. It's good enough to place in the top 20 in a gravel world series with the elites, so I guess it gets the job done.  8)
I chose the frame mainly for the specs – it was, and still is, the best performing race gravel bike in China. It's lightweight, made with T1000 carbon, and features modern components like the T47 bottom bracket and UDH (Universal Derailleur Hanger). There might be more modern-looking bikes out there, but I doubt they're any faster. I love the lack of unnecessary bolts almost every gravel frames seem to have. Only a minority uses fork bolts and they just make the frame heavy.

As I mentioned earlier, the bike rides like a road bike. The bottom bracket stiffness feels on par with my road bike when I use road wheels and it smoothens the terrain when needed. For comparison, my Tideace winter gravel bike is unforgiving on every bump. With a 73-degree steering angle, the bike is also very agile and great at cornering.

Regarding the cockpit: Last year, I used it with the Ritchey Logic-E 1.5" Integrated IS headset solution to run a regular stem. Due to the high stack of this headset, I needed a -17-degree stem. This winter, I've installed a Roval cockpit and printed a custom spacer to make it compatible with the ACR headset top cap. I haven't had a chance to ride it yet, but I'm excited to see how it performs.

Concerning paintjobs: we all have our own taste, I just wanted to demonstrate carbonda has some paintjob knowledge inhouse and easily accomodates to your desires. They delivered exactely what I wanted.
January 24, 2025, 01:46:21 PM 		1
Re: First bike build, Carbonda CFR 505 SL
Quote from: demeaux on January 27, 2025, 05:35:48 AM
[quote author=jfcb link=topic=5633.msg73449#msg73449 date=1737747981 They delivered exactely what I wanted.

Can you give me an idea of what your set up here is? Less interested in wheels, but am interested in components and how it was getting it built up.
Were there any problems with internal routing etc etc. Or did you make it someone else's problem and get the shop to build it?

The build up was very smooth, no issues to notice actually.
  • Internal cable routing (especially with SRAM wireless shifting) is easy with the frame, no fiddling. I did use foam hose protection to avoid rattling inside the frame.
  • The brake mounts were faced, no issues
  • with Sram 1X, installing a groupset goes very fast
Apart from the groupset and pedals, it's quiet a chinabuild:
  • T47 BB install, as al my BB's I buy them on Alixpress and replace the bearings with NTN/SKF once the original ones wear down. Afterwards they last very long.
  • Crankset: now (different from the picture), I'm running a SRAM RED DUB crank with sigey PM, 50T Stone oval chainring. For training periods and climbing races, I will go back to 46T. I also mounted a ZTTO chain catcher. I've ridden a period without chainring cachter which went smooth, but rather don't take the risk in races.
  • Drivetrain: force XPLR derailleur and (Goldix?) 10-44T cassette. They are very long lasting cassettes and work with Shimano 12sp chains.
  • Cockpit: originally I ran an UNO stem with carbon handlebar (ali, similar shape as 3T ergonova) using the ritchey headset. This is a super light yet sturdy combination. As mentioned earlier, I replaced it this winter with a roval cockpit which I could buy from a friend for which it was too short.
  • Furthermore: seatpost (ali), carbon bottle cages (ali, arundel style), farsports 40mm gravel wheels (1300gr), some helicopter tape on the downtube to protect it from the gravel impacts. I also replaced the bolts on the downtube with Nylon bolts
January 27, 2025, 12:08:28 PM 		1
Re: First bike build, Carbonda CFR 505 SL I don't know, but I don't think so. I can not verify that as my frame has not arrived yet. Best ask Carbonda, they answered relatively quickly even during their holidays.
February 17, 2025, 07:15:07 AM 		1