Hellooo fellow triathletes!

I wouldn't have thought that my sketchy TT setup actually does draw attention, but this is a forum of people riding sketchy frames from (partly) unknown sources, so theres that.

Let me share my journey for you guys, I can also share the 3d print files as .stl or solidworks-file if anyone wants them. Short disclaimer regarding 3d printing: Please, for the love of god, only use 3d printed parts on bikes if you absolutely know what you are doing. 3d printed parts are not rigid enough  to be used in any tensile stress - especially because the layer lines can break apart easily. If you pay close attention to the 3d printed parts that I use, you'll see that all of them are used in compression only.

- After lots of resarch I did not find any dogma fitting aero connectors, so I purchased the giant propel aero connectors (GTIN: 4713250834511). Hoping they would somehow fit. They did not fit, and clamping them down like this would have definitely damaged the handlebars (see first picture).
- I have then 3d printed banana-shaped adapters from a soft-ish rubber material (TPU, for those who are familiar with 3d printing materials), to adapt the giant-shape to the handlebar of the VB218. This has worked out okay-ish (see 2nd + 3rd picture) but the armpads were too wide apart and too far forward.
- In the first ride on my hometrainer, I have noticed, that these rubber bananas create side-to side flexibility.
- I have then had a local shop cnc mill an aluminium plate (see 4th picture) to solve two things: a) side to side flexibility and b) give me more options of placement, especially fore/aft, and distance between the armpads. This has worked execptionally well, as it gives enough variability in position, but also is super stable without clamping down too hard on the handlebars.

What I also did to improve the TT fit on this bike:
- get an ISM PN1.0 saddle (move wayy forward)
- get a 0° setback seatpost

Still on my list to do:
- get a between the arms bottle
- print a rear box, similar to what the guys at 4-frames do. First protoype is done already (see 5th picture)
- ride more
- get a TT frame (project for next winter  )

I've been contemplating getting these to try on 218 bars.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806076922208.html

Hi JonMS, these might actually fit - but I suppose you'll also need some kind of rubber adapters.

Hey ejump0,

Hope you're fine and still rocking that blue rocket! Thanks for all the detailed pictures in this thread, I'm considering building a Chinese tt as well and I'm looking into this frame aswell as the velobuild tt023. Could you maybe share some pictures of the storage compartment by the seatube? How large is it?

Honestly speaking, I prefer the look of the velobuild frame, but it does not come with any storage whatsoever. What other frames did you consider before going for the tt912?

Cheers!

Hi everyone,

I have received some direct messages over my bike computer setup on the VB218, because I have mounted a bell below it. If anyone is interested, here are some infos about it:

My bell mount is actually a self-made contraption, that consists of three things:

- a standard bell, that you would normally mount to a round handlebar
- the standard computer mount that came with the velobuild 218 frame
- a 3d printed part, that allows me to mount the bell

The 3d file can be downloaded here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6578675


This setup has worked fine, but it was a bit heavy. A few weeks ago I hit a pothole and the computer mount broke, so I ordered the off the shelf variant for a pinarello. It's made from the brand "close the gap" and is currently very popular in germany (probably because germans like rules and there is a rule that you must have a bell on your bike)

That frame looks great, love the colour! I've been looking for a tt frame too, but was a bit underwhelmed by the choices available. It seems that road frames go with the time, while barely any supplier updates the tt frames any more.

What kind of mounts/storage does this one have? Bento box on the top tube? Maybe even something for a 3d printed rear box?

You are most likely correct in your findings. Many of us had this problem, me included (on a vb-218). However, 3° is very very excessive.

I had approximately 1.5° misalignment on the rear brake
My solution was: I got post-mount brake calipers and aluminium adapters. I then machined down the adapters to compensate for the misalignment. But you need a mill for that.. 

Next cheap Chinese frame I buy will have rim brakes. Or I buy that hilariously expensive facing tool from parktool and rent it to people with the same problem
 

@madmaxhow deep is your seatpost inserted into the frame when you had the issues with the frame splitting? I'm starting to worry if I should get a longer seatpost, since it is extended quite far.

Thanks both. I'm also positively surprised by the paint. Its quite hard to capture on camera, but the chameleon effect from green to purple as the light changes is cool. (I would laught at someone who has this on his car, but I'm a bike person after all).

I'll see if I can find someone with that hillariously expensive facing tool next week. But since it is Sunday and nothing is open, I fired up the 3d printed and made a nice gasket for the seatpost cover. Also a front derallieur gasket and rear derallieur gasket since I'm using wireless shifting. If anyone wants the files:

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5917550
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5917583
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5917830

Nice build Matt what wheels are those

I purchased them from velobuild too. VB-RC-50-23/25mm 142x12 Carbon road Wheelset disc 25mm Width

Which shipping method did you chose to Germany? Did you have to pay any additional duties or fees?

I wasn't aware you could chose different shopping. Mine says "EMS" on the invoice. The final delivery in Germany was done by DPD.

Apparently the shipping went through Belgium ans I didn't have to pay any additional fees other than the ~160€ that I paid to velobuild. Not sure if they are avoiding customs that way or if that already was included.