Electronic groupsets have been a game changer for all the bike builds and reviews I do. Especially with SRAM eTap. Literally cuts my bike building time from 3 days down to same day in some cases. During Christmas 2022 you could find SRAM Force D1 mini-groups (Levers, Calipers, Both Derailleurs, Centerline CLX-R Rotors, Batteries, and Charger) for $900 USD. Comparable Rival sets were like $600. And SRAM/Quarq Spider Power Meters for $300. What a time to be alive...

However, my longest withstanding bike currently has 6000mi/10000km on it. Ultegra R8020 Mechanical 11sp. I can't recall any time I've ever missed shift or needed to adjust the barrel adjuster. Extremely reliable and quite frankly it shifts just quickly as eTap/Di2. Maybe 2 milliseconds slower but I bet in a blind test I probably wouldn't notice.

As mentioned above, Ultegra R8020 can be had cheap these days. Even Shimano's new 105 12sp Mechanical is on sale now too. Sure routing 4 cables internally is a pain. But if you plan to keep the bike for a long time I'm taking either of those groupsets over LTWOO eRX or WheelTop EDS every single day of the week.

I love seeing budget frames built with premium components.

I was perusing the UCI approved frame list today and I think we have the first UCI approved version of this frame: the BAAS Novel Aero. https://baascycling.nl/

The pricing seems pretty fair for fully built bikes and hopefully it means these frames will get more attention via racing and the exposure that it brings. However, it just feels wrong that they would name an open mold bike "Novel Aero." Nothing novel about it.

Winspace T1500 has been around for well over 4 years. UCI approved.

My guess would be it's probably a new frame for the global market.

I love the saddle to handlebar drop hehe 

I had the opposite headset issue on my Yishun R086-D. Had to spend about 20 minutes sanding down the bottom edge of the plastic headset cover to prevent it from rubbing on the headtube. Apparently this is more common than I realized so it wasn't a big deal.

Looking ahead to 2024 I don't really have any new frames that really catch my interested to build/review. The LCR017-D is probably the only one at the moment (especially the lightweight version). However, I can't imagine it would ride significantly different than my Yishun R086-D

Whatever version you decide, I can say the frame out on the road is very lovely. This is the only frame I've tested besides my Winspace T1500 (not a coincidence, same factory) that offers the dynamics of a more premium brand. Corners very well too.

I wasn't going for a weight weenie build either. My size L came in at 7.16kg without pedals, cages, or computer mount. But does still include (obviously) the not-so-light Magene PES P505 Base power meter/chainrings, heavy-ish (but super stiff) FarSports F1 cockpit, and one of the more heavier paint options (white). You could easily get this build down to 6.8kg with matte black finish and more carefully selected components.

If you have an opportunity to grab this frameset at a factory-direct price I would highly recommend it.