Velobuild VB-R-218

[JonMS]

I want to 3d print stem spacers. is there any real advantage to them being 2 piece? or would one piece be ok? also I am going to do a version with an arm and a mount for a computer.

I am all torso and need a taller stem. for a more relaxed position.

The Pinarello stuff is likely two piece to aid in adjusting stack without having to undo everything with the integrated handlebars.

[Queen of Skulls]

ok which bolts should I be greasing up?  Because greasing up changes the torque. but some of the screws are hard to get in like the handlebar  to stem clamp?

[JonMS]

ok which bolts should I be greasing up?  Because greasing up changes the torque. but some of the screws are hard to get in like the handlebar  to stem clamp?

I have a PDF a few pages back with torque specs and grease.

[Queen of Skulls]

I have a PDF a few pages back with torque specs and grease.

it calls for thread locker but the bolts are all ready so tight. like I was re-cutting the threads. at least in the handle bar stem clamp... also I cant seem to find the use for the aluminum tube halfs. they sliver al pieces and like a tube cut in half and about 50mm or 2 in long.

[JonMS]

Welp got my replacement bike built up. Still using Force AXS but this time in the shiny new D2 colors.

[Sebastian]

Has anyone by any chance had to replace their headset bearings on the VB-R218? Or did you maybe use a different one from the one that VB supply?
Reason I’m asking is I need to replace my lower headset bearing. A few wet rides and it seems that water ingress made it corrode.
Now I know this is an IS52/40 headset. But what shape does the bearing seat in the VB-R218 frame have? The original Dogma F uses bearings with 45/45degrees where most other frames are using 36/45degree bearings. Is the difference only the angle on the inside and it doesn’t matter as long as you’re using the crown race that comes with the bearing? I’m lost. I wanna order the replacement bearing before I tear the bike apart. But I dunno which one.

[kenderu]

Finally got my bike built with ltwoo erx groupset, 105 crankset, ec90 saddle and a gold YBN chain.

Rides amazing, and it's super quick. I really should've gotten it done earlier but life got in the way.

[Sebastian]

Has anyone by any chance had to replace their headset bearings on the VB-R218? Or did you maybe use a different one from the one that VB supply?
Reason I’m asking is I need to replace my lower headset bearing. A few wet rides and it seems that water ingress made it corrode.
Now I know this is an IS52/40 headset. But what shape does the bearing seat in the VB-R218 frame have? The original Dogma F uses bearings with 45/45degrees where most other frames are using 36/45degree bearings. Is the difference only the angle on the inside and it doesn’t matter as long as you’re using the crown race that comes with the bearing? I’m lost. I wanna order the replacement bearing before I tear the bike apart. But I dunno which one.

I asked Chris. It's an IS 52/40 with 45° bearing interface in the frame. The bearing is 7mm tall. Good to know because there's also headset bearings with 8mm height. I got a Cane Creek 10 Series lower headset bearing. Those are durable enough and pretty cheap. I'm using one in my gravel bike which lasts ages already. Also, they come with a glass fiber plastic crown race which is easy to put on. I'll take that opportunity and finally cut my fork down enough to lose that spacer I still got sitting on my stem. Luckily, on the rim brake frame I can just pull the fork out. I just have to loosen the cable clamp bolt on the front brake.

[Sebastian]

Finally got my bike built with ltwoo erx groupset, 105 crankset, ec90 saddle and a gold YBN chain.

Rides amazing, and it's super quick. I really should've gotten it done earlier but life got in the way.

Nice! The gold chain and the gold labelling on the erx gruppo go rather well together. Also, I'm a fan of the previous generation Shimano cranks aesthetically. I like the lines and the combination of gloss black and matte on the 105 crank. Have fun!

[kenderu]

Nice! The gold chain and the gold labelling on the erx gruppo go rather well together. Also, I'm a fan of the previous generation Shimano cranks aesthetically. I like the lines and the combination of gloss black and matte on the 105 crank. Have fun!

Thanks!  I'm surprised how well it came out with the gold hcain and erx group.  I don't even know how the new shimano cranks look, originally I was going to go with 105 rim groupset with juin-tech pistons instead of erx but I cannibalized that groupset to fix my other bikes and was left with only the crankset left.  Weighs about 8.9kg including the assioma duo-shi pedals, I think it would be 8.6kg without them.  Similar to my old Motobecane carbon road bike.

I asked Chris. It's an IS 52/40 with 45° bearing interface in the frame. The bearing is 7mm tall. Good to know because there's also headset bearings with 8mm height. I got a Cane Creek 10 Series lower headset bearing. Those are durable enough and pretty cheap. I'm using one in my gravel bike which lasts ages already. Also, they come with a glass fiber plastic crown race which is easy to put on. I'll take that opportunity and finally cut my fork down enough to lose that spacer I still got sitting on my stem. Luckily, on the rim brake frame I can just pull the fork out. I just have to loosen the cable clamp bolt on the front brake.

I'm glad you figured it out, you're the resident expert of this frame, if you couldn't do it no one can!

[JonMS]

Has anyone by any chance had to replace their headset bearings on the VB-R218? Or did you maybe use a different one from the one that VB supply?
Reason I’m asking is I need to replace my lower headset bearing. A few wet rides and it seems that water ingress made it corrode.
Now I know this is an IS52/40 headset. But what shape does the bearing seat in the VB-R218 frame have? The original Dogma F uses bearings with 45/45degrees where most other frames are using 36/45degree bearings. Is the difference only the angle on the inside and it doesn’t matter as long as you’re using the crown race that comes with the bearing? I’m lost. I wanna order the replacement bearing before I tear the bike apart. But I dunno which one.

I bought an OEM pinarello headset for my replacement frame.

[jonathanf2]

Thanks!  I'm surprised how well it came out with the gold hcain and erx group.  I don't even know how the new shimano cranks look, originally I was going to go with 105 rim groupset with juin-tech pistons instead of erx but I cannibalized that groupset to fix my other bikes and was left with only the crankset left.  Weighs about 8.9kg including the assioma duo-shi pedals, I think it would be 8.6kg without them.  Similar to my old Motobecane carbon road bike.

I'm glad you figured it out, you're the resident expert of this frame, if you couldn't do it no one can!

I'm curious, looking at your frame I'd presume it'd be a sub 8kg bike maybe sub 7.5kg. Even with power meter pedals, I would think going with ERX would offset a bit of the weight. The 105 R7000 isn't that heavy either. Is it your 60mm deep dish Elite Wheels and/or cassette that's adding weight?

[Sebastian]

The frame and fork are both not particularly light, I think. My size XXL/54 weighs 1250g painted. Both forks I had weighed north of 450g. So that’s already heavier than most. The cheaper Elite Wheels models are easily 1600-1700g in depths of 50mm or more.

I only got mine to 7.8kg all included because of the groupset’s and crank’s low weight. The Sroad cassette saves another 120g.

My DIY custom wheels are around 1450g in a 60mm depth.

[kenderu]

I'm curious, looking at your frame I'd presume it'd be a sub 8kg bike maybe sub 7.5kg. Even with power meter pedals, I would think going with ERX would offset a bit of the weight. The 105 R7000 isn't that heavy either. Is it your 60mm deep dish Elite Wheels and/or cassette that's adding weight?

I think even the real pinarello is a pretty weighty bike.  I definitely didn't go the weight weenie route, the 60mm Elitewheels SLT were about 1750g, cassette is a Shimano Ultegra 11-32.  I'm using a cheap set of IIIpro disc brakes, not sure if they're lighter than normal disc brakes.  Also, ERX groupset is quite heavy compared to a mechanical groupset too.


Quick question about the saddle bolts, how do you tighten a saddle without a cutout in the middle?  I realized that one of the bolt faces upwards, and if there's no cut out in the saddle, I have no idea how to tighten it.

[jonathanf2]

I think even the real pinarello is a pretty weighty bike.  I definitely didn't go the weight weenie route, the 60mm Elitewheels SLT were about 1750g, cassette is a Shimano Ultegra 11-32.  I'm using a cheap set of IIIpro disc brakes, not sure if they're lighter than normal disc brakes.  Also, ERX groupset is quite heavy compared to a mechanical groupset too.


Quick question about the saddle bolts, how do you tighten a saddle without a cutout in the middle?  I realized that one of the bolt faces upwards, and if there's no cut out in the saddle, I have no idea how to tighten it.

Got it. Still a nice build you have there!

Regarding the front screw saddle adjustment, you're going to have to remove the saddle, guesstimate your angle tilt and then adjust the screw prior to installing the saddle. Unless you have a center cutout saddle, there's not much else you can do to adjust it with the saddle attached.