Velobuild VB-R-218

[feris0n]

Hey guys!

I'm kind of on the edge and just need some convincing. So I see this frame is part of VB's closeout sale. Do you guys' recommend it enough to use as my next race season's frameset? Also any idea if I'd be able to run a separate bar and stem on this frame or any stores I could get the dimensions I need for the integrated bar.

Thanks!

[Avalius]

Recent rides my handlebar keeps coming loose. Have to adjust play and retighten the two bolts in the back of the handlebar.
Anyone else had this with this frame?

[Avalius]

carbon paste, torque wrench, loctite on the bolt threads? soda can shim? it's probably tolerances that are slightly out of whack?

Carbon paste Check
Torque overtightened now.
Loctite on the bolts, did that now. Let's see if this works.

Is soda can shimming safe? Or are there alternatives?

[Sebastian]

I usually use some sort of textile tape that is quite grippy instead of carbon paste. I put it on the seatpost and/or wedge. Also wrap the bars where the shifters clamp and so on. Never had to use it on a steerer though. I use one from Tesa. It always helps. Obviously you can only use very little on something like a seatpost because otherwise it simply won’t fit anymore.

[Avalius]

Thanks for the tips, i've ordered peaty's max grip carbon paste.
My old carbon paste was a bit too watery i'll first try and some new loctite on everything.
Last option will be shimming.

[JonMS]

New wheels for the purple bike (6560 wavy). 54/41T Chainring on the purple bike.

New wheels for the blue bike are on the way. 50/37T Chainring on the blue bike.

Both bikes have around 2K miles on them each with no issues.

[neobiker]

Anyone had this issue with their top cap headset? It cracked.

I assembled 4/5 218, so it might still be an issue with preloading, but I doubt. I guess I will set this one with an alloy headset.

VeloBuild were really accommodating and are sending me a replacement, but this is going to be an expensive replacement (labor wise).

I think I hit a pothole so that might be the reason but still it is a bit fragile haha.

[Sebastian]

Close to 10k km on my VB-R218. No problems with the top cap. Mine looks different from yours, though. I got no label on mine. Pretty sure it's glass fiber reinforced plastic. I'm running the stem directly on the headset cover. Maybe the load gets distributed differently with the spacers on top of it. As with all fully integrated systems, it does need quite a bit of preload to get it free of any play. That certainly puts more stress on these parts, I guess.

[neobiker]

I agree with the different kind of cap. The one I had in early 2024 also had a black logo and is still running strong. I guess it was just an unlucky piece.

[matt14]

New wheels for the purple bike (6560 wavy). 54/41T Chainring on the purple bike.

New wheels for the blue bike are on the way. 50/37T Chainring on the blue bike.

Both bikes have around 2K miles on them each with no issues.

Is the grey Grevil clone from XMCarbonSpeed? You managed to get it without any mounting points too?

[JonMS]

Is the grey Grevil clone from XMCarbonSpeed? You managed to get it without any mounting points too?

Its from airwolf. I have a separate thread here on my experience.
XMCarbonSpeed has a different rear triangle.

[JonMS]

Say what you will about logos I like the blue

[Queen of Skulls]

Just finish my build finally. Well almost. I still have to do the bar tape. I am still getting everything just so before I do. I been riding my catrike 700 for the last 6 months. So a normal bike feels weird. also a slide hammer popped out the stuck post with no problem.  when it comes time to upgrade the group set I am going electronic and wireless. it was a pain to do. Its very loud when shifting the back. Is this just carbon? its got a sensah empire with sram force  front and a sram cassette. maybe its the chain. I dont know.   the wheels are elite wheels ent with the cross weave unbranded because I hate branding on bikes.

also the set up is weird because I have a weird body. basically I have a super long torso with short legs. I need the biggest frame (XL) I can fit with the seat slammed. to max out that reach while still fitting my legs.  I even have 165mm cranks. I have like 10mm of seat post adjustment.  So I could go 175mm cranks if i want.  I will cut the steer tube a bit shorter in the future. this is for now.  there is 120mm plug in there.   and the longest reach handlebars... I could go longer.. I have 210mm stem on my cheepo road bike which also has a slammed seat.

[Queen of Skulls]

Say what you will about logos I like the blue

What handlebar set do you have? on the blue one... also what frame is your gray bike?

[JonMS]

What handlebar set do you have? on the blue one... also what frame is your gray bike?

Purple and Blue have 100x420 handlebars. They were purchased from two different Aliexpress sellers.

The grey bike has 100x44. The grey bike is a Grevil F clone from AirWolf. I have a review in the Cyclecross forum on here.