Hi everyone!
Joining the club.
Hi again,
I completed the build, with the SRAM GX and Rival shifters, and set out to test it around Issyk-Kul Lake (about 450 km), driving around it in two days. The temperature range from -27°C to 0°C. Out of the total distance, about a third was proper asphalt, and the rest was a mess of varying bad conditions (gravel, ice, snow).
The frame performed excellently: solid and responsive. It absorbed vibrations well, even though I used 40mm tires. The only drawback was that the glove compartment lid rattled slightly, and the storage bag wore through to holes due to the lower bottle cage mounts inside the frame.
As for the drivetrain—an absolute delight. Fast, smooth, precise, and not a single glitch the entire ride.
Yes, the weight went up a bit—now 8.8 kg without pedals.