VeloBuild VB-TT-023

[womble73]

My tt-023 is built and road ready. If anyone would like close-ups of any bits let me know.

The brake lines feed through the bars straight into the headset and through the frame to come out near where the calliper are mounted.
The cables for the gears if not using remote shifters are a little tricky but run down the bars through the arm pads, come out the back under where the elbows would sit then route into the headset through the 2 eye holes. I have electronic remote shifters so didn't run these.

I had my LBS ran the lines as it is a very tight fit (brake lines only, I didn't have the tools). From what they said you need to tighten the levers in first then pull the cables through to the callipers, mounting the front end as you go. The reverse of how it would normally be done. Also the headset top tightens front to back. Otherwise the bull horns don't sit tight enough to hold riders weight.

I have only done 40km on the bike, before having to take time off due to an unrelated injury. Compared to my other TT bike it feels similar maybe a bit more twitchy, but I had high cross winds and the 80 front wheel was just a big sail pushing me all over the place. About to fit a 50 front, hopefully solves some of the twitchy riding.

[Juul]

I had my LBS ran the lines as it is a very tight fit (brake lines only, I didn't have the tools). From what they said you need to tighten the levers in first then pull the cables through to the callipers, mounting the front end as you go. The reverse of how it would normally be done. Also the headset top tightens front to back. Otherwise the bull horns don't sit tight enough to hold riders weight.

I tried routing the brake ducts from caliper to levers.. but I think the ducts are 'pinched' and the bars don't really turn freely. Just a tad of resistance at the a specific turn angle, probably because of a lack in slack or something. So that approach actually makes sense to me now. Probably ensures better slack and tension at the right places.

[Hmpf]

I have a big problem with the stem of my TT023.
It doesn't hold properly, so the basebar twists when there is a strong shock. For example, I have just ridden through a pothole and the basebar has twisted a little in the stem.

As a result, I can no longer brake as the brake cables are crushed.

I have already used carbon assembly paste and tightened all the screws evenly.

Any ideas or other experiences?

I have routed the brake lines from the brake levers to the brake bodies. I also tightened the stem at the bottom front first.

[Alexlp]

I have a big problem with the stem of my TT023.
It doesn't hold properly, so the basebar twists when there is a strong shock. For example, I have just ridden through a pothole and the basebar has twisted a little in the stem.

As a result, I can no longer brake as the brake cables are crushed.

I have already used carbon assembly paste and tightened all the screws evenly.

Any ideas or other experiences?

I have routed the brake lines from the brake levers to the brake bodies. I also tightened the stem at the bottom front first.

I had similar issues: the stem would spin on the steerer, and the handlebar would spin in the stem.
I ended up using WELDTITE paste, degreasing the bolts and seat threads, and tightening the bolts to 5.1 Nm crisscross on the handlebars and 5 Nm on the steerer. I contacted the manufacturer and they recommended tightening the bolts to 5.0 Nm-5.58 Nm. I constantly checked the bolts for tightness and tightened them to the target torque. So far, everything is stable.
I would recommend that you first contact the manufacturer with a request and follow their instructions.

[Hmpf]

Thank you.

I can't imagine that it will help.
My carbon paste is very good, I already know that from other projects. There are massive differences.

I tightened the screws both crosswise and first on the underside at the front of the stem and then on the top.

But I'm curious to see what the support team writes.

In any case, it's far too tricky if the brakes suddenly fail.

[Alexlp]

Thank you.

I can't imagine that it will help.
My carbon paste is very good, I already know that from other projects. There are massive differences.

I tightened the screws both crosswise and first on the underside at the front of the stem and then on the top.

But I'm curious to see what the support team writes.

In any case, it's far too tricky if the brakes suddenly fail.

Another nuance, perhaps it also had significance: I tightened the central bolt last, after tightening the lower and upper bolts.

[Hmpf]

Another nuance, perhaps it also had significance: I tightened the central bolt last, after tightening the lower and upper bolts.

Which centralbolt do you mean? The one for the headset?
I also tightened the lower front bolts first and then the upper ones.

[Hmpf]

Yeah these are the first release of the Winow extensions paired with a drag 2 zero 15 deg spacer. Generally pretty happy with the extensions. Still yet to sort a garmin mount as I don’t fancy paying the £25 for the winow ones / I like DIYing it.

Have you found a solution for the Garmin holder in the meantime?

[Hmpf]

Handlebar problem solved!
The support was great - they sent a new stem and handlebars.
I re-routed the brake lines and used sturdy downhill lines.
I greased the contact surfaces on the handlebars and stem really thickly with carbon grease.
Screws tightened crosswise in 0.2 Nm increments up to 4.4 Nm. Holds bombproof, tested for 530 km, even on potholes.

It was probably due to the paint on the clamping surfaces or the grip film on the handlebars, or it was a material defect. Because I did the same with the old stem and handlebars, also tried till 5Nm and had still the issue.
Just a theory, but now everything fits!

Many thanks for your help and thanks to velobuild!

[Juul]

Handlebar problem solved!
The support was great - they sent a new stem and handlebars.

Great to hear! Did my first outdoor ride on the bike today.. handlebars slipped and indeed pinched the brake ducts.
Got back home safely, redid the cockpit, and torqued to 4NM.. everything seems to be ok now.

Just another thing: are you handlebars also 'super' flexy? If I'm in the aero position, the flex is not noticeable. But if i hold the bars at the brakes, the flex is super noticeable. Especially when putting power down after corners
I would suspect that the carbon was super stiff.. but apparantly not

[Hmpf]

The Basebar doesn't flex any more than the carbon handlebars on my road bikes.
The flex was one of the reasons why I switched to carbon. It is more comfortable.

Theoretically, the center of gravity is somewhere else on the TT, so more weight is placed on the basebar. Maybe that's why it works like that.

After fitting the new cockpit, I stood in front of the bike, grabbed the outside of the basebar and pulled and pushed myself up with my whole body weight - as an additional test to make sure everything was really secure.

[mineBikes]

I really like this frame and I am considering pulling the trigger and buy it but I just can't figure out where to store gels during IM/70.3 events
I don't like the idea of the box on the top tube because kinda defeats the purpose of having a nice flat stem and top tube.

What real alternatives are there? Does anyone have any picture of their setup?

[Barry McCockiner]

I really like this frame and I am considering pulling the trigger and buy it but I just can't figure out where to store gels during IM/70.3 events
I don't like the idea of the box on the top tube because kinda defeats the purpose of having a nice flat stem and top tube.

What real alternatives are there? Does anyone have any picture of their setup?

I thought of this issue too when buying, and my solution is a mixture of Gels in the back pocket and running 2x bottles up front. 1 1L bottle with my carb mix and then 1 small 500ml or elite aero bottle with a load of gels squeezed into it.

[mattgolt]

I thought of this issue too when buying, and my solution is a mixture of Gels in the back pocket and running 2x bottles up front. 1 1L bottle with my carb mix and then 1 small 500ml or elite aero bottle with a load of gels squeezed into it.

Same, I'm doing 100% liquid feed as well. Otherwise I'd have gotten the tantan 912, because it has a bento box. I like your cockpit setup! I haven't dared to pull the trigger on the winow bars yet as I am afraid they are too short (fasttt makes an XL variant, winow not..). How tall are you and what bar size you have?


By the way, are you keeping the colored bracelets on your bike so you can shorten the next run during an IM? 

[Hmpf]

@mattgold
You have already provided a very cool toolbox.
Can you show a few more photos of how you solved the cockpit with the BTA bottle?