Velobuild VB-R-368 Aeroframe

[mchaggis]

Cool bike!

Regarding handlebars: why not very narrow chinese carbon bars instead of those alu ones? There is BikeDoc and Balugoe and others (check thread on Weight weenies).

I regret not buying a used Toot Asha RR that I saw for 150 EUR. It’s western and also got much longer reach than its chinese counterparts so there’s more forearm support.
I went with aero bars with clip ons instead which will probably be faster but I’m not sure it will be as much fun! 

Yeah I'm starting to wonder if I messed up on the cockpit. It's very hard to hold aero hoods because the bar contacts my forearms really far forward - I have a lot of forearm behind the bar so a lot of leverage and my triceps are burning after a few minutes.  I then resort to the drops and speed falls off a cliff. Toot Ashaa and Speeco ABB2-UCI both look great with the rear forearm rest pad, but not for that money and they may be too narrow for me - I have wide shoulders and I am already over the steerer so a shorter stem works better.  I just need to maximise the bar > hoods distance. I've found one on AliExpress (RXL) with 104mm reach, flat/aero bar tops and every combination of 400-440 / 90-120mm stem.   I plan to send the frame geometry to a local fitter and see if I can work out exactly what the bar would feel like before deciding if I'm going down the cable re-routing rabbithole.

[Joda55]

Yeah I'm starting to wonder if I messed up on the cockpit. It's very hard to hold aero hoods because the bar contacts my forearms really far forward - I have a lot of forearm behind the bar so a lot of leverage and my triceps are burning after a few minutes.  I then resort to the drops and speed falls off a cliff. Toot Ashaa and Speeco ABB2-UCI both look great with the rear forearm rest pad, but not for that money and they may be too narrow for me - I have wide shoulders and I am already over the steerer so a shorter stem works better.  I just need to maximise the bar > hoods distance. I've found one on AliExpress (RXL) with 104mm reach, flat/aero bar tops and every combination of 400-440 / 90-120mm stem.   I plan to send the frame geometry to a local fitter and see if I can work out exactly what the bar would feel like before deciding if I'm going down the cable re-routing rabbithole.

Have you tried narrow handle bars? I have straight arms on 440 mm and feared 325mm bars would be too narrow but experienced no discomfort whatsoever on < 3h rides.
Not sure if narrower would work as well though.
Tbh it’s the first upgrade I’d do on a bike after wheels, wide bars is just wasted watts. I’m even annoyed by my current bars being 440 mm even though I have TT bars on them.

[Joda55]

If anyone wants to buy a complete bike, just let me know.

Thinking of selling since I won’t be able to train at all in the foreseeable future

Size 58
Black matte color
XMCS 78/65 mm wheels
Dura Ace Di2 11sp groupset
Rotor InPower V3 Power meter with 165 mm cranks and 58/44t chainrings (can be swapped to smaller chainrings)
LaPierre Aircode drop bars with attachable TT bars

Still not finished though but hopefully upcoming weeks

Place: Sweden (but could sell within EU through Buycycle)

[alfiomotrambo]

Have you tried narrow handle bars? I have straight arms on 440 mm and feared 325mm bars would be too narrow but experienced no discomfort whatsoever on < 3h rides.
Not sure if narrower would work as well though.
Tbh it’s the first upgrade I’d do on a bike after wheels, wide bars is just wasted watts. I’m even annoyed by my current bars being 440 mm even though I have TT bars on them.

I've been happy with the narrower handlebars, and I'm still happy with them. I changed them from a 40 to a 38 at the beginning of the year, but I don't know how I'd react to an even narrower one. If it helps, I got this one from Lexon on sale https://it.aliexpress.com/item/1005006430373452.html

[victoringemar]

I've been happy with the narrower handlebars, and I'm still happy with them. I changed them from a 40 to a 38 at the beginning of the year, but I don't know how I'd react to an even narrower one. If it helps, I got this one from Lexon on sale https://it.aliexpress.com/item/1005006430373452.html

You've got a PM!

Also really nice to see more builds out rolling!

Just passed the 3000k mark on my, and I am still as pleased as before! Looking at all the nice wheels floating around on the bikes in this thread, I am tempted to go deeper than the current 60mm... Tried a KMC X12 chain instead of the SRAM force flattop to see if that would get the noice down with the Goldix cassette. Helped a bit I think, shifiting is slightly worse though but good enough for rocknroll
It is still turning a lot of heads and battling very well with bikes costing 2-5 times as much 

[BeR]

It is said "French creator" 🤡🤡🤡🤡.

https://www.heliumbikes-store.com/product-page/rham25-105-di2-12v-1

(Nothing to do with the Peugeot Helium for those feeling nostalgic.).


Edit : And also CFD...

[Dan S.]

It is said "French creator" 🤡🤡🤡🤡.
https://www.heliumbikes-store.com/product-page/rham25-105-di2-12v-1

Haha, I also like that "Helium" Aircode saddle. What could it possibly be? xD

[Tpower59]

It is said "French creator" 🤡🤡🤡🤡.

https://www.heliumbikes-store.com/product-page/rham25-105-di2-12v-1

(Nothing to do with the Peugeot Helium for those feeling nostalgic.).


Edit : And also CFD...

What is their H-68 model : VB 268 ? Seatpost seems different

[BeR]

With the new carbon layup, They also offer a wider fork.

It seems that They also solved the slipping seatpost issue with a bigger wedge.

[Joda55]

My bike is soon ready now. Going to put on a golden chain too  (thanks for the idea, Tobi!)
Just waiting for new Di2 junction box and going to have the LBS bleed brakes and install bottom bracket.
Think I’ll try it out at least before deciding on selling.

However, since I can’t train properly, the TT-bars seem kind of pointless. They are also ugly, makes it look like a real TT bike almost.

[Finiesta]

My bike is soon ready now. Going to put on a golden chain too  (thanks for the idea, Tobi!)
Just waiting for new Di2 junction box and going to have the LBS bleed brakes and install bottom bracket.
Think I’ll try it out at least before deciding on selling.

However, since I can’t train properly, the TT-bars seem kind of pointless. They are also ugly, makes it look like a real TT bike almost.

Whats the tire clearance with front derailleur because it looks really tight between back wheel?

[Joda55]

Whats the tire clearance with front derailleur because it looks really tight between back wheel?

Think it’s just the photo, there’s plenty or room.

[Joda55]

Btw, if anyone has ultra narrow bars (like the Toot Ashaa RR, Balugoe, BikeDoc etc) within the EU and is willing to sell/trade for my hybrid bars, please let me know.

Kind of doubt I will be in TT very much so seems rather pointless to have them I’ve realized.

[Finiesta]

Pro version of the Aerotrace has just been launched https://www.velobuildmall.com/products/2026-vb-r-368-pro-aerotrace-carbon-fiber-aero-road-bike-frame-disc-brake-toray-1000-carbon-fiber 150g full T1000 and better seatpost wedge to prevent saddle slipping and deeper fork.

[victoringemar]

Pro version of the Aerotrace has just been launched https://www.velobuildmall.com/products/2026-vb-r-368-pro-aerotrace-carbon-fiber-aero-road-bike-frame-disc-brake-toray-1000-carbon-fiber 150g full T1000 and better seatpost wedge to prevent saddle slipping and deeper fork.

Cant decide if Im happy to see this update or not, now the first version feels obsolet 🥲😅
Is this how dentist feels when there is a new Sworks out?
Anyway, good to see that Velobuild is improving after feedback. I'll probably have to live with some extra weight and a less wide fork