Hi everyone,
I'm planning to build up the new LightCarbon LCG072-D aero gravel and I'd love some advice before I commit. I want a great value-for-money, do-it-all build: gravel races, bikepacking trips, and winter riding so I can spare my race bike. So it needs to be fast-ish but above all versatile and reliable, not a weight-weenie special. I'll probably run SRAM 1×12 or 1×13 (XPLR AXS or a mullet setup — still deciding), so I'd need an XDR freehub.
1) Size: S or M? (my main question)
I'm 170 cm, ~70 kg, right on the S/M border. My fit numbers from a pro bike fit (currently on a Tarmac SL7 size 52, reach 374 / stack 524):
Saddle height 711 mm (BB → saddle), 165 mm cranks
Effective seat angle 74°, saddle setback ~78 mm
Bar position to replicate: BB → bar 473 mm reach / 594 mm stack (110 mm stem + 35 mm spacers, 400 mm bar)
LCG072-D geo: M = reach 377 / stack 565 (HTA 71.5°); S = reach 368 / stack 547 (HTA 70.5°), both 74° seat angle.
M: reach 377 ≈ my Tarmac 374 → keep ~110 stem, few spacers.
S: needs ~120 stem + ~25–30 mm spacers, but more exposed seatpost (which I like) and more standover — shorter front-center though (toe overlap with wide tires?).
What would you pick at 170 cm for a do-it-all bike that'll also carry bikepacking loads?
2) Availability
LightCarbon (Jim) told me size M can be booked now (~1–2 months), but I'm unsure about S — worried it might be M-only for a while. Anyone ordered an S, or knows the real lead time for the smaller sizes?
3) Budget wheels (XDR, ~50C max frame, winter + bikepacking proof)
Looking for good-value gravel wheels that are durable and easy to service (winter grime + loaded trips), not the lightest. Got a quote from Zen for a 45mm-deep, 32 mm internal superlight set. My frame maxes at 50C and I'll run 40–45C, so I worry 32 mm internal is too wide (better for 60c frames?).
Would 25–28 mm internal be the smarter pick for my tire range?
For winter/bikepacking I'm leaning to 24/24 Sapim CX-Ray over carbon spokes — agree?
Recommendations among value brands (Zen / Winspace / Yoeleo / Farsports / Elitewheels), XDR, ~1300–1400 g, bombproof?
4) Cockpit / handlebar problem
The dedicated integrated gravel bar for this frame (HBR18) is currently only available in 40 cm (other widths = much longer wait), but I'd probably want a 38 cm (my road grip width is fairly narrow). So I'm considering alternatives: another LightCarbon integrated bar (the HBR08 gravel comes in 38/40/42), or a separate stem + flared gravel bar from another brand for more fit flexibility.
With this frame's full-internal routing, can you actually run a standard stem + bar (does the headset/top-cap allow external-to-internal cable entry), or are you locked into LightCarbon's integrated cockpit?
Anyone running an alternative cockpit on an LCR/LCG LightCarbon frame? Recommended 38 cm flared gravel bars?
5) Anything I'm missing?
Open to any advice — the proprietary seatpost, tire choice, bikepacking mounts, or general build tips for best bang-for-buck on a do-it-all rig.
Thanks a lot in advance! 🙏