Author Topic: Do We Need Our Own Custom CHINERTOWN Road Frameset ?  (Read 926 times)

patliean1

Do We Need Our Own Custom CHINERTOWN Road Frameset ?
« on: October 08, 2026, 09:11:43 AM »
I can't remember if this has already been discussed before  ;D

We have enough passionate and experienced individuals in here to in theory design a frame that would suit the majority of us.
Of course it would be impossible to please everyone. Not to mention the cost, tooling, QC, and coordination involved. But it seems the vast majority of new frames released within the past year have had at least one or two key aspects of contention. You can pretty much find these pain points in every single frameset thread on this forum:

-Seat tube angle still too slack
-Bottom bracket height too high/low
-Stack height too low
-Problematic front center length
-Proprietary headset/cockpit systems
-Perception of being too expensive
-Taking too much inspiration from other establish brands

Group orders aren't anything new. Super common within the wristwatch and fashion community forums. And we have the various factory connections. But I actually do wonder if having a frame designed by the people could be a huge value add for both the frame manufacture and consumers.
Or would this project end up being another Homer Simpson trying to design a car.

I wanna hear your thoughts on what you would love to see in a frame design. And also why these types of projects are extremely difficult to pull off.

Dark17

Re: Do We Need Our Own Custom CHINERTOWN Road Frameset ?
« Reply #1 on: October 08, 2026, 09:26:55 AM »
Where's toxin?

Tijoe

Re: Do We Need Our Own Custom CHINERTOWN Road Frameset ?
« Reply #2 on: October 08, 2026, 09:33:05 AM »
If you substitute the word "road" with "Gravel", I'd be interested.   


patliean1

Re: Do We Need Our Own Custom CHINERTOWN Road Frameset ?
« Reply #4 on: October 08, 2026, 09:50:18 AM »
Where's toxin?

LoL I was gonna call out Toxin. Hopefully he doesn't have frame design fatigue.

I'm not even saying this frame needs to be some ultra modern design like the Ridley Noah or Factor One.
And it doesn't need to be UCI-approved which should open the door to some cool designs.

Finiesta

Re: Do We Need Our Own Custom CHINERTOWN Road Frameset ?
« Reply #5 on: October 08, 2026, 10:32:15 AM »
There are really smart guys here like Toxin and others that could for sure make pretty well engineered bikes and i 100% have same problems as @patliean1 has said. The main problem to develop new bike from zero wouldnt be the design because there are really smart guys here but getting some reliable factory in Asia for manufacturing. Maybe china.bikes could help finding one or someone in contact with asian brands

In my view it could be possible but need guys willing to put time into it (by the way i also agree that not going 100 % UCI would open up for some really interesting designs). I would like road and go all out for performance of the bike + rider unlike most brand do with bike only.
« Last Edit: October 08, 2026, 10:39:05 AM by Finiesta »

Dareios

Re: Do We Need Our Own Custom CHINERTOWN Road Frameset ?
« Reply #6 on: October 08, 2026, 11:26:08 AM »
If it would not be UCI legal I'd have an idea.
Overall bike look similar to the Lotus Type 136 E-bike, but with a horizontal TT and probably a regular cockpit.



The non-UCI legal part would be going full crazy with wide seatstays and a super wide fork, like the Hope HB.T


If you go that route you don't even need a super chunky downtube (see the Stromm Raktt that also doesn't have one).
Otherwise I'd go for most of the things that Paty mentioned, I think with the larger tires and shorter cranks trend you can go to an 80mm BB drop for the larger sizes no problem (the Simplon Pride 2 has a 75mm BB drop in those sizes while being built around 172.5 or even longer cranks and 25mm tires, so 80mm might actually be a conservative estimate, but reasonable for anyone on 28mm tires and 170mm cranks).

MarioCanario

Re: Do We Need Our Own Custom CHINERTOWN Road Frameset ?
« Reply #7 on: October 08, 2026, 11:46:35 AM »
Lol. So far the result would be a Lotus Gravel Allroad TT bike

hubba

Re: Do We Need Our Own Custom CHINERTOWN Road Frameset ?
« Reply #8 on: October 08, 2026, 12:21:25 PM »
Not be forced to think about crit racers in the geometry would be nice. I would like about 80 bb drop for road and 90 for gravel. Seat tube angles also shouldn't get more slack on larger sizes.
« Last Edit: October 08, 2026, 12:22:57 PM by hubba »

rovescio

Re: Do We Need Our Own Custom CHINERTOWN Road Frameset ?
« Reply #9 on: October 08, 2026, 12:55:55 PM »
And the most I can pay is USD$400 shipped to my door!

Sander2177

Re: Do We Need Our Own Custom CHINERTOWN Road Frameset ?
« Reply #10 on: October 08, 2026, 02:20:39 PM »
Great idea! If someone else is happy to cover the six-figure mould, testing and development costs, I’ll happily buy the finished 700g frame for $500—including the handlebar, custom paintwork at no additional cost, tax-free shipping, a lifetime warranty, full after-sales support and free crash replacement. Easy I’m in! 🤣

Pistonbroke

Re: Do We Need Our Own Custom CHINERTOWN Road Frameset ?
« Reply #11 on: October 08, 2026, 02:25:17 PM »
Stromm Rakkt but without the bayonet forks
35mm clearance minimum.
Ability to run mechanical gears.
Standard acr headset interface
SL8/9 Seatpost
UDH
Ability to run bento box
Sub 1000g frame and 450g forks.
Thanks :-)

Takiyaki

Re: Do We Need Our Own Custom CHINERTOWN Road Frameset ?
« Reply #12 on: October 08, 2026, 02:32:19 PM »
You had me at the Homer Car

I just bought a new frame so Im out. I do feel like the niche is just basically getting like 60-80% to TT bike geometry, but with road tube sections and 2023 gravel tire clearances. Non-proprietary front end, threaded and low BB, yadda yadda. Step one has to be consensus on parameters.

Serge_K

Re: Do We Need Our Own Custom CHINERTOWN Road Frameset ?
« Reply #13 on: October 08, 2026, 02:46:00 PM »
That's a terrible idea and the main thing I care about is future proofing with big tyres which you didn't mention.
Cute idea though!

toxin

Re: Do We Need Our Own Custom CHINERTOWN Road Frameset ?
« Reply #14 on: October 08, 2026, 02:50:06 PM »
LoL I was gonna call out Toxin. Hopefully he doesn't have frame design fatigue.

No worries there, its what I've spent most of my free time on this year and my interest has not diminished. But I set myself the challenge of creating a near production ready CAD model, which has required A LOT of learning to get my skills to the required level and the final V4 iteration is in the works now (pics).

For the topic of this discussion though, getting a carbon frame made from scratch is EXPENSIVE. I'm sure Sakizashi can tell you just what the challenges of getting your own carbon fiber product mass produced overseas are. Never mind the logistics of actually getting it out into people's hands.