Chinertown
Chinese Carbon Road Bikes => Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components => Topic started by: gflyer71 on July 04, 2025, 12:10:47 AM
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Hello,
this is my first post so let me introduce myself.
My name is Guido and I write from Switzerland.
I am 54yo and started cycling only recently (little more than one year) after quitting my various other sport activities.
Because of being new to cycling and my age (sic!) I decided to start with an endurance bike. So I bought a used Bianchi Infinito which I have been using so far.
I have been training quite hard and my performance improved (relatively to my age :) ) and so I feel I could try a frame a little more "sporty". in fact the infinito is nice on long rides but on my typically hilly group rides sometimes I feel I am riding a horse.
I am light weight (67 kg) and for me cycling is about climbing. doesn't matter if it is short steep climbs on a hilly routes or long steady climbs, I just like to fight gravity.
Sorry if that was boring but I felt an introduction was needed as I am new here.
So, going back to the next frame, I was initially looking at Yoeleo R12 or Winspace specifically either the Agile or the SLC. I saw a lot of positive youtube videos but realized that all of them were from youtubers that one way or an other could be biased in their review. Free frame, paid reviews etc etc
So I searched for real user reviews and this is how I ended up there.
I have been reading here quite a bit and this is my current "status quo"
- Winspace is not as good as advertised on youtube, so I decided to drop the idea (thank you for saving me from a bad experience).
- Yoeleo is still a question mark to me. I did not find much on this forum.
- ICAN seems to have overall a good reputation on this forum so I am considering ordering one of their frames.
And this is here I kindly as your help.
What frame do you suggest to buy?
I think the FL1 has very good reviews here but it is a purely climbing frame (if I am not mistaken).
Does ICAN make more an allrounder frame?
I saw the A9 and A23 and like the look of the frames, but not sure how to classify them.
My idea for the build is
ICAN frame + handlebar
Ultegra Di2 or LTWO (to be decided)
I already have Elite wheels
Thank you very much.
cheers,
Guido
Edit: I realized that I did not make it clear that I am torn between pure climbing or allrounder bike. the reason being that while a climbing bike might better fit my characteristics, an allrounder bike might better fit the everyday mixed/hilly rides I have around the area where I live.
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You can find all available frames on the ICAN website. Beside the frames you specified there is also Flyee frame that can suit you.
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You can find all available frames on the ICAN website. Beside the frames you specified there is also Flyee frame that can suit you.
Thank you for the info.
I got answer from icanbikes that they don’t have the flyee
Looking at website it seems that frame is on icancycling.com but not on icanbikes.com
This is puzzling… I thought the websites are the same company.
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Yes they sell different frames on that sites. Me too don't know why it is like this.
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I've built two Flyees, one for me and one for a friend and they've both been great! Mine is a 52cm and the ride is fantastic. It has a combination on snappy and responsive geometry (short chainstays, less rake/fork offset) and less aggressive stack/reach that I really enjoy. I did notice that, like many frames, the stack/reach varies by size though. Triaero is ICAN's frame brand so you can also check out the Triaero website. ICAN will do a custom paint job for free if it is not too complicated too. You can see what sort of options they offer at icancustompaint.com.
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I think first thing you should do is to see how far you want/can go in terms of fit. Check size, geometry, cockpit dimensions of your current bike, compare it with what you want and make an educated decision. I wouldn't move to extremities of super racy frames if you haven't had any previous experience with such bikes. Go to Geometrygeeks na dcompare it with your current bike. Can you simulate more aggressive position on your current bike, going longer and/or lower? Give it a try first.
From your post it is not very clear what you want: a pure climbing lightweight bike or more of an all-rounder. There's plenty options in both categories and ICAN is overall a quite reputable brand.
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Can vouch for the FL1
I think it's more of an all-rounder than you think as it shares geometry with sl8 as well as Aethos.
Comfy, fast and light to ride.
Construction is excellent.
Very easy to build up - you can use their seatpost and bars or choose your own as very standard sizes. Very easy to adjust your initial fit as stems and bars arecheap on eBay. When you get the feel you like you can buy integrated.
Mechanical or electronic.
Great bike!
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I think first thing you should do is to see how far you want/can go in terms of fit. Check size, geometry, cockpit dimensions of your current bike, compare it with what you want and make an educated decision. I wouldn't move to extremities of super racy frames if you haven't had any previous experience with such bikes. Go to Geometrygeeks na dcompare it with your current bike. Can you simulate more aggressive position on your current bike, going longer and/or lower? Give it a try first.
From your post it is not very clear what you want: a pure climbing lightweight bike or more of an all-rounder. There's plenty options in both categories and ICAN is overall a quite reputable brand.
This is great reply thank you.
Actually I already did the analysis you mentioned and I roughly know where to go in terms fitting, reach, stack etc.
In term of frame category I oriented towards an allrounder.
You mentioned various options. Would you be so kind to suggest some?
In the ICAN lineup reading on the website I have the impression that A23 is an allrounder?
A9 seems more aero.
Or did I get it wrong ?
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A little speculation: Ican has only been producing frames with eps molding since 2023/24. The A9 dates from 2022 and is probably less stiff than the new A23, which, like the Ican Graro, is an eps frame. And the Graro is stiff and accelerates quickly.
The A23 looks like a solid allrounder with good aero characteristics. I would rather take it than the A9.
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A little speculation: Ican has only been producing frames with eps molding since 2023/24. The A9 dates from 2022 and is probably less stiff than the new A23, which, like the Ican Graro, is an eps frame. And the Graro is stiff and accelerates quickly.
The A23 looks like a solid allrounder with good aero characteristics. I would rather take it than the A9.
That is a great point. I was looking at A23 and I really like it but I could not figure why they did not mention which toray carbon was used. I did not think about EPS. that is I guess the reason.
Indeed A23 seems to me a nice frame.
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A little speculation: Ican has only been producing frames with eps molding since 2023/24. The A9 dates from 2022 and is probably less stiff than the new A23, which, like the Ican Graro, is an eps frame. And the Graro is stiff and accelerates quickly.
The A23 looks like a solid allrounder with good aero characteristics. I would rather take it than the A9.
The A23 looks epic EXCEPT it only supports up to 28c tires...wtf is up with that?
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The A23 looks epic EXCEPT it only supports up to 28c tires...wtf is up with that?
on icanbikes it says 32
https://www.icanbikes.com/Products-list/superlight-carbon-aero-road-frameset-a23/
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Being ignorant, I am still puzzled why on the A23 page there is only a generic "Carbon Fiber" under the material description without mentioning if it is T1000/T800 or whatever.
Could that be related to the EPS process? meaning, does the EPS require a specific type of carbon fiber?
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on icanbikes it says 32
https://www.icanbikes.com/Products-list/superlight-carbon-aero-road-frameset-a23/
Weird, this site says different.
https://icancycling.com/products/road-bike-disc-frame-a23?variant=49655455318294
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This is great reply thank you.
Actually I already did the analysis you mentioned and I roughly know where to go in terms fitting, reach, stack etc.
In term of frame category I oriented towards an allrounder.
You mentioned various options. Would you be so kind to suggest some?
In the ICAN lineup reading on the website I have the impression that A23 is an allrounder?
A9 seems more aero.
Or did I get it wrong ?
I'd say they both look like all-rounders with A9 slightly more on aero side. A23 is tad bit heavy for all-rounder. For your purpose I would look for a sub-900 frame.
Regarding other manufacturers, right from my mind I can call few:
- I can attest on the quality of Speeder. R-55D is an all-rounder, was very well made and finished, the ride quality is amazing, see the thread, it has very good reviews.
- You can also check new frame from LongTeng, https://chinertown.com/index.php/topic,6158.0.html which is also a reputable and affordable brand.
- On more expensive side you have some impressive frames such as Elilee Blize and Quick Pro.
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I'd say they both look like all-rounders with A9 slightly more on aero side. A23 is tad bit heavy for all-rounder. For your purpose I would look for a sub-900 frame.
Regarding other manufacturers, right from my mind I can call few:
- I can attest on the quality of Speeder. R-55D is an all-rounder, was very well made and finished, the ride quality is amazing, see the thread, it has very good reviews.
- You can also check new frame from LongTeng, https://chinertown.com/index.php/topic,6158.0.html which is also a reputable and affordable brand.
- On more expensive side you have some impressive frames such as Elilee Blize and Quick Pro.
Wow thank you for this…
The quick pro looks amazing but I think too aggressive geometry for me.
The speeder looks promising for my needs.
I am also considering the flyee from ICAN.
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I've built two Flyees, one for me and one for a friend and they've both been great! Mine is a 52cm and the ride is fantastic. It has a combination on snappy and responsive geometry (short chainstays, less rake/fork offset) and less aggressive stack/reach that I really enjoy. I did notice that, like many frames, the stack/reach varies by size though. Triaero is ICAN's frame brand so you can also check out the Triaero website. ICAN will do a custom paint job for free if it is not too complicated too. You can see what sort of options they offer at icancustompaint.com.
Nice builds.
What handlebars do you have ?
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Nice builds.
What handlebars do you have ?
one was built with Avian Falcon bars and the other has Kocevelo bars for AliX. I 3d printed the headset transition spacer for both of them since the headtube on the Flyee is a little wider than some other bikes. Pretty sure the FSA ACR standard headsets are 55.8mm in diameter but the Flyee headtubes measured 57mm. I can dig up the CAD file I made and sent it over if you ever want it. Alternatively, if you buy bars from ICAN I'm sure they'll send the right spacers to fit the bike.
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Anyone know prices of A9 or A23?
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Anyone know prices of A9 or A23?
I've reached out to Ican regarding the A23. I like the geo of that frame, so hoping to get answer later today
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Anyone know prices of A9 or A23?
you can find the prices on the Triaero website: https://triaero.com/collections/road-bike-frame
looks like a23 is $899 and a9 is $730-1130 depending on various variables.
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I clarified some details about A23 with icanbikes and they told me the following:
-Tire clearance is 32mm (this is in contrast to what is written on triaero.com)
-Full carbon toray T700 & T800
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I am down to these models now and need to decide.
-ICAN/Triaero A23. This seems a nice frame on paper but no information for other owners. moreover this inconsistent or missing information on the ICAN websites doesn't help to have confidence. Moreover the bike seems to be on the heavy side. It costs less than the A9, which makes me think maybe it is not a step up from it?
-ICAN/Triaero Flyee: I like this one and there is enough feedback from other owners. it seems to be more a climber than an allround but I am ok with it. Geometry seems also good as it has just a little extra stack compare to the other two.
-Speeder SC-R55D: this is a great looking frame and specs are nice. Communication with Justing is very clear and professional. Drawback is that the company seems to be more oriented to OEM business. So not much customization (no big deal for me). But, being not an expert in bike building, I am concerned about the fact that the framekit might not come complete with all the parts (bearings, grommets, UDH etc) or if I have to go and buy them after. Moreover this comes with BB86, which for me might become a problem for me if something doesn't go smooth. Geometry might be a little to aggressive for me.
Besides the details of the single frames, for some reason ICAN did not inspire me confidence. They have 3 different websites. some model are available only via one of the website (for example Flyee). bike descriptions are sometimes not consistent across the websites. I asked from where to order and one person told me it doesn'e matter, one other person (Perry) told me to order only from icancycling.com. All of this is a little puzzling.
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I am down to these models now and need to decide.
-ICAN/Triaero A23. This seems a nice frame on paper but no information for other owners. moreover this inconsistent or missing information on the ICAN websites doesn't help to have confidence. Moreover the bike seems to be on the heavy side. It costs less than the A9, which makes me think maybe it is not a step up from it?
-ICAN/Triaero Flyee: I like this one and there is enough feedback from other owners. it seems to be more a climber than an allround but I am ok with it. Geometry seems also good as it has just a little extra stack compare to the other two.
-Speeder SC-R55D: this is a great looking frame and specs are nice. Communication with Justing is very clear and professional. Drawback is that the company seems to be more oriented to OEM business. So not much customization (no big deal for me). But, being not an expert in bike building, I am concerned about the fact that the framekit might not come complete with all the parts (bearings, grommets, UDH etc) or if I have to go and buy them after. Moreover this comes with BB86, which for me might become a problem for me if something doesn't go smooth. Geometry might be a little to aggressive for me.
Besides the details of the single frames, for some reason ICAN did not inspire me confidence. They have 3 different websites. some model are available only via one of the website (for example Flyee). bike descriptions are sometimes not consistent across the websites. I asked from where to order and one person told me it doesn'e matter, one other person (Perry) told me to order only from icancycling.com. All of this is a little puzzling.
On Flyee, bike seems fine, the weight is mentioned with gloss white paint, i.e. bare carbon frame would be ~100 g less. A number of different web sites may be connected with different target audience. Farsports has two websites, on one they have a ton of options where you can customize the wheels for your needs and second with 'ready-to-buy options' which are way more expensive. Same goes for Elite wheels: they have website for Westerners where prices are 30-40% higher than on Ali or Yuanan OEM page.
During my communication with Justin he suggested me to buy BB, stem or full cockpit, seatpost variations and all small parts that comes with the bike. I ended up buying the headset only with front mech hanger, UDH, axles coming as default parts. Additionally, I asked for custom finish (marble glossy carbon finish for frame and fork) and decals. For some people Justin gave an option for custom paint, perhaps it depends on what they have in line for their B2B consumers. I recommend to ask specific questions for what comes with the frame regardless of your order and what can be purchased additionally.
The frame has regular headset and is compatible with any ACR-like system (I have cockpit from The One). UDH comes with the frame and if not, you can purchase UDH separately, as it is universal lol.
Regarding the BB, press fit is usually better than threaded BB if done correctly. Speeder has very good tolerances, so there are no issues with BB here. If you plan to run 24mm axle, BB86 is the best standard out there, for DUB or 30mm axle I'd avoid it. Here we have several threads for lightweight carbon cranks with 24mm axle, you can check them. I have Big Rock cranks with Ti axle and 3 bolt spider interface and my old powermeter, zero issues so far.
Keep in mind that for many bikes with integrated cable routing the stack in Geometry chart is underestimated as it does not takes into account mandatory spacers that has to be installed to guide the cables. Additionally, the more spacers you use, the shorter your actual reach is.
Hope that will help!
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On Flyee, bike seems fine, the weight is mentioned with gloss white paint, i.e. bare carbon frame would be ~100 g less. A number of different web sites may be connected with different target audience. Farsports has two websites, on one they have a ton of options where you can customize the wheels for your needs and second with 'ready-to-buy options' which are way more expensive. Same goes for Elite wheels: they have website for Westerners where prices are 30-40% higher than on Ali or Yuanan OEM page.
During my communication with Justin he suggested me to buy BB, stem or full cockpit, seatpost variations and all small parts that comes with the bike. I ended up buying the headset only with front mech hanger, UDH, axles coming as default parts. Additionally, I asked for custom finish (marble glossy carbon finish for frame and fork) and decals. For some people Justin gave an option for custom paint, perhaps it depends on what they have in line for their B2B consumers. I recommend to ask specific questions for what comes with the frame regardless of your order and what can be purchased additionally.
The frame has regular headset and is compatible with any ACR-like system (I have cockpit from The One). UDH comes with the frame and if not, you can purchase UDH separately, as it is universal lol.
Regarding the BB, press fit is usually better than threaded BB if done correctly. Speeder has very good tolerances, so there are no issues with BB here. If you plan to run 24mm axle, BB86 is the best standard out there, for DUB or 30mm axle I'd avoid it. Here we have several threads for lightweight carbon cranks with 24mm axle, you can check them. I have Big Rock cranks with Ti axle and 3 bolt spider interface and my old powermeter, zero issues so far.
Keep in mind that for many bikes with integrated cable routing the stack in Geometry chart is underestimated as it does not takes into account mandatory spacers that has to be installed to guide the cables. Additionally, the more spacers you use, the shorter your actual reach is.
Hope that will help!
This is immensely useful. Thank you very much.
I saw also an R52D which seems to be similar to R55D but lower quality carbon?
To answer to your question, I will install ultegra di2 so I am glad you say bb86 is better With 24mm axle..
I have never adventured into different cranks. Always used Shimano.but you got me curious I will look into that.