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Re: what do you use to design custom paint jobs? If you have a good photo of the frame, you can vectorize it with Adobe Illustrator and then do your thing. Or mask it with Photoshop and then do your thing.
As for colors: best to ask the vendor what they use. Most will have a defined list of colors they use. Or they require a specific swatch system, like RAL, Pantone or even just CMYK values.
August 01, 2025, 05:49:42 PM 		1
Re: what do you use to design custom paint jobs? Here are some Photoshop renders I created over the years of custom bikes I build. Two (the 451 wheel folding bike and the CAAD 10) were done with Illustrator, the others with Photoshop.
August 01, 2025, 05:55:35 PM 		1
Re: what do you use to design custom paint jobs? Heres a couple options:

https://www.elvescustompaint.com/

https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-ultra-race-red-axs/build/?colour=black

https://www.orbea.com/au-en/myo/step-customization/
August 02, 2025, 06:14:12 PM 		1
Re: what do you use to design custom paint jobs? https://icancustompaint.com/
August 04, 2025, 03:36:49 AM 		1
Re: Tideace NEW Gravel Frame: GR201
Quote from: kenmc on August 04, 2025, 05:55:59 PM
that's interesting,  I'm 177 and bring recommended the 54 also. my gut feel is the 52 though,  reinforced if you're OK on the 54 at 6cm taller than me

anyone else care to reveal their height, their frame size and whether or not they would change if ordering again?

He was 188 - 11cm taller - and on the 56

I’m 178 & went with the 54 based on the fit from my Canyon Grail. The 54 feels fine to me. But I think height is only a general indicator. Some have different proportions - longer reach, shorter legs and vice versa. I consider myself pretty average in that sense - suits off the peg often fit me well - and on the 54 frame and a 80-85mm stem fits my reach.
And my saddle height allows enough seat post showing to offer some flex but not look stupidly long.
Attached is snapshot from my latest video in the build series (The Review) I did on YouTube (@zwifting) showing the two bikes side by side and me standing next to them so you can see the size of the 54 frame.

August 13, 2025, 01:56:44 AM 		1
Re: what do you use to design custom paint jobs? I hate it but the easy answer is AI.
I usually get a paint job photo that is close to what I like and then upload that to chatgpt and ask it to adjust it.
August 13, 2025, 08:18:12 AM 		1
Re: Tideace NEW Gravel Frame: GR201 TanTan GR201 (size 54) — White “stormtrooper” build

Inspired by the other GR201 builds, I also went with a white gloss paintjob for the stormtrooper look. Cost is ~€3.5k and the bike should land around 8.2 kg with pedals, cages, and sealant (haven’t weighed the complete bike yet — my scale is borrowed).

Rider / fit
178 cm / 70 kg. Size 54 fits me very well with a 100 mm stem and 80 mm handlebar reach; I might try a slightly shorter stem for snappier handling.

Spec highlights (Full build in PDF)
• Frameset: GR201 size 54 — frame 1,272 g; fork 392 g; axles 66 g; headset 128 g.
• Cockpit: Lexon UNOX 400×100 integrated bar/stem — 344 g (needed a few spare spacers to mate nicely with the headset).
• Seatpost: Elita One MT05 — 141 g.
• Crankset Leese C01 160 mm cranks (373 g) + PassQuest 44T (105 g);
• Drivetrain: AXS mix — Apex HRD levers (477 g), Rival HRD calipers (190 g), Red XPLR RD (378 g), Red chain (247 g), XG-1391 cassette (287 g).
• Wheelset: Elitewheels Edge Gravel 2.0 — 1,284 g.
• Tires (tubeless): Conti Race King 2.2 front (606 g), Schwalbe Thunder Burt 2.1 rear (571 g), Orange Seal.
• Pedals: Favero Assioma Pro MX-2 — 384 g.
• Hardware: Most mounting hardware has been replaced with Ti Bolts, Aluminum Adapters and Aluminum Bolts

Ordering & frame details
• Inquiry: Jul 4 → Order: Jul 7 → Photos + tracking: Jul 28 → Delivery (Germany): Aug 7
• Finish: White gloss (YS701). Fork supplied without side 3-bolt mounts (on request).
• Included: headset + both thru-axles.
• Paid via PayPal F&F. Final price from TanTan incl. shipping/taxes: USD 729.
• Notes on quality out of the box: paint is OK but not boutique; some overspray on flat-mounts; mounts a bit flaky. BB shell was clean.

Quick notes after the build
• Coming from a 2020 Diverge X1 (40 mm clearance with 40 mm Thundero tires), this is a big step up for comfort, grip, and tire volume.
• 160 mm cranks are great — I won’t go back to 170+ mm.
• The new SRAM Red 1×13 (10–46) shifts nicely, but I’ll probably revert to a 10–50 Eagle for better climbing range. (I wish there was a 1x13 10-52 option yet)
• There’s ample room for a larger ring — 48T, possibly even 50T, though 44 is good enough for most gravel descents where I live.
• Paint finish is so-so; bolt mounts a bit flaky. Flat-mount faces were oversprayed and not very flat; still working on rotor alignment and may need more careful sanding.
• The Lexon cockpit feels good; took a bit of tinkering and extra  spacer/adapter to get the interface right.

Conclusion
At ~€3.5k this is incredible value: essentially best-in-class drivetrain, ultralight wheels, Favero power meter pedals, and clearance for proper wide tires — all wrapped up in a sub-8.2 kg package. The only real complaints are that the frame itself is on the heavier side compared to the rest of the build, and the integrated storage feels a bit unnecessary to me.
August 17, 2025, 11:15:32 AM 		1
Re: how do you decide what depth/width wheels to get?
Quote from: Serge_K on August 17, 2025, 02:23:50 PM
Drum roll....

It depends :)

It really does X_x

It's mostly personal preference. Deeper rims are generally heavier, more stiff and more aero. Some people like more compliant, shallow wheels for gravel and stick with shallower rims. If your riding is on more flat and non-technical terrain, maybe something more aero and a tiny bit heavier is good. If you're doing a lot of climbing/descending, especially on technical or bumpy terrain, maybe you want something shallower + lighter for the climbs and with a little more compliance on the descents.

Inner width is probably more critical if you are trying to aero-optimize a road bike. For gravel, a wider rim will stretch your tire a little wider and probably be a little more aero. Less difference between your tire width and outer rim width = more aero. For gravel, anything from 21-27mm is probably fine. If you care about being more aero or making your tires wider, maybe aim for the higher end. If not, it doesn't really matter.

I like to squeeze as wide a tire onto my bike as possible. I had a set of 2.2" Race Kings that I moved them from a wheelset with a 22mm internal width to a wheelset with a 25mm internal width and they started rubbing on the fork because the wider rims stretched them out more... so there is that to consider. If you're not maxing out your tire clearance it shouldn't be an issue though.

I don't have a lot to say about spokes. If you live somewhere by the ocean or where they salt the roads in the winter, maybe stay away from aluminum spoke nipples because they'll corrode. Sapim spokes are sort of "industry standard," they're good. I hear Pillar spokes are fine too. IMO titanium spokes are kind of a gimmick and carbon spokes have no business on off-road wheels. Especially for gravel, I don't think you can really go wrong by just sticking to whatever steel spokes.

Aluminum wheelsets are often 1800g+. Moving to any <1500g carbon wheelset will probably make a noticeable difference.
August 17, 2025, 04:10:13 PM 		1
Re: how do you decide what depth/width wheels to get? I don't know where you are riding, but I find anything above 50mm depth to really affect my handling during strong winds
Just another thing to consider...
August 17, 2025, 04:23:51 PM 		1
Re: how do you decide what depth/width wheels to get? On my gravel bike, these were the original wheels I installed on my gravel bike in 2019.   Probably 15K to 20K mile on them to date without any issues.  28mm wide and 38mm deep.  I run 40mm to 42mm wide tires.

ttps://www.aliexpress.us/item/2255799847268989.html

Over the past couple of years, I have purchased 4 of these 280 gram rims and built up 2 sets of wheels on 142 hubs, and a set on 148 hubs.   These are 27mm wide, and 25mm deep.   I run these rims on my Carbon Hardtail, and the wheelset weighs just under 1380grams, with sealing tape.    On my Hardtail, I always run 2.0 / 50mm lightweight gravel/bikepacking tires.   I have close to 3K of hard rough terrain miles on these wheels without issue.  (I did check/re-tension the rear wheel once after a couple of years of riding.)

I built up a set of gravel wheels with 142 hubs that clocks in around 1300 grams with tape.   I have a little over 1000 miles on this wheel set.  I run 40mm on the back and 42mm tires on the front.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2255800282655021.html

Note:  Back when I researched rims, what I read was that in Carbon rims, 28mm outside width and 38mm depth was a favored sweet spot for gravel riding with some crossing over to singletrack/trails.  (Rim width/depth/weight/durability versus typical gravel tires - 38 to 42mm wide.)
If you spend most or more time on paved roads, then 28mm to 30mm outside width with deeper rims up to 60mm deep show up more.
August 17, 2025, 04:42:15 PM 		1