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Re: Velobuild VB-R-218
Hi guys, first post ever here No. It’s a battery holder I think. Though I’m not an expert on Di2 groupsets. Once I receive my frameset I can post pics. Maybe someone else can clarify. I think this is because there is no space for a Di2 battery inside of the aero seatpost. August 04, 2022, 01:32:05 PM |
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Re: Velobuild VB-R-218
That could work. There is quite a lot of space there. November 07, 2022, 10:02:58 AM |
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Re: Hygge Aero Carbon Frame
Well, it seems I have now done 850km with the frame so maybe a little more feedback... I am fairly happy with the frame now.
October 09, 2023, 07:24:04 AM |
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Re: Velobuild VB-R-168 Frame
Hi there , finished my build already some time ago and now found the time to wrap it up in a Summary after approx. 4000k and 60000m of elevation gain on my vbr-168. I have remained loyal to my old Stevens road bike for many years and now wanted to build a technically up-to-date and decent looking but reasonably priced bike which accompanies me (climber by heart, sprinter by Body Mass Index) on my tours through the austrian alps. Ordering Process was quite smooth, the Chrisses have been patient with me when i changed the paint mockup several times. After painting, it took two more weeks until they had everything together since they have been short on accessory parts back then. Shipping to Austria took 12 days, shipped with XDB-DPD since austrian custom regulations are a nightmare and need to be avoided at all cost. Frame in size 58 came in at surprinsingly low 1054 grams (including screws, without seatpost clamp, hangers and through axles) I ordered the Frameset with seperate bar and stem (with two different stems for bike fitting options). Unfortunately they sent both stems in the same size. Since i didn`t like the bulky and heavy stem and spacers, i only built it far enough for a proper bike fit and then changed it to a fully integrated cockpit purchased on alibaba. This saved more than 100grams and greatly improved the look in my opinion. Paint of frame and fork was exactly like defined and quality satisfying for me. Final Configuration:
I never built a bike before but would describe myself as quite passable in terms of craftsmanship. Since i already knew about the Headset issues from reading here, i paid some attention to it and found a way which worked for me (even with the old C-ring and VB parts) Details to be seen here: http://chinertown.com/index.php/topic,3147.msg45858.html#msg45858 Some weeks later, VB announced the new C-ring design which most likely will solve the main problem but i still find it to be poorly designed. Furthermore, i´ve been affected by the issue that the saddle had been somehow twisted. Other members experienced this issue too and we found out its caused by too much play between seat post and seat tube and a clamping mechanism that forces the seat post to twist to one side, - more to be seen here: http://chinertown.com/index.php/topic,3147.msg45220.html#msg45220 The only additional thing i would like to highlight is that prior to the assembly it is a good idea to check all the contact surfaces for Headset bearings and especially those for the alumnium inlets /wheel mounting parts at the fork and rear wheel area. Found some excessice resin or coat there which i had to grind down in order to maintain a smooth and even contact. Conclusion: I´ve been prepared to deal with some minor issues but the one with the seatpost was a surprise. Finally all problems could be solved with reasonable effort (also thanks to the hints in this Thread!) so i am O.K with it. Generally i am satisfied with the project and would buy the frame again. Meanwhile i purchased and built some more frames (one VBR177, two gf002) which i will post somewhen later in the respective threads. I don´t ride any crits but occassionally gran fondos / marathons and hillclimbs. So I wasn`t looking for an ultimately stiff crit racer, but it should feel reasonably stiff and safe, -no matter whether i throw in my 80 kg for a >1500W Sprint or if a fast descent on a rough pass road is on the agenda. So far the bike meets this requirement perfectly in my opinion, I can not report anything negative in this regard. ride on, Bernd October 12, 2023, 02:56:50 PM |
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Re: Hygge Aero Carbon Frame
I am debating between the velobuild vbr 177 and this Hygge model s. Any of you guys with the model s that also has experience with the vbr177?As I see, Velobuild has updated the model 177 and now it supports tires up to 32mm, it also has a round seat post and a slightly higher stack. Additionally, the manufacturer indicates EPS molding on the website. Considering this, I would prefer Velobuild. October 22, 2023, 04:27:29 AM |
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Patty's Long Rant and Guide To Affordable Frames
I’m going to be honest here: I very much miss the glory days of this forum during the pandemic years. It was a perfect storm. People were stuck at home with extra discretionary income and free-time, while major bike brands were dealing with fulfillment delays. The rise of Chinese alternatives during this time brought so much excitement to this forum. Forum members were passionate about helping each other, and the overall vibe felt like a positive community of budget-minded enthusiasts. You could easily spend hours each day reading pages upon pages of new posts. The forum was basically a party everyday. I’m lucky to have joined during COVID. Now I don’t proclaim to be perfect or infallible to constructive criticism. Quite frankly, the support of this forum is a large reason why my YouTube platform even exists. I cannot thank you all enough. Sadly, a lot of the super experienced members don’t come here as often anymore. Perhaps the negative vibes these past 12 months ran them away or just simply their needs changed. Who knows… What I do know is I plan to keep supporting the forum as long as it makes sense. I’ve started to review more mainstream bikes, but my heart will always have a place for affordable Chinese frames/wheels. It’s how I got my start (Yoeleo R6). I wanted to write up a quick guide for anyone looking to jump into the world of “cheap” Chinese bikes. While I made a video on this very topic over a year ago, a reminder never hurt anyone. PLEASE feel free to add your insight and guidance below. Step 1: Passion Project vs Functionality As a cycling reviewer, I obviously don’t have any emotional attachments to my bikes. Except for my believed T1500. To me it’s about being functional and fast. If the “best” frame for (my) price range and riding style only offers matte black…I’ll take it every time. Custom paint means nothing to me if the frame is either a noodle or destroys my back. But I’m a performance-first person. Step 2: Riding Style and Geometry Can you slam your stem? Cool for you. Do you prefer an endurance style bike? Also very cool. Geometry is critical obviously. I cannot stress seeking a professional bike fit enough. Or just comparing your current bike to your target bikes using something like Geometry Geeks. Step 3: Budget vs “True” Budget If your budget is “only $600” for a frame, ask yourself if an extra $300 will be significant to you a year from now. How about an extra $500? How about two years from now? Buy nice or buy twice. Might be worth spending the extra money if you plan to keep your bike for longer than two years. But be warned: cheap bikes are addicting. Step 4: What is your “pain” threshold for cheap bikes? Cheap bikes are cheap bikes for a reason. Sort of. The value-add for these types of bikes is you are willing to put in the work yourself to troubleshoot, should bike build problems arise. If you do however find yourself frustrated, fear not! The forum is here to help. Typically the more you spend, the less potential for problems to arise. Or the brand will be faster to rectify. Unless you’re Yoeleo…  Patty’s Brand Picks $500 - VeloBuild - Custom paint, decent customer service, and solid provided hardware. Both the VB-177 and CX002 are very solid frames for the price. Won’t be the best performing frames ever, but they are “good enough.” You won’t get dropped from a race or fast group ride due to these frames. $1000 or less - Yishun/Light Carbon - No question one of the best affordable brands/frames you can buy without spending money on a Winspace. Sadly…paint options and frame availability may be questionable since (Yishun) is setup for B2B. But the quality and performance is all there. Fit and finish is really good, except for the plastic headset dust cover on my particular application. $1600 or less - Winspace - The T1500 has been talked about to death now for 4 years so there really isn’t anything left to cover. If you have the budget for it…buy it. Proven race bike. Fit and finish on par with the major brands. Wheel Brand Recognition - Elite Wheels, Winspace, and Magene - All 3 brands are great at what they do. The main thing these brands all have in common is they offer solid customer service. Each of them secretly lurk these forums, which means they are making an effort to listen to what customers want. Despite the fact Yoeleo makes solid bikes too, their customer service has been awful (again) based on customer feedback sent my way. Unfortunately my dealings with these brands for reviews does not translate to me being able to escalate customer complaints. Always remember the forum is here to help. There are no stupid questions if you’ve taken a little bit of time to research previous threads and watch a few YouTube videos. The more honest and transparent we all are with our questions, the quicker and meaningful the responses will come. Spend the love! January 25, 2024, 04:12:15 PM |
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Re: VeloBuild VB-R-268 frame
I received the frame yesterday and it was shipped to Germany within 10 days. That was really fast. I did a first inspection and the quality seems to be very good. However, a final verdict is still pending as you can only really say something about the quality when you build the frame and ride it. This will happen in the next days and weeks. I can confirm that the tire clearance is 32mm. Probably even wider tires will fit without problems. I have a first small problem with the mounting of the rear thru axle. I had to re-cut the thread there. A small thing, but it has to be mentioned. I'll get back to you as soon as I have more details and will send photos and weights. January 27, 2024, 01:09:09 PM |
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Re: Velobuild VB-R-168 Frame
Due to a coincidence in the 268 thread, I did some digging and found out that the 168 was probably originally made for S1Neo and was usedw for their 599D 2021-2022 Version. However, they use a new mold now for thee 599D. But I found some old (japanese, i guess) youtube videos and a sale listing as evidence. ;-) https://www.troc-velo.com/fr-fr/annonce/velo-de-route-s1neo-599d-3612063 https://youtu.be/VIRWE0uy4bA?si=hRsKO85p8jHbFcUk January 30, 2024, 04:01:03 PM |
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Re: VeloBuild VB-R-268 frame
Good afternoon: I am new to the forum and on January 8th I ordered the frame in chameleon silver color size S. Yesterday it arrived correctly packaged. What I didn't get in the package is the cycle computer holder and the extra rear hanger, but they have already told me by email that they will send it to me tomorrow. I must say that the paint is spectacular, it only has a small bubble on the back that will not be difficult to fix by lightly polishing. I also have to go over the steering bearing seats and bottom bracket seats with very fine sandpaper. Waiting to start assembly, happy with the order. January 31, 2024, 09:58:11 AM |
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Re: VeloBuild VB-R-268 frame
Build is pretty much done. Not too many new parts as everything has been moved over from my VB-R-177 build. Haven't had a chance to take it out for a long spin but general impressions so far based on a short coffee ride: - Stiffer than the 168 and as stiff as the 177 but more aero (not sure I noticed the more aero part haha) - Zero offset seat tube is really going to help my personal fit - Saddle clamping system worked really well and easy to adjust. Extra fittings for carbon rail saddles was great to have included. - Mavic Speed release style axles are going to take a little getting used to. May need a dedicated axle for the trainer to make things easier to take on and off. - Overall no issues with the build, ended up drilling a hole in the bottom of the BB area to drain water. Also had to drill out the metal FD cable stop to fit Di2 wire - New HB-010 integrated bars that came with the frame feel much stiffer than the original ones I had with the wedge tightening system instead of standard two bolt Just needs some bar tape and maybe some decals and should be ready. 
February 08, 2024, 05:12:35 PM |
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