Just a quick update:

I went to 29er wheels for the upcoming season as the BB simply sits too low and I got pedal strikes just too often for my personal taste. Even as the bike no longer fits this sub I'll post a few pics. Weight of the current setup is 8,1kg, and the frame is still going strong. Only slight downside is my headset which has a tendency of becoming loose over time...

Quote from: SometimesFast on September 19, 2025, 08:47:32 PM
Hey,

Does anyone know what the chain line is on this frame?

I've done some excessive testing on chainline / chainring fitmentfor this frame - you can find it in my thread:https://chinertown.com/index.php/topic,6139.0.html

it is! - i was pretty surprised because i ordered it and simply hoped for the best.

If you are using the top cap of the delivered headset, just make sure to remove any burrs and sharp edges beforehand - there are some razor sharp edges on it which will destroy your shiftcables or brakelines!

Hi,

i bought mine from carbomania on AliExpress aswell. On the Listing i chose (carbomania usually has more than one for the same bike) there was an option to choose a Set of frame+fork which came including a fitting headset aswell (really handy and kind of unsuspected as the whole set was only around around 50€ more than a frame alone back when i bought it)

https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005006874812778.html?gps-id=pcStoreLeaderboard&scm=1007.22922.271278.0&scm_id=1007.22922.271278.0&scm-url=1007.22922.271278.0&pvid=c1866985-2878-4514-9892-69ddfba150b1&_t=gps-id%3ApcStoreLeaderboard%2Cscm-url%3A1007.22922.271278.0%2Cpvid%3Ac1866985-2878-4514-9892-69ddfba150b1%2Ctpp_buckets%3A668%232846%238113%231998&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22order%22%3A%2229%22%2C%22eval%22%3A%221%22%2C%22sceneId%22%3A%2212922%22%2C%22fromPage%22%3A%22recommend%22%7D&pdp_npi=6%40dis%21EUR%21159.67%2152.69%21%21%21184.27%2160.81%21%402103834817586526763343023e5993%2112000047176673423%21rec%21DE%21%21ABX%211%210%21n_tag%3A-29910%3Bd%3Ae872380d%3Bm03_new_user%3A-29895&spm=a2g0o.store_pc_home.smartLeaderboard_2010303960651.1005006874812778&gatewayAdapt=glo2deu


EDIT:
quick note - it says frame and fork black in the listing but you can simply let them know about any other color of your choice before / while ordering and they are going to do it. After my order they also contated me about any wishes like that (custom color, no logo, etc.)

Nice to see dads that build chiners for the following generation.

Regarding Chainring offset I would agree - for rear QR (135mm) you want the Chainline to be 49mm which usually means 6mm offset for Gxp(-type) cranks.

Definitely looking forward to seeing this bike coming together!

I´m not too sure about all the Models from Seaboard and Darkrock but the ones i´ve seen are not capable of doing more than maybe 47x700c.

You state you don´t want carbon - so is aluminium ok? My best bet for your desire would be a Riverside 920 Touring Frameset from Decathlon (no chiner of course) but a Frameset made pretty much to the specs you want. I own one myself and run 2.25 Schwalbe Thunder Burts front and back with a generous amount of room left - Frame is rated for 2.25 max on the rear and fork for up to 2,4. It also uses 142/100 thru axles as desired.

of course you can always have a look at mtb frames that might hava a conservative / oldschool geo that you might convert into a Gravel/Monstercross - there are plenty options on AliExpress that might work as a base.

If you want to compare / check fitment just have a look at how wide the rear in said riverside Frame is:

Tideacebike

Only thing I could wish for would be a little bit more stack in size L because I'm 188cm with long legs (92cm inseam)

Just a little Update here as I couldn't resist...

Price for shown Crank dropped even further and I don't mind the 175mm length, so I did an Upgrade on my Travel bike.

Components / Prices:
119,95€ SRAM Quarq XX1 175mm Crank from the Link above
186,85€ XCadey XPower-S Powermeter (104BCD, back-to-school sale on Ali)
26,99€ Blackspire 32t oval chainring
2,65€ Chainring bolts
Total
336,44€ for the Set - Weight fully assembled 502g (just a tad lighter than the X1 Crank and DM Chainring I had on the bike before)

Insane Value for money imo

+1 for the Meinier Snake. So far hassle-free to build with the only downside of it having the cables routed through the Headset. Nice Geo (mine's built with a rigid Fork) and really nice to ride.

Hi all,

today I received my replacement bolts and it was time for a quick test-drive.

It is an absolute blast to ride. Because of the low weight the bike accelerates like a dream and is super responsive but never harsh. Of course I am super paranoid because the BB sits quite low, but I'll see how bad it really gets with time. I have to fix some minor gremlins in shifting and also some brake-rub when putting down power but that is to expected with a full on-the-stand setup

Also I really like the Geo, it's not too aggressive even tough pretty low and low-stack due to the rigid Fork.

Take a look at this thing!

a not-too-educated opinion on seatpost-clamp-torque i would not go any further than 5Nm. Just juse Carbon paste and start low, and only use as much as needed to stop it from sliding

other than that - nice color and weight, i´m looking forward to see the final product someday

Okay, not the worst first response on my Handlebar issue. Lexon Store is going to investigate if my order is the only affected and I got an instant refund from aliexpress of around 60% the original price. I'm pretty impressed how serious this was handled, I had waaaay worse responses in the past from other sellers

My bike is finished

Final weight after completing / bleeding the brakes and filling up some sealant into the tires I am at 8,05kg

Sadly I discovered a mayor problem with the Ryet Handlebar. The delivered Clamping bolts are too long. I already contacted Lexon official (the aliexpress seller I got it from) - just to let them know. This could lead to serious injuries if someone doesn't notice, that his handlebar isn't fully tight before heading for a first ride

Almost there...

Had time today to nearly finish my built. I had to do some changes due to the restrictions of which Chainring I could fit with a proper/useful chainline...

Final transmission setup therefore: 34T oval Chainring and 9-46 Cassette (Ztto SLR3)

For the moment I have Kcnc lock on grips on there, the brake needs to be connected and bled, and there's no sealant in the tires. Weight so far is 7,86kg as pictured below. Pretty stoked so far. Can't wait to get it ready and do the first ride finally...

Hi,

i had a Force 475 Alloy Fork in the past - it´s the same as Mosso M5: https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005004015275356.html

Should fit your needs - 475mm A-C, below 100 bucks, alloy, and was sturdy enough to last getting tortured by me (1,87cm tall, 95kg) - and my Force branded one was the straight steerer version aswell!