A heads up for any bike tourers/bikepackers/amateur tt riders/etc. regarding clip on aerobars and this frame.

A question that comes up quite semi-regularly, that often doesn't have any great answers, is: how do I attach clip on aero bars to a frame that comes delivered with fully integrated cables and a carbon aero handlebar. There are hack solutions such as mounting a fred bar or equivalent on your steerer tube which you then mount your bars too. But then you are also adding additional stress, quite high up, on your steerer tube which it may or may not be able to handle (and if your tube is cut you're obviously cooked). There's also AliEx mounting "clip ons" specifically for aero handlebars but those look lethal to me, in addition to the fact that I'd rather not clamp carbon where it is not designed to be clamped.

I have found only one good solution to this problem. You can order this frame with the LCR017S-D separate bar and stem combo where you instead route the cables semi-internally (they enter the headset under/at the stem - if you look at the frame pictures it will be obvious). This will allow you to run any 31.8 handlebar you'd like while still routing the cables mostly internally.

This should also work for their new racing gravel bike as well as the new aero frame road frame.

Hopefully this is useful to someone 

Anyway, I've already got two wheelsets... one Elitewheels Drive (gen 1) 50D running Conti GP5K 32C for road duty and one Elitewheels Marvel G35 running Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H 45C for gravel duty. Idea would be to build this frame up with a GRX 2x12 Di2 groupset, british racing green custom paint, with brown saddle & bar tape. I've always lusted after that color combo.

Sounds really nice, good versatility with GRX 2x too and racing green is a sweet color for sure - saw some other people posting their 018-D's in that color, really nice. Cool idea to match it with the bartape and saddle, it's giving like retro luxury.

Also re: the fork, yeah I think it's a new design. I started a thread about this on the Chinese Carbon subreddit and someone mentioned that Lightcarbon did redesign the fork for even more clearance, but that's unverified info since few details about this frameset exist in the real world.

Took another look at the fork and yeah, it is much more "angular" at the bottom - sharper. Reminding me of the new orca aero that released a couple of days ago (GCN did a video on it). Now that I think about it, this frame is general is quite reminiscent of the orca aero regarding seat stays and "aero shape", not that I mind, I think the orca is quite a beautiful bike.

How would you build this one up?

I thought I had settled on a build - 2x mix of ltwoo R9 mech hydraulic with 105 cassette and chain, 40m deep carbon wheels from superteam with Conti 5k all season TR 35c (or similar).  But now that I might be able to rock 50's... Now I kind of really want to build it up be able to do some proper off road bikepacking.

I'm now thinking a 1x mullet setup with either SRAM AXS or ltwoo GRT 12x (I'm not sure how much I want to spend yet...) with a 42 upfront and 11-52 cassette. Maybe bigger upfront, not sure yet. Also get some gravel specific rims and run the absolute widest tires I can fit. How are you liking the Cinturatos?

Either way mine will be raw carbon glossy without decals but with accent colors on the bartape, saddle rails and bar ends - not sure however which color that will be yet. And also very importantly: it will be ordered with the separate bar stem solution from a previous model of LCR017 so that I can mount whatever 31.8 handlebars that I'd like (for aerobars and other gizmos) - don't ask me how much time I spend figuring out that this was an option/solution for my mounting problems.

Planning all of this is honestly so much fun.

EDIT: added handlebar hack info.

Well this looks very very interesting... I have a full spreadsheet built up for the LCR018-D and was just getting ready to pull the trigger - but 50 mm clearance really speaks to me. Anyone got an idea if you'll be able to order the forks with mounting points?  I would ask Wendy but I think she's getting somewhat tired of my questions at this point 

Also tack viktor for the render - helps to visualize. Those huge tires with brown sidewalls look so good...