Ditto what Asco said. But just FYI, here's Waltly's solution to my 1x 50t chainring request.

I live in China and just bought a pair from an app called XianYu. It's an app for used goods but small shops also sell there to move inventory. It cost me 2500 RMB, roughly 350 dollars; on Taobao (basically China's eBay), it's going for the equivalent of about 500 USD. I'm uploading the original ad with the Chinese machine translated. Don't puzzle too much over the translation--for instance, weight without lock plate means without cleats.

The Shanghai Triathlon Club is partnered with WeCycle, which has two stores in Shanghai. I rented a bike from them for one of STC's races. 6k RMB deposit and 600 RMB for the weekend, if I remember correctly. But there's easily 20+ nice bike shops in Shanghai. You can search Apple Maps in English (without a VPN, I think, as opposed to Google Maps) for Giant and Trek and often see photos of the stores. Not to snub Bianchi, which has a small but high-end shop in the city, and Merida, and probably a couple others...Sorry to give you the "ask your phone" answer, but I've lived in a couple different places across Shanghai and outskirts. There are a good handful of flagship stores across the city, and there are also small local stores with great service. You might as well start with where you are in the city. (I'm out of the city right now, otherwise I'd offer to meet in person.) I hope that helps!

By the way, @patliean1, it seems they've updated the geometry--stats on the website now are different from what you show in your video. I think (just eyeballing it) that maybe they've adjusted the water bottle cage bolts too.

Maybe consider their other frames?

I'm considering their R1058, but I can't find any reviews of the ride. Also, it's the same price as the R086 (750 USD), and I can get a painted frame with decent reviews from another supplier in the 500 dollar range...

I hope they can do the dropped chainstay. They wouldn't (or couldn't) do an elevated chainstay when I commissioned them to do a copy of the Trek Stache early this year.

This is what Amy at Waltly had to say: "No dropper chainstay now , because no 3D print here, if casting process , it is expensive ." So that's decided. I asked her to give me a plated chainstay with a max 50t chainring. It'll show if I swap out for a smaller chainring when my travels call for it, but it's a look I can learn to love.

I've been working with Waltly for a custom gravel build based on the Canyon Grail. Coincidentally (but for the same reasons), China Cycling on Youtube just put out a video of his Waltly build based on the Grail.

The Grail's XS and S sizes run a shorter chainstay (415) and are basically built for a 650B wheel. Currently, I'm riding a 48t single chainring up front with an 11-34 rear cassette. I live in Shanghai, so the steepest climb I face is an overpass, but I can cruise pretty fast if I'm drafting an electric scooter, etc.

Waltly says that given the short chainstay, the max chainring will be a 44t unless I go with a plated design (picture is attached). It costs an extra 70 bucks, though I'm not worried about the money; I'm trying to decide if the aesthetics work and if it's worth it from a speed/gear ratio standpoint. I figured I'd throw it out there. Do you guys have any thoughts?

I'm getting a custom Waltly gravel build. I'm going with a 12x142 thru axle, but in order to "future proof" the bike, I'm considering an interchangeable dropout. That adds 80 dollars to the cost of the build (but includes the extra dropout). I figure having the option to swap a 650B between an MTB and Gravel bike might be advantageous. So are there any disadvantages to an interchangeable dropout vs. having the dropout a solid part of the frame? I'm 66 inches and fluctuate between 145 and 160 pounds, just in case that matters for the conversation.