Three and a half years later, the paint hasn't held up all that well. There are a number of chips, and I gave up on touching them up after a while. It appears that the issue is with the Montana Cans colors not sticking tot he primer, as the primer is solid everywhere. I may have sanded the primer too finely so the top layer didn't have much bite.

Can anyone help me?
I've only ever built with J-Bend spokes and aluminium rims before but now I've just got some nice carbon rims to build up (Front 24H / Rear 28H)
One of the hubs I'm considering is the Goldix R180 but it is straight-pull spokes and although I can get dimensioned drawings of the hubs, the one piece of information I cannot find is whether the spoke holes are angled for 2-cross, 3-cross or something else?
Anyone out these with any input ?

I don't have any experience with those hubs, but most 24H wheels will be 2-cross.

Can you fit 45 or 50mm tyre?

No. They claim 42 mm is the maximum. I have WTB Byways that measure just shy of 44 mm and that is very tight. I wouldn't ride tires that wide if mud is a possibility.

Were you seated while riding downhill? On my gravel bike, I'm always out of saddle on the downhills mainly for balance. Though it probably saves my seat posts from snapping as well.

I'm curious what amount of force is needed to snap a carbon seat post.

I was actually riding uphill on a somewhat rocky trail when I heard the crack. I'm also usually out of the saddle when descending. I do take that bike on some bumpy trails - more easy singletrack than actual gravel. I'm also about 95 kg, so that's asking a lot of a seatpost.


No issues with the one on my road bike though, and I've had that one for longer.

I'm another happy GR02 owner. The welds and paint look really good and I had no issues building the frame up. Mine is mostly a commuter but I haven't had any problems with it.

Tideacebike

The Tsunami / Seaboard GR02 is another option, although it's a bit more of an all-road bike than gravel (42mm official max tire clearance, although may have been increased?). I have one for my commuter and it's been great - no issues building it up, and the paint and welds look good.


I only found one link for it, but I didn't search very hard:
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256808732162134.html


You can get it direct from Tsunami as well, with more color and size options:
https://tsunamibicycle.com/product-category/products/tsunami-fixie-frameset-road-bike-frameset-gravel-frameset/multiple-speed-frameset/gravel-frameset/aluminum-alloy-gravel-bike-disc-brake-700c-internal-cabling/