I will asap, mum in law currently here for lunch

And here we go...


Initially it looks good, thanks to all at TanTan/Seraph. Fast delivery with no drama.
Bottom bracket wound in by hand.
Headset bearings are snug. Head tube is 45mm wide at waist.
Brake bosses probably need facing but got a tool for that.
My 37.7 wam rear tyre fits..kinda 😄
Edited, now it's all torqued up properly I've got 3mm Allen key passing either side easily :-)
Front tyre is 33wam with easy 8mm either side.
Reckon it'll be interesting...

Just been sent the torque settings

handlebar bolt = 4NM
seatpost clamp = 5-8NM
saddle clamp front bolt = 3.1NM
saddle clamp rear bolt = 6.1NM
rear hanger = 3NM
Bottle cage hole = 3NM
thru axle = 9-13NM
headset expander = 5NM

Quote from: Pistonbroke on October 04, 2026, 08:34:59 AM
Brake bosses probably need facing but got a tool for that.

What tool do you have for this?

I think I have a frameset coming at some point. In pink of all colors. Don't ask 

Look forward to the review buddy ...I could be happy with a pink bike
Disc and aluminium affair from Ali

Quote from: Pistonbroke on October 04, 2026, 10:16:57 AM
Look forward to the review buddy ...I could be happy with a pink bike
Disc and aluminium affair from Ali

i also use that facing tool. does the job well

Hi folks
It's all looking good and going together very easily.
Hoses and cables threaded really easily.
Faced the brake bosses but it was only a little paint really, nothing drastic.
The only thing that hasn't worked for me is the bars. They are lovely and really well finished but because I'm going to run 1x mechanical (yup, I'm a luddite!)the transition curve from headset to bars is too tight. With bars that integrate the cable internally it's fine so I'm just going to fudge the top cap for now.
Special mention to the headset compression ring, it's a great design and well executed.... Very reminiscent of an original specialized.
Popped a seat on today too. The post is nice, but the folks at the factory could shave fifteen or twenty grams off it by making the top and bottom cradles from carbon.... And I'd happily pay an uplift for that.
The other piccy is in case anyone else is daft enough to run mechanical. It's an easy bodge that cleans up the cable run from the frame to the rear mech. V brake noodle ( if you're old enough to remember them :-) ) and an online cable adjuster.
With a little luck I'll get it up and running for the weekend and report back, but it's looking really good so far!

Quote from: Pistonbroke on October 06, 2026, 11:49:44 AM
The other piccy is in case anyone else is daft enough to run mechanical. It's an easy bodge that cleans up the cable run from the frame to the rear mech. V brake noodle ( if you're old enough to remember them :-) ) and an online cable adjuster.

love the idea. the way the cable exits the frame this is a really really good solution.

i got an old MTB standing around which runs a V brake noodle. if you ever need a spare one ... 

Thanks, appreciate it!

Ok, we're ready for a spin tomorrow.
Build has been very straightforward. Thumbs up to the factory!
Excuse the cockpit, I need to work out reach then I'll get some integrated bars.
Rear tyre is 35mm gp5k. Reiterating 3mm clearance either side at the chainstays. Will keep an eye for witness marks.

Quote from: Pistonbroke on October 07, 2026, 09:40:39 AM

Rear tyre is 35mm gp5k. Reiterating 3mm clearance either side at the chainstays. Will keep an eye for witness marks.

Quote from: Pistonbroke on October 04, 2026, 08:34:59 AM
Front tyre is 33wam with easy 8mm either side.

So, for future reference, this frame clears 37.7m+3+3mm at the back, and 33+8+8 at the front (or 42+3.5+3.5 front)
So, one could argue, it takes an aero front wheel with a conti gp5000 35C on optimized rim (40-42 wide rim), and a non aero optimized conti gp5000 35C at the back (Pistonbroke is running a 26 internal, 33 ext rear wheel).
It's suboptimal at the rear (but the rear matters a lot less than the front aero wise), but in Oct 2026, it's far from being bad. Not too many frames that offer "real" 35C clearance.

All sounds about right
Running Peter's wheels, 26 internal, 33 ext.
May have a look at contis 32mm 111 aero once rollingresistance.com has had its way with it.

Quote from: Pistonbroke on October 07, 2026, 10:55:33 AM
All sounds about right
Running Peter's wheels, 26 internal, 33 ext.
May have a look at contis 32mm 111 aero once rollingresistance.com has had its way with it.

I dont suspect that you were able to measure how much wider the head tube is on this vs the SL9, right? the wonkey steerer on the spesh let them use a narrower headtube, afaik. This is probably worth a handful of watts at 45kmh. would be curious to know how the frame looks side by side vs a real one. The downtube looks super uninspired, it's a bit of a mystery to me how spesh manages to make fast frames while looking brick-aero.

My favourite AI thinks an SL9 is 41-43mm but you'll have to ask Stephen
Sounds possible.

Quote from: Pistonbroke on October 07, 2026, 09:40:39 AM
Thanks, appreciate it!

Ok, we're ready for a spin tomorrow.
Build has been very straightforward. Thumbs up to the factory!
Excuse the cockpit, I need to work out reach then I'll get some integrated bars.
Rear tyre is 35mm gp5k. Reiterating 3mm clearance either side at the chainstays. Will keep an eye for witness marks.

Did you weigh it by any chance?

Sure.
Frame etc weights above
Bike weighs about 7.7kgs
If I put components from my other whip on it would weigh 6.4kgs :-)

Ok folks..... Just done 35k shakedown.
At the risk of being torpedoed by Patty's far more experienced and professional review later on....I think this is a damn good bike.
Nothing went wrong.
It's fast and comfortable. The comfortable may be the 35mm tyre of course.
Handles as you would expect.
I topped out at 65kph and it was perfectly stable.
No tyre witness marks on chainstays.
My sprint isn't going to trouble anyone, low four figures, but it didn't feel like it was being wasted.
Ride was blind so RPE, computer in back pocket, pulled some surprise PB's. I know it doesn't mean anything :-)


Will add to this as things pop in my head.
Look forward to other people's thoughts!

This is worth listening to. I fully appreciate this isn't an SL9, but it's a great look at the reason they designed it the way they have.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6GpLcmRqTxrHE3yvumdD59?si=eYH2z99TT1-vLQcH8Uc3kw&utm_source=copy-link

Went out again today.
Rock solid.
Still think it's fast, comfortable and puts the power down well.
Took a 10% hill climb kom/5000
Very happy with it :-)

Quote from: Pistonbroke on October 08, 2026, 07:45:47 AM
This is worth listening to. I fully appreciate this isn't an SL9, but it's a great look at the reason they designed it the way they have.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6GpLcmRqTxrHE3yvumdD59?si=eYH2z99TT1-vLQcH8Uc3kw&utm_source=copy-link

Couldn't speed up the audio online, so i DLed the mp3.