New York Mets v2 - Carbonda Di2

Don't have to ask me twice to get another tool to add to the box, but which one? Will the Park Tool FR-5.2GT do the job? Is there a cheaper alternative out there because I'm a cheapskate

Wheelset 1 - For the days I want a plush ride and mooching about on mild gravel roads. Thanks to @broken_777 for the excellent job building up the wheels and opening my eyes to blue hubs to match the bike. Kinlin TL-23 650b rims on Sapim Sprint spokes and the centre piece, Hope RS4 hubs in blue! Mounted on, 650bx1.5" Gravelking slicks.

Bugger, did't line up the logos properly on the rear

I don't know if I'll be able to manage cycling with the logos being offline. I'll need to remount these.

1.5" are going to look really skinny on this, go 2" G one Speed.

Next payday maybe, we'll see how this plays with the bike. One perk of the 1.5 is that the bike will be a little closer to the ground as the overall size is close to 23x700c which means the toptube is less likely to fowl up my nuts when I stop at lights. At present, with the 28x700c tyres, it was getting a touch close for comfort.

Bike is ready for collection from the bike shop. Super excited, first ride out tomorrow morning.

And here it is, presently in road mode with HED Ardennes Plus GP Disc

I'm particularly happy with the bar tape, Bontrager Velvetack Reflective, for that added touch of visibility. Has a slightly suede feel to it which is a change from the normally tacky rubbery bartape that I'm used it.

Bad timing though with lots of OT at work stopping me from going out to properly test the bike out and flying off to Poland on the weekend for a fortnight.

Spec list:
Carbonda CFR-505 frameset, inc the headset, axles and seatpost.
ST-R785 shifters with BR-RS805 brake calipers
Ultegra R8000 chainset, R8050 front/rear (med cage) derailleurs
Ultegra 11-32 cassette to help get my fat ass up hills (might get the 11-34 when this one gets worn out
HED Ardenne GP Plus with Conti Grandsport (to be replaced with tubeless tyres when I'm back)
Fabric Scoop radius carbon saddle

Looks amazing! Would you be able to shed light on the build cost too?

I don't think theres an appropiate enough GIF to highlight how much I want to dig my head in the ground in response to that quuestion. ;)

The frameset costs me £550 or so, need to check my PayPal to get the exact amount. This obviously will vary depending on the exchange rates.
The groupset probably costs me roughly £900. This was a mixture of used parts bought of this jolly forum and new from various sources depending on who had it cheapest. I think in the end I bought mostly from Wiggle, Bike24 and SigmaSport.
Wheels and tyres were off eBay for £300 which was a bargain as they are pretty much brand new, got lucky there.
Saddle I got ages ago at a bike show at discount, I think it was £80.
All told, this was about £1,800. I hadn't planned initially to go Di2, and up to the 11th hour I was primed to get the mechanical Ultegra (or the new 105 in June if I had the patience) which would have bumped ~£250 off and the HEDs were an impulse buy as I had a wheelset on loan from a mate. If I had gone in that direction, the build would have come to around £1250 or there abouts.

and weight

9.05kg in it's current guise

£300 which was a bargain as they are pretty much brand new, got lucky there.

They are from a Cervelo OTP. You can’t buy them with Hed written on both sides of the rim unless they’re OEM ones afaik. I’ve got the same set but I didn’t pay 300

Thanks. Makes me contemplate one especially after Amey's glowing reviews too.

Think it's best I don't ask how much you paid for yours. Ignorance is bliss.

300 is a good price :) they’re 6 or 700 new normally

Phew, didn't get ripped off then. That's a relief, or you're being to keep me and are actually rolling on the floor laughing :)

Lived up to expectations, hope you enjoy getting out on it!

Amey's review, and the generally positive feedback from other users on Gravel Riding forums swayed me. I was initially going down the route of the Specialized Diverge with it's Futureshock gubbins, but then I balked at the price, and ultimately much prefer getting the bits and pieces together for a bike. This time however, I didn't trust myself to do the build so took it into my local LBS.

Hopefully. This being the first time riding Di2, no doubt there will be lots of comedic accidental shifts and finding myself on a stupid gear going up hill and grinding to a halt. Come to think of it, that's not too different to how I currently ride :/

Its the bike I have had the longest and still going strong which says something given how fickle I can be. Maybe the bike is shit and I have grown up ..

Next on my list, Chinese carbon bottle cages.

I like the look of these. I'd like the blue, but I don't think it will match the shade of blue on the bike so will settle on the black or white cages.

Another option are these, but I can't help but feel I'll find a way to stab myselt with these.

Tyre choice considerations. Was going to go for G-One Speeds or Hutchinson Secteur 28s/32s for the days I want to entertain going fast, but now wondering if I should just bin such thoughts and go 38/40 slicks and laugh at the pothole rutted streets of the UK. Thoughts?

Speed has nothing to do with tyre width

This^ still smashing cat6 on my 42Cs