Weight Cheapie (Chinese crabon fun)

For over £2k just buy yourself a CAAD10 or a Canyon if you want lightweight

It's not really an exercise in being lightweight...The only real stipulation was di2 and carbon* (and, tbh, internal wiring).

(*or titanium - though their (another Chinese supplier) frames had a 3 month lead time, and their version of 'internal cabling' meant 'drill a hole in the frame'. As an aside, if this does go to pot, I can recycle most of the components on a 'proper' ti frame or one of the premium (953/XCR/Ti) metal ones if I'm feeling flush (and patient) one day from Enigma or somesuch) I just cba to spend shitloads (and wait!) for something I'm not as invigoured (sp) about. It's a more realistic ride so I can give my upcoming sportives this year some proper ooomph with decent, modern componentry.

(I've also got a Colnago Oval CX I'm awaiting a respray (and completing a full set of pantographed components from ebay) which is a more pressing (and passion inducing) project)

Thats the spirit of adventure sir.

Haha! It's not pushing the envelope I admit.

I suppose it depends on what you want - if you want a bike that has years and years of R&D, race proven geometry, great finishing kit, warranty and manufacturer quality control systems then you want the Cannondale / Specialized / Canyon blah blah.

If you want a fake handbag with, with a Di2 vajazzle, no research, no development, no customer service, no warranty and a similar price tag, then you want your ebay spare parts convention.

I get that, and it is a gamble to swerve the potential customer service of the Wiggle/Dolan (and there was a Ribble) bargain frame, but frankly I have the opinion these companies wanting to knock out a 2k di2 frame are simply subcontracting out to a Chinese firm to do what I'm doing (as cheap as possible), only in bulk and adding some unwanted graphics. Who's more motivated and controlled, CarbonKing2k making frames on his Wiggle contract, or contract selling through Alibaba (Ebay) (with their visible feedback)? I just don't think the gulf is as big as you'd think.I'm not in the price point for a Madone or a Dogma.

I wholeheartedly admit I'm cutting corners on this project. It's completely different to my approach on others that I've got stuck in to.

No, it really isn't. It's akin to putting some leccy tape over the silver piece of fruit on the back of your phone. You're still ordering a brand new frame from the other end of the earth, made in a country that throws up power stations like apartment blocks.
A "big fu" would be to build your own frame.

Whilst I don't think I'm sticking it to the man going direct, I do think the transparency of the carbon frame industry has benefitted the public in keeping the manufacturers' prices in check. Tbh it's why I've never been too enthused about carbon bikes (Steel is Reel maaan). It's all so soulless.