Orient Express - Cheap Chinese Rims / Wheels / Forks / Frames / Cranks / Etc

what are the options for a cheap carbon frame with a relatively high stack?

Canyon endurace CF

The 58 looks spot on stack and reach wise. Not sure it fits the criteria of cheap though...

They say FM066 is a copy of R3; it is in every aspect except for geo .. its like a supersix for geo. I think FM296 is Cervelo geometry; I am not 100% though. Contact one of the suppliers and ask for a geo chart; they publish stack and reach better than most brands.

These guys have a geo chart for the same frame(?). And a website that isn't shit.

They've even got test reports.

i saw on ww the fm296 is based on a madone. could be wrong mind

My hong fu headset seems screwed up or am I doing something wrong? Never used expanding bung before...

No matter how tight I go the spacers are still free to spin on the steerer and the whole set up doesnt feel very tight. I have one spacer a few mm above the top of the steerer. Am I doing it wrong?

Did you expand the bung before bolting the top cap on? Mine required an allen key in the same hole as the topcap bolt, which confused me wildly when I took it all apart and had totally forgotten.

try with a bigger spacer on top

Expander bung tightening > stem > top cap tightening > stem bolt tightening

If you follow that order with a torque wrench you'll be fine. Spacer/tester cap on top is advisable.

Pardon my ignorance, but are the expander bung and top cap bolt not one and the same thing?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQe9TJJq1PE

The top cap bolt pulls between the top-cap and [something stuck in the steerer].

A starfangle can't not be stuck, but the expander bung needs to be tightened so it's stuck in the steerer.

to what torque may i ask

Stem bolt will usually be around 5Nm but should be written on the stem. Expander plug bolt is as much as is necessary to stop it slipping upwards, but 5-8Nm should be fine. The torque for the stem cap bolt isn't really done by torque - it's enough to tighten up the headset bearings without having any play in them. Best done by feel rather than torque.

Unless you're the chap who did the pre-sale check on the bike I got my father from Cycle Surgery who diligently checked the torque on the stem cap bolt, despite the fact the stem was already securely in place. I didn't have the heart to tell him he was wasting his time.

Cross post from my CP thread.
From Xiamen with love (just before Chinese new year)!
30mm x 23mm Farsports clinchers, 24/28H, 3k matte, 880g/set+/-20g, 312US$/set.
The product no is FSC30-CM-23 if anyone is interested.

@sensom done good!

Woo, cheers @amey !

Mocked it up in the picture with a Selle Team saddle which I may end up purchasing, given the fact it looks so boss.

Just took it out for a test ride, and I'm really impressed. It seems a fair bit lighter than the caad10, and is certainly more comfortable. It's early stages but the bottom bracket feels slightly less stiff than its aluminium forebear, but is plenty stiff enough. When I have a not mega heavy aluminium seat post and crap saddle it should be significantly different (or not).

Building it was as hassle free as you could ask for, and I wired the di2 myself this time. Managed to get the junction box neatly connected to all four cables and tucked into the front BB shell hole (that's what she said).

Initial negatives are that the seat post I ordered with it seems to have been made by someone different, and that someone retarded that absolutely hates making seatposts that aren't bowed and drilled in the wrong places.

There's slightly more of a gap between the crown race and lower headset bearing than Id like, but it's in solidly so I'm not worried about it.

Is that the manganese or carbon railed one? It's a very cool saddle

I bought a set of real life £300 handlebars just for the LOLZ.
I'm gonna get rid of the ENVE logo and paint 'REAL LIFE £300 HANDLEBARS' on instead.

I will offer this service to those who have bought cheapo £30 knock offs.
The cost of this service will be only £270.

They pay you too much money.

awaits "Now I'm out of the cash hole that is London" post

Just realised the conversation that post was in response to was ages ago. MAD FACEPALM.

Offer still stands tho...

Needs painting, that does....

London is not a cash hole.
It is a money pit.