Weight Cheapie (Chinese crabon fun)

aka the "What Could Possibly Go Wong" bike (racism aside)

Right, last time I weighed my last build (Alfine hubbed 653 fa... slow tourer), it rocked in at 16kg - I still took it round the short course at Paris/Roubaix but spent too much time looking at the behinds of men zip across in lithe lightweight carbon whizzers.

I've always been intrigued by the promise of the no-name chinese carbon frames and wheels as on alibaba etc, so thought I'd have a go at creating a respectfully light (and unbranded) bike and fitting it with Di2 (I hate deraillers (hence the previous build as an alfine)) though a colleagues eulogising about the new reasonably priced electric shifting piqued my interest enough to give it a go.

Like a nerd (why not?) I started to amalgamate a list of parts (noting their weights - not as a target though hopefully indicative) and ordered them this week. I'm pushing 95kgs so I'm not scrimping too much weight wise.

I looked at the similarly priced alternatives (Wiggle ventura and the Dolan Tuono), though none of the specs are quite what I was after.

Groupset: Ultegra Di2 (£1050/2620g)
http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/road-parts/transmission/groupsets-road-bike/shimano-ultegra-di2-groupset.html

Frame: Ebay Chinese no-name (£373/1100g)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2013-new-full-carbon-bike-bicycle-frameset-internal-cable-frameset-RB006-56cm-/150837285620?pt=Road_Bikes&hash=item231e9a52f4

Forks: With frame (£0/410g
Headset: Order through frame purchaser for $15, guessed weight (£10/150g)

Handlebars: Ebay (£110/410g)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/full-carbon-computer-mount-included-integrated-road-bike-handlebar-/280946459184?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4169b6c230

Wheelset: AliExpress. Chinny reckon on weight, though he assured me it's accurate! (£415/1430g)
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/700c-50mm-carbon-clincher-wheels-alloy-brake-Aerodynamic-shape-design/103713_848284657.html

Bottle cages: Ebay (£16/34g)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271159417030?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

Saddle: Ebay (£41.36/232g)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/129-Road-Bike-Titanium-Carbon-Padded-Saddle-Bicycle-Seat-232-Grams-/290824932803?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item43b6844dc3

Bar tape: Botranger (£20.00/90g) http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bontrager/2013-isozone-padding-with-black-bar-tape-ec044737#features

Tyres: GP 4000s (£66.48/460g)
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/continental-grand-prix-4000s-road-tyre/

Inner Tubes: Conti (£15.00/126g)
http://www.probikekit.co.uk/bicycle-inner-tubes/continental-race-28-light-road-inner-tube-700-x-18-25mm/10782208.html

Spacers: Ebay (£4/15g)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=271187177720

Brake Cabling (£31/205g) http://www.evanscycles.com/products/shimano/dura-ace-ptfe-brake-cable-set-ec042965?utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=froogle&utm_campaign=froogle&utm_content=mkwid__pcrid_17321847296_kword__match__plid_

Pedals: Shim Ultegra (£105.00/260g)
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-ultegra-pd-6700-carbon-spd-sl-road-pedals/

Total £2250/7.6kg ish.

I say it's been ordered - only the overseas stuff has been so would love to hear suggestions for the completing bits (or any other stuff I've missed off).

There is a significant chance this'll probably turn to shit so feel free to get in the early obligatory "I told you so" posts about being cheap :)

7.6kg sounds a bit fat?

Yeah I can't deny I've been more than tempted by chinese carbon, some of the track/road frames seem a steal.

I wouldn't order a wheelset though, hub bearings > importance than rim weight/aero, at least once you start pulling around that kind of cayshh.

I like the Chinese approach and it can be done well you'd find more chinese builds on WW and BR than here.

Although Wiggle's own brand Di2 carbon bike is £2200 and if anything goes wrong their customer support is much more within reach than of the chinese. You can always upgrade to chinese wheels and finishing kit etc. later.

f+f dont seem that light?

i have cosidered this, but.....
why not just buy a 2-3 year old top notch frame for slightly more?
tested by good reviewers on the net, and went through the horrifying pro tours..

but i'll subscribe anyway, still curious how it turns out! :)

Don';t get me wrong, it would get laughed out of WW town - the purpose wasn't to be as light as possible, just light-ish!

Plus I hate most bike branding and take too much pleasure building the things to take an off the shelf number - I entirely expect to regret that decision when the forks don't fit or crack on the first test drive! I looked at the Wiggle, though that was even superseded by the Dolan bike, though they didn't get back to me to tell me they had my size in, so went for the plunge and went for the unbranded route.

The integrated stem and bars is an interesting one, at 410g its quite a bit heavier than (say) an alloy Arx team (120g) and carbon ergonova's (180g) where I would have expected it to be lighter.

Interesting project.

aka the "What Could Possibly Go Wong" bike (racism aside)

Right, last time I weighed my last build (Alfine hubbed 653 fa... slow tourer), it rocked in at 16kg - I still took it round the short course at Paris/Roubaix but spent too much time looking at the behinds of men zip across in lithe lightweight carbon whizzers.

I've always been intrigued by the promise of the no-name chinese carbon frames and wheels as on alibaba etc, so thought I'd have a go at creating a respectfully light (and unbranded) bike and fitting it with Di2 (I hate deraillers (hence the previous build as an alfine)) though a colleagues eulogising about the new reasonably priced electric shifting piqued my interest enough to give it a go.

Like a nerd (why not?) I started to amalgamate a list of parts (noting their weights - not as a target though hopefully indicative) and ordered them this week. I'm pushing 95kgs so I'm not scrimping too much weight wise.

I looked at the similarly priced alternatives (Wiggle ventura and the Dolan Tuono), though none of the specs are quite what I was after.

Groupset: Ultegra Di2 (£1050/2620g)
http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/road-parts/transmission/groupsets-road-bike/shimano-ultegra-di2-groupset.html

Frame: Ebay Chinese no-name (£373/1100g)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2013-new-full-carbon-bike-bicycle-frameset-internal-cable-frameset-RB006-56cm-/150837285620?pt=Road_Bikes&hash=item231e9a52f4

Forks: With frame (£0/410g
Headset: Order through frame purchaser for $15, guessed weight (£10/150g)

Handlebars: Ebay (£110/410g)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/full-carbon-computer-mount-included-integrated-road-bike-handlebar-/280946459184?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4169b6c230

Wheelset: AliExpress. Chinny reckon on weight, though he assured me it's accurate! (£415/1430g)
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/700c-50mm-carbon-clincher-wheels-alloy-brake-Aerodynamic-shape-design/103713_848284657.html

Bottle cages: Ebay (£16/34g)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271159417030?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

Saddle: Ebay (£41.36/232g)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/129-Road-Bike-Titanium-Carbon-Padded-Saddle-Bicycle-Seat-232-Grams-/290824932803?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item43b6844dc3

Bar tape: Botranger (£20.00/90g) http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bontrager/2013-isozone-padding-with-black-bar-tape-ec044737#features

Tyres: GP 4000s (£66.48/460g)
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/continental-grand-prix-4000s-road-tyre/

Inner Tubes: Conti (£15.00/126g)
http://www.probikekit.co.uk/bicycle-inner-tubes/continental-race-28-light-road-inner-tube-700-x-18-25mm/10782208.html

Spacers: Ebay (£4/15g)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=271187177720

Brake Cabling (£31/205g) http://www.evanscycles.com/products/shimano/dura-ace-ptfe-brake-cable-set-ec042965?utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=froogle&utm_campaign=froogle&utm_content=mkwid__pcrid_17321847296_kword__match__plid_

Pedals: Shim Ultegra (£105.00/260g)
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-ultegra-pd-6700-carbon-spd-sl-road-pedals/

Total £2250/7.6kg ish.

I say it's been ordered - only the overseas stuff has been so would love to hear suggestions for the completing bits (or any other stuff I've missed off).

There is a significant chance this'll probably turn to shit so feel free to get in the early obligatory "I told you so" posts about being cheap :)

meh - I've seen deals for last years Cannondale Supersix di2 for £2400. You can also buy a Canyon AL with di2 for less than you're spending here.

The integrated stem and bars is an interesting one, at 410g its quite a bit heavier than (say) an alloy Arx team (120g) and carbon ergonova's (180g) where I would have expected it to be lighter.

Interesting project.

integrated bar/stem combos are fucking pointless. Buyers choice.

The integrated stem and bars is an interesting one, at 410g its quite a bit heavier than (say) an alloy Arx team (120g) and carbon ergonova's (180g) where I would have expected it to be lighter.

Interesting project.

Sure...Though I'd only save 100g of only-slightly-moving mass and have more brand names plastered over my bike. I thought (think!) the integrated bars look pretty tbh. I love a 'clean line'.

Black marker pen would be cheaper/lighter no?

Looking forward to seeing how this turns out....tempted to do similar, but probably with 105to save ££'s

this is the deal I'm talking about:
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s6p4329/CANNONDALE-SUPERSIX-ULTEGRA-DI2-2012
£2399 in 54cm or 56cm. Massive bargain.

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

The whole "where's the fun/desirability in buying an otp Cannondale" point is a bit disregarded here I suppose then.

(That one on dan's link was considered, though I'm 6ft3 so they didn't have my size. And it's got some textbook grim cycle-to-work-scheme-evans-carbon-I'm-from-Richmond-my-other-bikes-a-brompton look/feel to it. I do know very little about bikes though tbf!)

Groupset: Ultegra Di2... Frame: Ebay Chinese no-name...

Thats the spirit of adventure sir.

Be interesting to watch developments.

Building a bike from new parts will always be more expensive but its great to get what you want. Got my Canyon AL (love it) but have changed a fair few things on it (stem, saddle, bar tape, brakes, tyres etc.) and its not perfect so ££££ could be about the same as going diy.

This is going to look mighty interesting, can't wait for dat stuff to come!

I am on my second charbon frame now. Sold the first one after one summer of riding - only because it was bit too large. Now the second one has also performed well. This far I don't have any regrets. I really love the whole "no logo"-attitude. It is big fu to the industry, bit like fixies where back in the day. I have been able to buy components that I would not had the opportunity buy on a brand name bike. What's not to like?

My unbranded carbon bike with sram rival came in at just over 7kg.

The whole "where's the fun/desirability in buying an otp Cannondale" point is a bit disregarded here I suppose then.

(That one on dan's link was considered, though I'm 6ft3 so they didn't have my size. And it's got some textbook grim cycle-to-work-scheme-evans-carbon-I'm-from-Richmond-my-other-bikes-a-brompton look/feel to it. I do know very little about bikes though tbf!)

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 really love the whole "no logo"-attitude. It is big fu to the industry, bit like fixies where back in the day.

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.

There is a significant chance this'll probably turn to shit so feel free to get in the early obligatory "I told you so" posts about being cheap :)

Nah, it'll be fine. I've got a crabbon fibber frame which is now in service as my winter trainer with Campag Veloce on it - hence it's now the Crabboni Fibboni. IME the Chinese open mould frames are generally decent quality kit. There's a whole lot of bollocks wittered about frames and forks as if there's some voodoo magic in their construction. I reckon you'll enjoy the bike when it's done, and if you don't, well, you gave it a go. 'spect.

off topic @ dan Canyon was founded in 2002. But if you measure the technical competence based on the staff then they certainly have years of experience as they secured some well respected frame designers at start up