Weight Cheapie (Chinese crabon fun)

You've all got the wrong idea- get yourself a frame that was last competitive in 2007 then spend a fortune constantly upgrading it.

lol

You've all got the wrong idea- get yourself a frame that was last competitive in 2007 then spend a fortune constantly upgrading it.

It would be funny if someone were to actually do this.

if Planet X did a di2 bike I'd probably bite their hand off.

For good or bad I just visited their showroom and they seemed very willing to upgrade groupsets etc... on a frame of your choice. Doubt it would come in at the same price point you are working to Dan W.

Ive always wondered what these cheap chinese frames would be like, keep up the build should be good

Just to be helpfull. There is a mamoth thread on roadbikereview. Well series of threads. ARegarding sourcing carbon frames etc. from the east.

You've all got the wrong idea- get yourself a frame that was last competitive in 2007 then spend a fortune constantly upgrading it.

A cleverer idea would be to take the heaviest frame and forks, used on the pro circuit in recent years, and spend a fortune on weight weenie parts.

Like Team Sky?

zing

All of that said I really do enjoy being out on my obsolete "piece of shit", so sometimes it works.

I read this last week and only just thought to put it in this thread.

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/fake-bike-kit-costing-industry-millions-a-year-37212/

Spesh seem to be one of the most litigious and ruthless brands on the bike biz, I'd take that article with a fair bit of salt.

oof

I built up one of these Chinese frames last year, with a Force groupset, in a similar mindset. I wanted to find out if these frames really were the hidden gems that some forums suggest, and if a light-ish, cheap-ish, and reliable bike could be possible. And building bikes is fun.

I managed <7.6kg for <£1,300 with all new parts and it hasn't exploded yet, so a success of sorts.

Good luck

Well most of the chinese-sourced parts have arrived. Whilst I don't have a particularly good eye for construction etc (the proof, of course will be in the riding) but it looks ok.

Communication has been nothing short of superb though. They nail the "comforting the nervous/suspicious westerner" side of things very well.

Got any pics?

Loving the thread, can't wait to see how it goes.

Be careful and check everything to the best of your ability or get someone in the know to do it, carbon failures are not fun, trust me on this one.

I'm probably going to give it to a mechanic to put together.

I'm not too bad with connecting x bone to y, though stuff like grease/lubing and (more importantly on this one) the various torque concerns are perhaps left to a pro.

Does anyone have any recommendations for guys that will (in London)? The less they'll look down on me for buying chinese and/or not from the shop the better...

Got any pics?

I'll hopefully lay it all out and photo/weigh/log all the components before I pit it together. For now everything's in boxes etc.

Everything's been purchased new and specifically for this build (it's my first non-steel classicy thing) so will be able to give a full final run down.

I'm probably going to give it to a mechanic to put together.

I'm not too bad with connecting x bone to y, though stuff like grease/lubing and (more importantly on this one) the various torque concerns are perhaps left to a pro.

Does anyone have any recommendations for guys that will (in London)? The less they'll look down on me for buying chinese and/or not from the shop the better...
Brixton Cycles.

Or buy a torque wrench.

I'm probably going to give it to a mechanic to put together.

I'm not too bad with connecting x bone to y, though stuff like grease/lubing and (more importantly on this one) the various torque concerns are perhaps left to a pro.

Does anyone have any recommendations for guys that will (in London)? The less they'll look down on me for buying chinese and/or not from the shop the better...

I'm sure BLB have no problem with Chinese carbon...

Although I wouldn't trust them with so much as changing a tyre.

It's best to learn how to do it yourself and to buy a torque wrench but I mean get the carbon checked over :)

Also carbon assembly grease is useful to have around.

In that part of town I'd recommend Cyclelab and Juice Bar on Pitfield Street.

http://www.tokyofixed.co.uk/media/wysiwyg/price.png

^Or not?!

I wonder if this price list would've changed as they're no longer TF.