Game over for Chinese carbon bike build its been a great 21 months, I’ve got forks for sale and headset bearings etc
the frame is going to be cut in half to see the quality and I’ll make a video doing it, see what they built it like
come visit my new site its been fun chating
Well that’s it spares available 👍 seat post, forks seat clamp 7mm and 9mm
I’ve just ordered its replacement Ridley helium SL 15 in matte black / green finally a climbing bike 🙈 no excuses any more !!!
The local bike shop has the fizik test saddles in and after wasting money on adamo, full carbon and others I thought its best to fully try one or two out prior to splashing more cash 🙂
#RideCoventry
Above saddle no good so trying the 3rd in the series for BULLS 🙂
Going for comfort over weight these days even with top end shorts
Well the time has come the frame has done me proud and been fairly reliable but I just fancy THE REAL DEAL !
I want to find out if the real deal rides better with less round BUZZ etc
SO my hit list its got to be a lightweight job for climbing 🙂
Needs to take the ROTOR crank 30mm (important as I’m not buying a new crankset)
Cannondale hi-mod evo weight 695g (2014 model £1400)
Trek Emonda SLR 690g (but £3000 and 3 month wait)
Scott addict 790g + 300g forks (£1200 in the sale or £2400 RRP)
Its not a carbon frame but its hopefully lightweight and an upgrade so I thought I’d share my findings on some cheaper options to lose 100grms of your head 🙂 I’ve had a shoulder issue for a while so losing anything will HELP !!!
So the options (please tell me if there’s anything else ???) my current KASK KS 10B lid weights in at 280g A quick scan you can get a good lid around 190-210g OK its not going to save you lots but every little helps and I fancy a new summer lid for the ALPE D’Huez tour in Sept 2015
Limar ultralight+ 104 pops up £88 4/5 bikeradar rating 210g
Ranking (R91) feather 190g (probikekit) depends on colour/size £52-£110 – nice bright blue in XL is £77.25
decisions decisions
Ranking in blue bought last night couldn’t wait but while searching I laughed at how assos can rebrand the ranking feather and add a bit more profit
http:// www.wiggle.co.uk/assos-jingo-g1-road-helmet/
👍 money making machines the swiss
Save yourself a few quid and use you local bearing supplier order some 6806-2RS 30x42x7 (BB30 secret code lol)
I use a good service on ebay – Rulla Bearings check it out if your UK based
More R-041 tinkering I’ve not been happy with the rear cable for battery and front DR running through between frame and wheel cable tied in, so last week I decided it was time to drill out the front DL cable hole so it could take 2 Di2 wires, it didn’t take much and for me looks 100% better, not sure why velobuild didn’t make it bigger but I guess its really built for cables rather than Di2.
Quick video on YOUTUBE bike still going not sure strong but going 🙂
The stats show we get loads of views on wordpress but not many comments, come on all share your thoughts on here or youtube. any issues share them hopefully somebody can solve it. As we all know these frames don’t come hassle free there’s always some tinkering to be done.
I’ve started doing a few climbing videos on the R-041 mainly practice for the ALPS trip September 2015 🙂 I honestly wish it was 2morro I can’t wait its like Christmas day for a 3 year old 🙂
Check out my cycling hills & mountains playlist, the R-041 is an aero bike but for me it feels good on the climbs maybe a pure lightweight climbing bike would be a better option. I read that the TREK emonda is 690g WOW super super light (Lottery win required)
Anyway check out my climbing VIDEOS HERE I’ll always add OVERLAY it makes it more fun seeing power. cadence and so on and hopefully not stop like I did up the BURWAY, Shropshire with the wrong gearing 😦
Please share your videos lets get a little youtube appreciation going 🙂 leave a link in the comments – come its fun
I’ve been having a few issues with feeling over stretched since I raised the seat post and with the new carbon SMP saddle rammed fully forward I had no where go to so after reading about TT setup in a cycling mag (Tony Martins venge with turned around seatpost) I thought it must be worth a go 🙂
Here’s my strava effort 16.7 miles HERE I’ve not been hitting very good power figures since I moved the seat up but my climbing has been more comfortable any clues ?? stressing the muscles less maybe ??
anyway it works and the post fits both ways which is nice and I know have about 1 1/5 inches left to move forward over the originally zero movement available 🙂
I did a quick video earlier this morning with the adaption of the original velobuild clamp and the specialized part (eg mixed and matched) ** WATCH IT HERE **
The original has a bigger dimension compared to the spesh part, the spesh part slips to far in and then grinds away at the metal inside (slips further when riding however you tighten it)
After last weekends busted seat bolt (over tightened big time) It needed more though.
I’ve been using my old planet x on the turbo when the bad weather and lack of baby sitter came about. So a week and half back I purchased some TACX rollers to use with the main bike so I could get power figures and make the training more accurate, but after the repair on the bottom bracket I did 30 mins on the rollers and the CRACK / OUTLINE reappeared 😦
So I’m wondering if the R041 just can’t handle it maybe its found the weak spot in the frame sitting on a certain wattage for 30 mins ?? any ideas ??
So I’ve been scanning around for a new frame question is do I again go direct/cheap and stump for the Chinese frame ? or go branded and hopefully have zero issues.
frame choices that catch my eye
Ridley Noah fast WOW, Giant propel HERE £1500, Giant TCR, velobuild R-016 currently £285 or $429 + postage I like the idea of super light
Genuine Venge fact11 carbon job HERE snip at £2600 about 5 x R041 frames from China 🙂 bargain different frame every 2-3 months 🙂
Chinese Carbon Bike Build 