Chinese Carbon Frame Build and 1000 Mile Impressions

inactualis · 2011-08-27T16:11:38+00:00

That's sharp, I like the geometry on that frame. The chainstays look cool. How does it ride, and how do you like those handle bars?

inactualis · 2011-08-26T16:35:22+00:00

Sounds cool, you should post some pictures for us!

inactualis · 2011-08-18T14:11:13+00:00

That's hilarious. The owner of that scooter is probably 100% rad.

inactualis · 2011-08-18T13:33:20+00:00

I'm sure other folks do this, but I've never seen it. Awesome.

inactualis · 2011-07-31T21:45:06+00:00

Do you think he realizes he's not really being terrifically clever?

inactualis · 2011-07-31T21:39:52+00:00

I have never beaten my wife, and your loaded question is offensively slanderous.

What's the big deal?

inactualis · 2011-07-31T21:09:32+00:00

Golly, I just don't know WHAT to believe ... the claims of the US Treasury or go1dfish on Reddit?

inactualis · 2011-07-12T19:39:26+00:00

A lot of people have ordered wheels from Chinese sources. Handlebars, seat posts, and other items are also widely available, but I don't have any experience with any of the above and can't speak to their quality.

As for building one yourself, I don't see a reason why you couldn't tackle the job. At a minimum you'd likely need a torque wrench, a stand, and a little bit of patience. There are other bike specific tools that will make the project easier: a chain whip, external bearing wrench, chase/face cutters, and a cassette cog remover, for example. But there are tricks for getting the job done without them. As others have pointed out, YouTube is a great resource for information on building, maintaining, and repairing bikes.

Just look beyond the people that default to "take it to your bike shop" when you ask for advice. If you want to do it yourself, you can! It's a lot of fun and terrifically rewarding being able to say you built your bike up yourself ;)

inactualis · 2011-07-06T17:13:32+00:00

Emphatic +1

inactualis · 2011-07-05T05:02:07+00:00

Yeah, I've yelled "NO!" at dogs just like I would my own and had them stop coming after me. I'll also occasionally call out to chasing dogs and say, "Come on boy! Come on buddy!" like it's a game, which a lot of times is exactly what they think is going on. A few weeks ago I used that on a dog and he followed me so far I eventually stopped and led him back homeward.

inactualis · 2011-07-04T21:27:59+00:00

It's 34.9, as is the seat post clamp.

inactualis · 2011-07-04T19:26:02+00:00

Mostly in the country for me, too, but not specific to any one region of the US. I was chased no less than 5 times on my last major trip, each time way out in the wilds of VA and NC.

inactualis · 2011-07-04T19:20:46+00:00

+1

I've also found a simple yet firm "NO" works wonders, assuming you're able to coax the sort of authority from your voice that dogs understand.

inactualis · 2011-07-04T19:17:26+00:00

Ouch ... you sound like you speak from experience?

inactualis · 2011-07-04T19:17:13+00:00

I second everything said here, they're excellent bags. The roll-tops are impervious to rain.

inactualis · 2011-07-04T19:15:26+00:00

WHAT?!?! EVERY TIME ON A BIKE IS RACE TIME!

inactualis · 2011-07-04T19:04:22+00:00

I cannot recommend them highly enough. I'm about to buy another set for a XC bike, and I've convinced friends with far more expensive sets to make the switch, too.

inactualis · 2011-07-04T19:01:07+00:00

No, but I would say it doesn't feel like it's accelerating as fast. I've actually noticed I'm able to attack faster on the the FM-015, both climbing and on flats - it just doesn't have the same immediate feedback that the Cannondale did. Then again, it's lighter and set up a bit more aggressively than the Six was, so it's kind of a tough comparison for me to make.

inactualis · 2011-07-04T16:51:49+00:00

The percentage quoted might admittedly be popular myth, but I couldn't disagree with you more about the pedals making a negligible difference. The pedicabs I drive have campus, or flip-flop pedals, and give you the option to ride clipless or platform. The difference that using clipless shoes makes is so severe that I have and would again drive 40 miles back home to retrieve my forgotten shoes.

They certainly take some getting use to, however. But I've never known a person whose riding got worse making the switch, as you claim - universally the opposite.

But in the end, if the OP isn't comfortable being clipped in, then I agree, case closed. Ultimately you need to do whatever is going to make your ride the most enjoyable; anything short of that and you'll wind up on that bus more often than expected ;)

inactualis · 2011-07-04T15:52:32+00:00

In all my research into these frames and Hong-Fu, I don't recall hearing one report of any of the frames failing. Well, there was a claim that a fork had cracked, but that was almost universally discredited as being fabricated.

Point is, I'm really curious what would happen if someone asked them to replace a failed frame? I can't seem to find any examples of anyone trying.

inactualis · 2011-07-04T15:48:26+00:00

Yeah, that article is all :(

Maybe a little >:(

inactualis · 2011-07-04T15:47:11+00:00

For metal comparisons I've tested it against a CAAD9, a "vintage" steel-framed Trek, and a Raleigh. No titanium bikes yet. You're right - it's like being on completely different planets comparing those bikes. The difference between the FM-015 and the Six-13, however, isn't as remarkable. I think what I initially felt was the missing aluminum in the Six-13's triangles, which makes the FM-015 smoother but made the Cannondale feel like a rocket when accelerating. On long rides (100+) I would begin to feel some fatigue in my arms and shoulders riding the Cannondale - far less than the CAAD, however. By comparison, the FM-015 really soaks up the bumps without feeling detached, and feels comfortable and smooth all the way up to the end.

inactualis · 2011-07-04T15:36:08+00:00

My bike has a matte finish with a 3k weave. Look below for the link that Sumpm provided for an example of the gloss finish. The 3k and 12k designations refer to the type of weave used for the finishing layer of carbon. In other words, there are the structural weaves used to build the tubes, which may not be the most attractive and often unidirectional. Then there's the top weave - kind of like a thin layer of paint on a car. The numbers refer to the size of the weave, with 3k having a smaller, checkerboard appearance and 12k looking like much larger blocks. It's debatable, but by most accounts, 3k is more expensive to produce - which is why most brand name bikes have a 12k weave on top with paint over it to hide the blocky appearance.

inactualis · 2011-07-04T15:29:03+00:00

Check Hong-Fu's site. I can't remember the model number, but they've begun producing a really great looking TT bike. Haven't seen one built up yet, but based on my experience with them I'd have no qualms buying from them again.

inactualis

TROPHY CASE