Argon 18 Gallium Pro - not a real weightweenie, but light enough

Who are you (no off-topic talk please)

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vilegnus
Posts: 60
Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2015 7:46 pm
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by vilegnus

Chapter 1. The frame
Image
Sorry for a quality of the pics, we are going to shoot a whole bicycle outside with a pro photographer.
I've been a light bicycle maniac since 2009, but never went to a full weight weenie mode. For me, the best approach to a light bicycle is based on two main principles:
1. The bicycle should be reliable enough for a daily training routine. 5K a year or 15K, it shouldn't matter. So I don't accept racing style tires like continental supersonic or aluminum sprockets, even for weighing. Not to mention a riding process.
2. I always try to build a nice-looking bicycle and sometimes I have to refuse to use some nice components.

Every project begins from the frame. And usually I spend hours and hours trying to decide, which frame will be my partner on the road for the next couple of years. But not this time. I just needed to start riding again after 2 years of the dark ages with 0km ridden.
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An offer was really simple. My friend offered me Argon 18 from the ex pro rider of Astana Pro Team. The frame had a terrible paint scheme which made my eyes bleeding, but my home digital scale said: "You can buy this shit and ride, or just die, the fat asshole". I've never ridden a Canadian painted, Chinese manufactured, ex-pro rider ridden frame, so, why not?

Just to mention: it was the middle of 2021 when you could buy next to nothing.

Surprisingly enough, a ride quality of the frame was found to be rather impressive. It's reasonably comfortable for those long rides on the harsh post soviet tarmac. Handling is crisp and really predictable. After my experience with some really good bikes like supersix hi-mod 2013, SL6 s-works 2018 and tcr anvanced sl 2008 and 2016 I expected something like so-so impression, but now i can put Argon 18 Gallium Pro in this honorable list after 8500 km ridden on it.

And day by day I thought the same. This bike isn't guilty enough to have such a terrible paint scheme.

So I decided to repaint my frame during this winter.
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And as long we all have some degree of weight obsession, I can put some numbers here before we went to the group set and wheels chapter.

Painted frame in the original Astana scheme with both front and rear derailleur hangers and plastic cable stops weighs 828 grams.
Bare frame with just upper headset cup weighs approx 790g
The sanded frame is about 100g less.
The fork went from 282 to 255g during paint removal, and then gained 10 grams.
So, we had something like 130g of the paint before.
The painted frame weighs 764g with the hangers.
Image

Interestingly, my frame-headset-BB-fork-seatpost module for Argon 18 weighed exactly the same 1474gr as my beloved 2016 TCR Advanced SL.

For the moment of 15th December 2021 we started with:
Frame - Argon 18 Gallium Pro 2018 custom paint - 764gr
Fork - Argon 18 custom paint - 265gr
Expander - Schmolke TLO - 15gr
Headset - Stock - 71gr
BB - Dura Ace 9100 - 55gr
Seatpost - Deda Superleggera RS 27.2/300mm - 163gr
Last edited by vilegnus on Mon Oct 17, 2022 8:50 pm, edited 2 times in total.

by Weenie


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dcj10
Posts: 91
Joined: Sat Nov 13, 2021 4:22 pm

by dcj10

End result of the frame is looking to my taste :thumbup: How was the sanding process for you, can you tell us how it was done?
Main ride Aethos Expert 2021 https://weightweenies.starbike.com/for ... 0&t=169445
First reserve Pegoretti steel 2012 Ciavete paint viewtopic.php?f=10&t=168091

vilegnus
Posts: 60
Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2015 7:46 pm
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by vilegnus

dcj10 wrote:
Wed Dec 15, 2021 9:30 pm
End result of the frame is looking to my taste :thumbup: How was the sanding process for you, can you tell us how it was done?
Thanks!
After spending a couple of hours with sanding paper, I have entrusted the sanding process to a professional painter who specializes in painting and repairing bicycle frames.
the whole process using a grinder and different attachments took him one evening

Vik61
Posts: 65
Joined: Sat Sep 03, 2016 5:55 am
Location: Russia

by Vik61

Ura, foto ne vidno ))
Canyon Grizl
Trek Supercaliber

vilegnus
Posts: 60
Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2015 7:46 pm
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by vilegnus

Vik61 wrote:
Fri Dec 17, 2021 7:59 am
Ura, foto ne vidno ))
nice photos will come soon ;)
The photographer is waiting for a sunny day because it is next to impossible to shoot this frame indoors without the ugly reflections.

vilegnus
Posts: 60
Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2015 7:46 pm
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by vilegnus

The build is almost finished.
Google tables weight is 6380g, and the real weight on my scales is 6385.
Groupset - Dura Ace 9150 except Red22 11-26 cassette and SRM Power Meter
Wheels - Giant SLR 0 30mm Climbing. The real weight without stickers is 1308g. Stock skewers are heavy as shit and replaced to Enve Ti Skewers (60g)
Tires - Schwalbe Pro One TLE 28-622mm, with a stock Giant Tubeless Kit (could be lighter at 38gr for two wheels)
Saddle - Romin Expert with Ti rails - 218g
Seatpost - Deda Superleggero RS 27.2/350mm cut to 300mm. Lost the weight from 175g to 163g while shortening.
Stem - Syntace F109. Will be replaced soon.
Handlebar - FSA K-Force 420mm. An old version. Will be replaced soon.
Pedals - Time Xpresso 10 -> 15. Just have to be a bit patient.
Image
Last edited by vilegnus on Mon Oct 17, 2022 8:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.

pcort
Posts: 31
Joined: Wed Apr 01, 2020 1:43 pm

by pcort

Love these frames. Agreed on the team astana pro paint, it's a little rough but if you're going to repaint it, then no harm done. Need to reupload the pics though!
2018 Canyon Aeroad CF SLX 8.0 XL : 8kg
2016 Cannondale SuperSix Evo HM 58 : 5.8kg 2x / 5.3kg 1x

vilegnus
Posts: 60
Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2015 7:46 pm
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by vilegnus

Finally, nice photos arrived.
Please let me know if something wrong with uploads, because on my laptop the thread with the photos looks ok.
Image

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Last edited by vilegnus on Mon Oct 17, 2022 8:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.

bikeboy1tr
Posts: 1395
Joined: Thu Mar 21, 2013 3:19 am
Location: Southern Ontario Canada

by bikeboy1tr

Photos not coming through.
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=154188
2018 Colnago V2R Rim Brake
2019 Colnago V2R Disc Brake
2014 Norco Threshold Disc Brake
2006 Ridley Crosswind Rim Brake

vilegnus
Posts: 60
Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2015 7:46 pm
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by vilegnus

May be this way of picture posting works better?
Please, somebody, let me know if the image is displayed now!
Image

dcj10
Posts: 91
Joined: Sat Nov 13, 2021 4:22 pm

by dcj10

I can see the latest image you posted above, and the original manufacturers studio frame shot from your first post. All the others are still showing as 'image not found'. Gold downtube Argon 18 logo looking classy BTW :thumbup:
Main ride Aethos Expert 2021 https://weightweenies.starbike.com/for ... 0&t=169445
First reserve Pegoretti steel 2012 Ciavete paint viewtopic.php?f=10&t=168091

bikeboy1tr
Posts: 1395
Joined: Thu Mar 21, 2013 3:19 am
Location: Southern Ontario Canada

by bikeboy1tr

Looks good, nice work.
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=154188
2018 Colnago V2R Rim Brake
2019 Colnago V2R Disc Brake
2014 Norco Threshold Disc Brake
2006 Ridley Crosswind Rim Brake

reedplayer
Posts: 816
Joined: Sat Nov 14, 2015 10:10 am

by reedplayer

wow, nice project, unfortunately i cant see the pictures documenting the repaint process, only latest picture comes through.

very nice bike (frameset is one of my alltime-favorites) , and picture quality.

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micky
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Location: Vicenza
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by micky

That bronze decal is ace!

Maxmillian
Posts: 16
Joined: Sun Aug 01, 2021 1:31 am

by Maxmillian

cant see your image

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



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