I'm Range and I'm from Quebec, but I'm currently living in Taipei, Taiwan. I'm graduate student in mathematics, tech-journalist/photographer for Apartment Therapy/Unplggd and Technabob, and recently I started exporting some high-end bikes from Taiwan. I started doing that because of the flood of comments and emails I kept receiving when I started writing about bikes last year. Plus, I get great deals on bikes for myself. Like most of us, I'm kind of obsessed with bikes.

I run a lot but I wanted to cross-train so I went back to biking in 2008. My typical training routine involves mid-length distances, from 50-100 km 4 to 5 times a week, with a longer ride on Sundays followed by an off day. My first serious bike was a Pinarello Columbus steel bike built up with Shimano 105 in 1991. I still have it in storage in Montreal. Don't worry, once I get back, I'll restore her to her full beauty. Vintage Campy Record, and all that stuff.

For this bike, I wanted to start out with a training bike. I initially considered a carbon fiber bike, but discarded that idea because of the real danger of taking spills. This year, I've taken 3. On one occasion, I ended up in the hospital (road rash and stitches). I actually lost consciousness (!) and woke up in the hospital. This happens because Taipei is very hot during the summer, so I tend to ride at night. I ride very fast, ergo the problem. Still, it hasn't dampened my spirits. It would be curious to find out if any of those spills would have broken a carbon fiber frame. They damaged the shifting system of the aluminum bike I was riding at the time. It's never fully recovered.

Back to the build. After checking out my options, I went for a titanium frame. There are a number of cheap OEM titanium frames available in Taiwan, for about $600-800 USD you can be set. But that didn't interest me much. I decided on a Velocite Millennium a few months ago because they conform to EU testing. Plus this bike has a lifetime warranty + 3-year crash replacement warranty. I finally purchased the bike two weeks ago. It arrived at the shop last week.

Here is my build list with some partial weights:
Millennium Elite*
Frame Velocite Millennium titanium size M (1,490)
Headset FSA Orbit C
Compressor FSA Carbon
Bottom Bracket SRAM Red Ceramic BB
Seatpost Velocite TLC (185)
Seatpost clamp Velocite Anchor (138)
Spacers x 4 generic carbon
Fork Velocite Zephyr (375)
Stem Velocite FCS (132)
Handlebars Velocite LICOS (176)
Crankset SRAM Red (630)
Cassette SRAM Red 11-25 (155)
Chain SRAM Red PC 1090R (255)
Rear derailleur SRAM Red (153)
Front derailleur SRAM Red (72)
FD clamp FSA clamp
Shifters SRAM Red (280)
Brakes TRP 960 SL (249)
Wheels Velocite MONC50 carbon fiber (1,540)
Tubes Kenda
Tires 2×Vittoria Open Corsa Evo-CX (430)
Rim tape High pressure tape
Bar tape Prologo Pro Touch
Saddle Prologo Scratch Pro (240)
Cables SRAM Red
Total actual weight 7,090gr

I've ordered a carbon fiber saddle from Velocite, weight should be 113 gr and some lightweight Velocite Ethereal bottle cages (10.5g a piece). I wanted this bike with SRAM Red. The build is only partially started. We're waiting for some components to arrive, mainly the SRAM Red ceramic BB and a chain ring.

Other changes that loom upon the horizon. The seatpost, anchor, stem and handlebar combination is a bit heavy in my opinion. I ordered them because I didn't have any spares. I'll have something to put on my next frame once I customize this one.

I'm looking for some not too expensive options in reducing weight. Sure, I could lower the weight of the bike by adding Lightweights Standard IIIs, but that's not an option on this training bike. The same goes for ultra-lightweight cranks like THM clavicula. They are really great, but I'm reserving those for my race bike which I'll put together sometime later this spring.
For wheels, I'm getting a set of Fulcrum Racing 0 2-way fit because it comes standard with a bike, but a client wanted Mavic Carbone SLs. I know that they're not super-light, but you can't argue with a sort of deal like that.
In my opinion, with some lighter wheels, and some lighter components, stem, seat post, anchor, this bike could easily weigh around 6kg. Kind of impressive for a 1,490 kg titanium frame. I was worried about the prominent logos on the Velocite MONC50 wheels, but they look very good in person, coupled with the red from the tires, it really makes them pop in a good way. I'm going for a titanium/red look. The handlebar tape will probably be red. Overall, I'm pretty satisfied with it. I'm looking forward to testing it out fully next week when it's completed. I'll update this post with further details.