Chinese Open Mold Gravel / CX Bikes

The spirit of Grav-lo-cross. No but seriously, cyclocross and gravel go here!

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jever98
Posts: 1175
Joined: Wed Feb 18, 2009 12:02 pm
Location: Seattle

by jever98

@joesch - with a bit of trigonometry you can figure out which spacer / stem combo will replicate your position from the Tarmac on the 696, if you are so inclined. The different feel riding is going to be related to other factors, though: wheel base, bb drop, heat tube angle, and trail.

@Steve Curtis: I wouldn't put the 696 in the "racey gravel" category. IMHO the 505 is more in that area - shorter wheelbase, steeper angles, but also less space for big tires.

I have a 505 and find it rides like an endurance bike - quite pleasant on mountain passes, etc.
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by Weenie


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zaykay
Posts: 45
Joined: Tue Apr 28, 2020 7:14 am

by zaykay

CFR696 has also slacker head angle and a lot longer wheel base. It's a slower steering taller and bigger feeling bike. I have size 56 BMC Teammachine to compare with size 56 carbonda. Teammachine has very similar geometry to SL6. They are very different. Everything feels slower, sluggish and more relaxed on CFR696. It's still a good gravel/endurance frame but don't expect it to he similar than proper road race bike.

joesch
Posts: 108
Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2018 3:12 pm
Location: Germany

by joesch

Thanks for the feedback.
Running the Tarmac w/o Spacers and a -7degrees/120mm stem; I neither expect "roadbike-like nimbleness" nor the exact same geometry (slightly more comfort for base miles is more than OK, used to ride a cross-bike as a winter-training rig many moons ago) but I am somewhat concerned that a 56 would be too relaxed (even with a -17degrees stem) while a 54 would require a super long stem (at least 140mm).

inasia69
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Feb 16, 2016 4:39 pm

by inasia69

I almost went with the 707 carbonda before I realised it was a really long bike. For this build I want responsive, quick handling, gravel build with aero if possible.
I'm not sure I made a wise purchase of the GR042 and will give feedback later on how the frame and build perform. Mechanical trail figures need to be confirmed, seem very short, lets see how the frame performs.
Visual inspection of the frame,fork,seatpost and integrated handelbar/stem seems ok and they offer good value if they perform well.
I weighed the parts as follows from Tantan supplied parts only, the rest of the build might change depending if the 105 mechanical group can work with this frame. If I can't use mechanical 105 shimano , I hope to switch to GRX di2.
Item Grams
Frame Gr042 1124
Fork GR042 420
Handelbar/Stem Tantan 384
Head Set 186 (includes 3 spacers)
Seatpost 198 (lower than website)
Shifters 105 ST-R7020 650
Rotors XTR M9000 SM-RT99-A 200
Front Brake Calipers 105 BR-R7020  145
Rear Brake Calipers 105 BR-R7020  145
Crank Set 105 -R7020 750
Front Derailer 105 -R7020 95
Rear Derailer 105 -R7020 225
Cassete Ultegra R8000 243
Chain 105 -R7020 257
Saddle Selle SMP Plus 350 will change later
Bottom Bracket Hambini BB86 95
Wheels+ Hubs Farsports 1405
Tires Challenge Strada Bianca Pro TLR 790
Pedals Look S Track Race 300
Bar Tape Supacaz Kush 130
Cables TBC 30 50
Cages TBC 30
Thru Axels Tantan 118

Total 8,390

This is my first bike build and hope to get feedback>

inasia69
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Feb 16, 2016 4:39 pm

by inasia69

Double post

TribesMan
Posts: 132
Joined: Sat Oct 19, 2019 5:51 pm

by TribesMan

Just a quick question on the topic of Chinese gravel frames.
Is there any affordable frame similar to Salsa Cutthroat?

morganb
Posts: 732
Joined: Wed Mar 15, 2017 5:30 pm

by morganb

I've asked this a year or so ago but curious if the market has changed. Is there anything with USR/Grizl/Hatchet like geometry? Something designed around long reach with a shorter stem and lowish stack height.

jemima
Posts: 270
Joined: Fri Apr 22, 2011 12:36 am
Location: Perth

by jemima

TribesMan wrote:
Mon Aug 09, 2021 5:48 pm
Just a quick question on the topic of Chinese gravel frames.
Is there any affordable frame similar to Salsa Cutthroat?


Never come across a Cutty-like frame/set.

Would think your closest option is a 29er mtb frame with the lowest bb and shortest reach you can find.
Curve Grovel ti.

fizzybubbelech
Posts: 21
Joined: Mon Apr 25, 2016 11:38 am

by fizzybubbelech

Hi Gents/Ladies,

in the market for an allround/winter/rain bike, currently sorta into the CFR696 (seems to be popular, plenty mounting options, good price).
Gotta figure out the size now.
Currently got a Tarmac SL7 size 54, stem w/o spacers, stock 100mm stem. I've also got the Saeco Cannondale CAAD6, size 52 (52cm ST, 54cm TT, 90mm stem, one 5mm spacer).
I've looked at geometrygeeks and size 54 CFR696, as someone pointed out here, purely by the numbers does like a fairly big(-ger) bike. Would a 52 be a sensible option? I do not want anything longer than the SL7 as that's nearly at the limit of my "being stretched" feeling.
sz52 696 vs sz54 vs current sz54 sl7:
12mm shorter reach / 11mm shorter reach
23mm higher stack / 34mm higher stack
6mm shorter TT / 9mm longer TT
45mm longer ST / 65mm longer ST
9mm longer HT / 19mm longer HT

My big worry here is also the ST length, which I guess would mean the standover height would be taller than my 52 Cannondale. No good for some rought terrain if one happens to come off I guess?

Ah yeah I'm around 177cm tall, 83cm inseam.

Any input appreciated.
Cheers, Vic.

jemima
Posts: 270
Joined: Fri Apr 22, 2011 12:36 am
Location: Perth

by jemima

fizzybubbelech wrote:
Fri Nov 26, 2021 5:53 pm
Hi Gents/Ladies,

in the market for an allround/winter/rain bike, currently sorta into the CFR696 (seems to be popular, plenty mounting options, good price).
Gotta figure out the size now.
Currently got a Tarmac SL7 size 54, stem w/o spacers, stock 100mm stem. I've also got the Saeco Cannondale CAAD6, size 52 (52cm ST, 54cm TT, 90mm stem, one 5mm spacer).
I've looked at geometrygeeks and size 54 CFR696, as someone pointed out here, purely by the numbers does like a fairly big(-ger) bike. Would a 52 be a sensible option? I do not want anything longer than the SL7 as that's nearly at the limit of my "being stretched" feeling.
sz52 696 vs sz54 vs current sz54 sl7:
12mm shorter reach / 11mm shorter reach
23mm higher stack / 34mm higher stack
6mm shorter TT / 9mm longer TT
45mm longer ST / 65mm longer ST
9mm longer HT / 19mm longer HT

My big worry here is also the ST length, which I guess would mean the standover height would be taller than my 52 Cannondale. No good for some rought terrain if one happens to come off I guess?

Ah yeah I'm around 177cm tall, 83cm inseam.

Any input appreciated.
Cheers, Vic.


More exxy and not open-mold but the Winspace G2 in small has decent geo.
Tarmac is 534/387. 475mm seat.
G2 is 563/375. 480mm seat.

G2 has a 420mm chainstay, with a lower bb than the 696.
Still takes a 700x50mm in the Small.
Curve Grovel ti.

fizzybubbelech
Posts: 21
Joined: Mon Apr 25, 2016 11:38 am

by fizzybubbelech

jemima wrote:
Fri Nov 26, 2021 11:15 pm


More exxy and not open-mold but the Winspace G2 in small has decent geo.
Tarmac is 534/387. 475mm seat.
G2 is 563/375. 480mm seat.

G2 has a 420mm chainstay, with a lower bb than the 696.
Still takes a 700x50mm in the Small.
Hey, thanks for responding. I've looked at G2 and there is a slight issue - it's not aesthetically pleasing to my eye unfortunately.
I might have a look into the TanTan gr0** frames as well.

piccionipier
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Oct 18, 2008 1:14 pm
Location: italy

by piccionipier

zaykay wrote:
Wed Jul 28, 2021 8:18 pm
CFR696 has also slacker head angle and a lot longer wheel base. It's a slower steering taller and bigger feeling bike. I have size 56 BMC Teammachine to compare with size 56 carbonda. Teammachine has very similar geometry to SL6. They are very different. Everything feels slower, sluggish and more relaxed on CFR696. It's still a good gravel/endurance frame but don't expect it to he similar than proper road race bike.
CFR696 it's a good frame for cyclocross?

emotive
Posts: 613
Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2016 10:40 am
Location: Melbourne, Australia

by emotive

piccionipier wrote:
Sat Jan 01, 2022 11:52 am
zaykay wrote:
Wed Jul 28, 2021 8:18 pm
CFR696 has also slacker head angle and a lot longer wheel base. It's a slower steering taller and bigger feeling bike. I have size 56 BMC Teammachine to compare with size 56 carbonda. Teammachine has very similar geometry to SL6. They are very different. Everything feels slower, sluggish and more relaxed on CFR696. It's still a good gravel/endurance frame but don't expect it to he similar than proper road race bike.
CFR696 it's a good frame for cyclocross?
I have a CFR696. Previously I had a Focus Mares. I would not think the CRF696 is well suited to CX. For CX racing you want a sharper steering geometry, shorter seat stays, and a higher top tube.

Erwin
Posts: 249
Joined: Sat Feb 06, 2016 11:13 am
Location: Bavaria

by Erwin

Any alternatives for the Carbonda CFR505? I am looking for a similar bike. For me fender mounts are important, 700x40mm tires and perhaps some mounting bolts on the top tube.

by Weenie


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DaMaDo
Posts: 17
Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2019 1:42 am

by DaMaDo

Things have gotten expensive. How much do you haggle?




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