Chinese Open Mold Gravel / CX Bikes

[sezif5]

What do you think of Ica Graro? https://triaero.com/products/uci-gravel ... 9429331055
Frameset 2024, T47, geometry from Scott Addict. The reviews say good quality.
Looks all good, but the weight is again disappointing at 1100 grams

[KingLex]

What do you think of Ica Graro? https://triaero.com/products/uci-gravel ... 9429331055
Frameset 2024, T47, geometry from Scott Addict. The reviews say good quality.
Looks all good, but the weight is again disappointing at 1100 grams

I have one and I like it so far. I use it as a roadbike and gravelbike with 2 wheelsets. There is a post about it over at chinertown.

Some bike info:
ICAN HBG01 handlebar 420x110
ICAN Aero 52 WD (road) , Prime Orra Carbon (gravel) wheelset
Michelin Power Cup 28mm (road), Tufo Thundero 44mm (gravel)
Stone 44t chainring (needed a spacer to fit sram 44t chainring)
Sram Apex shifters, brake, chain, crankset
Sram Force Rear derailleur
Sram Centerline (road), Paceline (gravel) 160mm rotors
Sram XG 1250 10-36 (road) , 11-44 (gravel) cassette
Elite Leggero Carbon bottlecages
Selle Italia Flite Boost Gravel TI 316 saddle
Look Kéo Blade carbon pedals
OG-EVKIN CM-005 Carbon Computer Mount (the wahoo insert was really tight and a part broke off, replaced it with another insert I had lying around, I hope the mount itself is of beter quality)
ZTTO chain guide (never had a dropped chain on my previous gravel bike except my last race where it happened twice, that bike had Apex mechanical groupset)
Weight: 8.25kg (road, with Wahoo Bolt v2 installed)

[LittleBobcat]

What do you think of Ica Graro? https://triaero.com/products/uci-gravel ... 9429331055
Frameset 2024, T47, geometry from Scott Addict. The reviews say good quality.
Looks all good, but the weight is again disappointing at 1100 grams

1100g weight w/ paint for a full-mounting-point gravel framset is nowhere near dissappointing imo. framesets like this from roughly last gen (carbonda 696, 707, etc. name anything from 2019-2022) would easily go over 1300g-1400g w/ paint on.
I'm considering to get one as a replacement for my cfr696, only real concern is the proprietary seat cube and the clamp. would perfer to a 27.2mm for weight & clamp reliability.

[pushpush]

Satisfaction with weight is always a comparison to what is lighter, and lighter framesets exist now. I think a lot of people don't want last gen frameset tech when shopping for a new frameset. Makes sense to me.

It also makes sense to me that there are some reasonable compromises required at this price point.

[LittleBobcat]

Satisfaction with weight is always a comparison to what is lighter, and lighter framesets exist now. I think a lot of people don't want last gen frameset tech when shopping for a new frameset. Makes sense to me.

It also makes sense to me that there are some reasonable compromises required at this price point.

It's not in anyway easy to find other gravel framesets of this weight with full mounting points (not only the frame but also the 470g fork) so I don't think there's quite much comparison to do at all especially when we're in a thread about open moulds. If the need is just a lighter gravel without these mountings then this wouldn't be the right choice. May go ahead get a cfr505sl or crux like thing, the former comes at 950g with paint.

[tetlej]

My FE806. Mix of SRAM red, force and rival groupset. Great geometry for gravel racing and CX.

[GONE4ARIDE]

My FE806. Mix of SRAM red, force and rival groupset. Great geometry for gravel racing and CX.

Very nice.

Is your FE806 a 54cm, and what is your saddle height set at in the picture? I am getting ready to order two of these frames for the upcoming cx season.

[brearley]

https://www.yishunbike.com/product/g105 ... re-gravel/

Any info on the above?

The 1 1/2 upper and lower headset I'm assuming is bearing size and not fork steerer?

[robeambro]

I'm considering upgrading from an alloy frame to a carbon frame. My needs are as follows:

- cheap and durable. Don't care about weight. Will be raced and sometimes falls happen, hence the "durable" requirement, though I am aware that it's also due to luck. Just nothing flimsy that will break by staring at the top tube too hard.

- threaded BB.

- round seatpost. I want to have the option to run a suspension seatpost, or anyway swap it.

- clearance for 45 tyres is fine, for 50 would be much better.

- cables.. I don't mind either way. If I could run them externally that's good. if I could run them under the bar and stem (e.g. in a similar way as one would do with a Tarmac stem, or with a Deda Superbox stem) that's good. If the cables run fully internally (i.e. inside the handlebar and stem) that's slightly less good, but still ok.

- would be nice if I could have the frame painted upon purchase. No need for fancy or full custom stuff, but I don't love black matt on a gravel frame.

- must be compatible with mechanical groupsets.

For now I've gathered this shortlist which more or less meets my requirements.. Is there any other frame worth noting? And, is there a good reason to pick one over the others below?

Carbonda CFR707 / CFR 696
SP Cycle 056 / 068
Velobuild GF-003

[Kubackjeee]

Tideace GR201

[Mr.Gib]

@robeambro, we meet again

If there is any mechanical cables, then I'd advise against full internal/integrated. I know many manufacturers indicate mechanical compatible, but there is a big risk of cable drag. Some users report Ok performance, but others have problems. The bend from stem into head tube is the problem area. No first hand experience though - never tried it (and never would).

Some of the frames you indicate are available semi-internal - that is the route I would go (and have gone for my SP 068). For geometry better suited to your needs the SP cycle 058 is worth a look. It ticks all your boxes, and the XL lands on your numbers.

[robeambro]

Tideace GR201

Thanks - looks quite nice actually!

@robeambro, we meet again

If there is any mechanical cables, then I'd advise against full internal/integrated. I know many manufacturers indicate mechanical compatible, but there is a big risk of cable drag. Some users report Ok performance, but others have problems. The bend from stem into head tube is the problem area. No first hand experience though - never tried it (and never would).

Some of the frames you indicate are available semi-internal - that is the route I would go (and have gone for my SP 068). For geometry better suited to your needs the SP cycle 058 is worth a look. It ticks all your boxes, and the XL lands on your numbers.

So we do

Fair point on the mechanical geoupset cable routing. Just so I understand, by semi-internal you mean what on road bikes we'd call "external" (eg Aethos)? I guess it might be tricky to figure out which frames among those listed will have ports for external routing..

And funnily enough now you know my geometry needs as well

[Kubackjeee]

There is a thread on chinertown about it. Some guys made really nice build and even are winning serious events riding this frame.

https://chinertown.com/index.php/topic,4724.45.html

[Mr.Gib]

@robeambro, yes semi internal or semi integrated to me means that the cables enter the bike through ports in the downtube as opposed to running through the stem an into the head tube. For the front brake the hose enters the shoulder of the fork.

Another bike you could look at is the Winspace G2. The reach/stack on the large is 392mm/616mm. Double the price of the Aliexpress stuff, but I bought one for my wife and it has been excellent. Still good value IMO, even at $1200 US.

[tetlej]

My FE806. Mix of SRAM red, force and rival groupset. Great geometry for gravel racing and CX.

Very nice.

Is your FE806 a 54cm, and what is your saddle height set at in the picture? I am getting ready to order two of these frames for the upcoming cx season.

Hi,

The saddle height is 754mm bb center - top of the saddle. Lately it was updated with Ekar groupset. I wanted to update the frameset with the latest Crux, but I can't see the benefits other than 5mm bigger tire clearance.