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Chinese carbon - My story
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Ok so this morning I finally, after 4 months, finished my new chinese carbon road bike!!!! I ordered it "buy it now" off ebay on sept 9th from cargogoods99. Communication was great and I received my 50cm carbon frame, fork, headset, seat post ($398.00 shipped!) just shy of a week later. I opted for the 12k weave and for anyone who has wondered. I think the 12k looks like crap in pictures compared to what it looks like in person. Simply stunning.





I decided I was going to go off the grid with this build and not use a single part that had the word shimano, sram, or campagnolo on it and I could not be more thrilled. I went microshift white 10sp for the groupset which I could not be happier with. Some people have complained that the brifters are noisy. They are noisy because of very powerful return springs that really snap the gears into place. I think this is a good thing personally.





For the crankset I went with one of the few white cranks I could find by Aerozine. Its a really neat crank that allows you to change the crank length from 170 or 175 and included the ceramic BB. Plus it was compact which I have wanted to try out. I also splurged a bit and opted to get a K-edge chain catcher to help protect the carbon frame fron my chain.





For the rest of the drivetrain I went with a miche 10sp cassette and a KMC X10SL chain. I dont think I have ever had so many lightweight drilled out parts in my life! The chain is just stunning and I got it for cheaper than a 105 and its on par with Dura Ace for weight same goes for the cassette. Another thing I liked about the microshift groupo was the rear D. Those drilled out jockey pulleys are stock and really make things pop!





One last shot of the cockpit. Finished it off with a cateye wireless computer! I used Marco for the decals and cant say enough good things about him. I gave him a very basic design idea and he really pulled it off for me! For anyone out there with a naked carbon frame the stickers just set it off so well. My set pictured here was $25 shipped from marco which is such a small amount to make the bike personal to you. SO why EVA-23?? Well im a G33K at heart and like anime and computers and robots and all that stuff and there is an anime Called evangelion where kids pilot giant robots so I used Eva as my theme and modeled the stickers after the markups on the robots. 23 was my number in my first bike race when I was just 14 so its always been a special number to me. Hence EVA unit 23 was born with R-type equipment! I hope to one day Have another EVA-23 with TT-type equipment but that will have to wait for now.


All in all I put in just under $1500.00 For this build. I only had one piece to start with which was the handlebar. Everything else is new. I feel I did pretty good with my $1500 since I ended up with a full carbon 10sp road bike that weighs in just shy of 17.5 lbs.


Now if it will just warm up so I can ride it!

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God's in his heaven, alls right with the world -Nerv
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Re: Chinese carbon - My story [suparuki] [ In reply to ]
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Nice looking, very original bike. Very light for the $. Let us know how it feels on the road.
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Re: Chinese carbon - My story [suparuki] [ In reply to ]
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Re: Chinese carbon - My story [suparuki] [ In reply to ]
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For $1500.00 that's a really nice build. Congratulations!! Been curious about those cranks myself. Would like know how they work out for you after a few hundred miles. Nice steed.....enjoy miles of smiles.

Respectfully,

-J



Jehovah and family unity above all.
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Re: Chinese carbon - My story [suparuki] [ In reply to ]
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Very cool. I've had my eye on the micro shift stuff for a while.
I have an Asian carbon mtb frame. I can't say anything bad about the construction or quality (or cost!). I just don't happen to like the geometry for the application...which I don't think will be an issue for you on this road bike.
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Re: Chinese carbon - My story [suparuki] [ In reply to ]
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Re: Chinese carbon - My story [jyeager] [ In reply to ]
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So far Im pretty impressed with the microshift. I have worked on all the major shimano and campy groups and I think its pretty on par with ultegra. I expect to get a lot of weird looks from people. I actually went to my lbs and asked them if they could order it as I was trying to throw some business there way. The mechanic told me all the microshift stuff was junk b/c felt specd it on a road bike they used to carry. I looked it up and it was there bottom of the line 8 speed group so I got a good laugh b/c if I went in and said that dura ace or ultegra sucked b/c the shimano components on the road bike at wal mart are garbage they would think I was crazy. He also flamed me over the frame and how it was going to fail and I was going to get hurt and how there was no quality control and frames are filled with kitty litter and blah blah blah. I still say that I can replace this frame 2-3xs before spending as much on a "quality" "name brand" frame....from china.... ^_^

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God's in his heaven, alls right with the world -Nerv
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Re: Chinese carbon - My story [suparuki] [ In reply to ]
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Where did you get your Microshift stuff? I think that Nashbar has the exclusive US rights to distribute it...and I don't think they sell the white parts. They also aren't selling a lot of their cooler components including their TT shifters.
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Re: Chinese carbon - My story [jyeager] [ In reply to ]
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I got the whole groupset on ebay for around 350-400 direct from china. The white is hard to find but the white is actually part of the arsis line and they make a silver and a very very swank looking carbon group that can be found on ebay as well.

this is the same as I have except carbon for like 360 shipped

http://cgi.ebay.com/...2fe0d#ht_2753wt_1008

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God's in his heaven, alls right with the world -Nerv
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Re: Chinese carbon - My story [suparuki] [ In reply to ]
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Wow, that is a HOT looking bike. Congrats!
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Re: Chinese carbon - My story [suparuki] [ In reply to ]
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Looks fantastic. In the process of ordering one for my wife now. If I like what I see, I'll grab one for me too :)

Where did you get your stickers done? Can you point me in the right direction please?

Cheers!
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Re: Chinese carbon - My story [suparuki] [ In reply to ]
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I was prepared to not like it (In which case I would not have posted) but I do! I did not even know about the microshift stuff. Looks sweet.
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Re: Chinese carbon - My story [suparuki] [ In reply to ]
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That's really cool. Sweet ride!

If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went. - Will Rogers

Emery's Third Coast Triathlon | Tri Wisconsin Triathlon Team | Push Endurance | GLWR
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Re: Chinese carbon - My story [suparuki] [ In reply to ]
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You did a great job pulling it together....nice coordination of the colors.

You may wanna trim those shifter cables a bit though......those suckers are LONG!!

Chicago Cubs - 2016 WORLD SERIES Champions!!!!

"If ever the time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin." - Samuel Adams
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Re: Chinese carbon - My story [suparuki] [ In reply to ]
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That's funny, I just finished watching the Eva series for the third time. I haven't gotten around to the rebuild, 1.11/2.22 yet, but they are getting received pretty well. Looking forward to the 2.22 release in the US sometime soon.

I was expecting not to see anything of it, so I was about to ask if you knew your bike carried the evocation of a giant robot imbued with a soul... and then you did it anyway! Ha!

I notice you didn't mention the wheels in your post?

Creative build =)
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Re: Chinese carbon - My story [suparuki] [ In reply to ]
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Less than $1500 for that machine fully built, at 17.5 lbs?

You are the MAN!

I think if your machine performs well and is reliable, bike industry folks around here might start getting a little bit nervous..


**All of these words finding themselves together were greatly astonished and delighted for assuredly, they had never met before**
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Re: Chinese carbon - My story [suparuki] [ In reply to ]
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Is there any reason in particular why you just didn't go over to bikesdirect and buy the Le Champion CF with $1495 with Mavic wheels and Shimano 6700 Ultegra? Fwiw, I ask because I am doing research on consumer behavior and buying decisions.

Visit The Chipotle Calorie Calculator
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Re: Chinese carbon - My story [Mojozenmaster] [ In reply to ]
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Mojozenmaster wrote:


I think if your machine performs well and is reliable, bike industry folks around here might start getting a little bit nervous..

No, there will still be ST'ers who will not buy China parts due to no wind tunnel testing, and no pros in Kona riding them.

I think this summer I'd do a TT frame build.

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Gulf Coast Tri 70.3 5-7-2011

"Get to living before your dead, or you soon will find, if your not pushing straight ahead you'll be left behind " - "The Bastard Suns"
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Re: Chinese carbon - My story [suparuki] [ In reply to ]
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Nice looking bike, and it gets major kudos for not being a big name.

If I was to ever get a TT bike, I'd do something similar.
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Re: Chinese carbon - My story [Coasterx] [ In reply to ]
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Thanks for all the kind words on the build so far. It was so much fun and i could not be happier with the end result.

As far as the stickers i will try to look that info up and post it here but I don't have it with me right now.

In regards to the Eva series dude you gotta watch 1.11 its worlds better than the tv series and i love the tv series. Seriously its amazing

Why didn't I buy one of the bikes direct bikes. That is a great question. Originally i thought i was going to go budget in this and just build a simple road bike. I thought that I was going to build a 9 speed for around 800. However once I got the frame I started dreaming and kinda came up with the whole concept in my mind and found the parts to fit. So it became less budget and more this is what it has to be to fit the theme. I totally didn't think I woud be spending 1500 on it when I bought the frame but that's what it ended up being and to be honest I just can't stop staring at it.

Oh and someone asked about the wheels. Got them off eBay for like 150 with skewers. They are cartridge bearing hubs a little depth in the rim and they are not boat anchors. So i was really happy since its really hard to find white rims.

Some of my friends have said i should offer to build these for other people I really don't think that is realistic because of things like bikes direct but it was so much fun who knows.

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God's in his heaven, alls right with the world -Nerv
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Re: Chinese carbon - My story [electusunus] [ In reply to ]
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I was thinking the same thing.....better components and bike with same weight at same price....!
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Re: Chinese carbon - My story [suparuki] [ In reply to ]
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Well I got inspired by your build and ordered one for my wife.

The frame arrived in a few days from China to Canada. Gorgeous and lightweight. 1100g frame and fork. I also grabbed the 3K carbon seatpost and 2 x Carbon cages for an extra $50.

The bike is for my wife. She just HAD to have carbon cuz it's cool and all so instead of paying big dollars for something that will likely just collect dust, I ordered this frame and transfered the drivetrain from my old road bike (mint condition still) and finished the build off with sale items from Chainreaction. $800 and she's got one sweet looking carbon ride.

Now I want one for me. These frames are gorgeous. Oh and I didn't run into any manufacturing defects of any kind, this thing seems solid.

I didnt order from bikes direct because they are mostly ugly bikes at that price range. Just like the OP - it wasn't going to be 1500 originally but all things considered it would have been if I didn't re-use my own drivetrain. This frame is infinitely better looking, I can't stop looking at it.
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Re: Chinese carbon - My story [Coasterx] [ In reply to ]
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Uh..Pictures?
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Re: Chinese carbon - My story [suparuki] [ In reply to ]
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This bike is stunning... I love white and I love carbon. My two favorite colors!

Great job to the OP and nice build especially for that price!!! I'm jealous!

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"TRIATHLON ISN'T ACTUALLY THAT HARD OF A SPORT" -ALISTAIR
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Re: Chinese carbon - My story [Coasterx] [ In reply to ]
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Awesome! Happy to have inspired someone!

Some people have asked about the microshift groupo and I now have a couple of rides on the bike so I thought I would talk about it just a wee bit. SO far I love it. The shifting is very precise and there is little to no lag in the shifting very fast and crisp and I would put it on par with ultegra or even some older dura ace stuff. In the drops the the downshift button is in a bit of a different position and that will take a bit of time to get used to but with a little practice I dont think I will ever think about it again. Upshifting is a breeze and grabs 3-4 gears with each pull so I can easilly get from one end to the other with 2.5 pulls. Breaking is solid and the levers all feel very solid. The springs that power the levers are very strong which account for the louder shifts but to me as I have stated earlier I could care less about. Im not racing crits anymore so I dont care if someone hears me shift. Also a lot of the crisp shifting comes from a strong shifter so like I said its not a big deal to me.

By far my biggest surprise has been the feel of the hoods. I have thought shimano's were ok. Have HATED campy (have not tried the newer only the older more boxy brifters) and have not seen SRAM that much. The Microshift feel amazing. They just seem to fit my hands really well. No boxy feel. No sharp edges, just a very comfortable grip and im in love!

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God's in his heaven, alls right with the world -Nerv
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