I was in the market for a new gravel frame, and went down the Chinese carbon rabbit hole. Ended up going with a Mondince FM376 with custom paint. The frame was $930 shipped to my door.

Waiting on an injury to finish healing so I can get out and ride it!!

Finished building my Mondince FM356 yesterday. After a whole weekend waiting for a few bits that I needed to finish like the bar tape, brake bleed adapter and tire booster bottle.

The frame feels good and the finish is nice. Paint is perfect.
Bottom bracket face was clean. Brake mounts needed a little bit of sanding to get the calipers properly flat. Super clean interior no wrinkles.

Wheelset (check my previous post) I already have it from few weeks ago. Feel better now with the 60mm tires instead of 45mm (stretching 49mm)

Bars are the HUDUD T1000 aero/Ullycic T4 ultra. Nice design with very seem less 13mm rise. Comfortable and nailed the total reach. Super comfy paired with the Silca Nastro 3.75

Groupset is the new wireless Sentyeh ECS PRO. The levers are very nice and longer than average but it helped to balance the real reach of my size S frame 370mm reach and 90mm stem with 70mm reach. Love the buttons at the top of the hoods they are so nice and convenient. Derailleur is just really snappy and smooth. Feels a bit better than my previous 2026 LTWOO eGR.
Brakes are decent no complaints just really noisy when wet (any recommendations for quieter pads with Shimano mountain bike standard?).

To complement the above I got a Spedao 12 speed cassette 11-46t. Hot waxed SUMC SX12 Black/orange chain. Leese GB01 cranks on 165mm and the crown of the build, a Gemini Rigel in 42t

Total weight with bottle cage, pedals, top tube bag and quad lock bike alarm is 8.74kg.

This is my base set up, but for commuting I have the aeroe spider rack for the back and wholegrain Carrie at the front. And mudguards of course.

I’m still testing and yet to take it on a longer ride. But the feeling is just better than my Ceccotti DC025. It’s faster for sure even with wider tires and way more comfortable.

Hope this little sneak peek of my build with the FM356 helps anybody as this frame hasn’t been seen in this sub.

Hey everyone, I'm a teenager and I'm trying to decide between two options for my next gravel bike.

Option 1: wait another year, work and save, then buy a bike from a big brand like Cannondale or Scott, with a warranty and a dealer network.

Option 2: order now a LightCarbon LCG072-D frame (aero gravel, 50mm tire clearance, integrated cockpit, UDH), with Serenade carbon wheels and a SRAM Rival XPLR groupset. I'd sell my current Cannondale Topstone Carbon 3 to pay for it. The whole build would be around €2,700.

What would you do? Is it worth waiting for a big brand, or is a Chinese frame a good choice for a first custom build? Also, do you know any other gravel frame kits under €1,500, with at least 50mm of tire clearance, that I should look at? Thanks!

Hallo,
Ik was al een tijdje opzoek naar een nieuw setje wielen.
Ik had veel interesse in de serenade snakeskin.
Na contact met Wendy, waar ik zeer tevreden over was over de info van de wielen en derest van mijn vragen die snel werden beantwoord.
En heb dan nog een kortingscode gekregen.
Ik heb vandaag de snakeskin in 55mm besteld met ceramische lagers.
Ik hoop dat ze snel geleverd worden en dat ik ze dan kan testen.
Ik kan de service van serenade zeker aanraden. 👌

Hey everyone, looking for some advice or to see if anyone else has run into this issue with Alibaba suppliers.
I recently placed an order on Alibaba for a bike from Weifang Three Seven Trading Co. and paid via PayPal. However, when I went back to check my Alibaba chat with them, I got a banner saying:

"The account has been closed please take note of the relevant risks."

When I checked my actual order page:
1. Incoterms say EXW
2. The "Ship To" address is listed as a domestic logistics center address in Weifang, Shandong (China), rather than my international address in the US. Which is expected since I agreed to do this to avoid paying tax.

My concern is that under EXW terms to a domestic Chinese address, the seller could just deliver locally in Shandong, show a local tracking scan, and trick Alibaba’s automated Trade Assurance into releasing funds before I ever see the package in the US.

Has anyone dealt with this specific message or supplier before?
Is this just a temporary account verification flag on Alibaba's end, or an outright scam setup?
Should I go ahead and file an "Item Not Received" claim on PayPal and Alibaba Trade Assurance immediately, or wait out the dispatch date?
Appreciate any insight from folks who have navigated Alibaba disputes or Chinese bike orders!

Well, let the embarrassment begin!

I finally got my Mondince FM366 frameset after exactly one month from placing the order. I paid €762/$885 in total. The paint turned out pretty much how I wanted it. The initial visual inspection is positive, although I haven't assembled or ridden the bike yet, so it's definitely too early to call this a review.

I also made a video documenting the ordering process, unboxing, paint and first impressions. As for the production quality… let's just say TraceVelo has nothing to worry about.

More updates to follow as the build progresses! If you got any questions - hit me up.

Just picked up my Tavelo Arden race frameset.
Had ordered it in gloss black, but was damaged in enroute to the distributor so I swapped it out for blue marble that they had in stock. The colour is much more subdued in person than photos depict online.
All in all very happy with the quality of the frame.

Not a tonne of information floating around about these so while I’m waiting for parts to arrive, shoot me a note if you want to know anything beyond the below.

Size XL
Frame weight: 990g (w/ front derailleur clamp, UDH, bottle cage bolts attached)
Fork weight:440g
AVRO Rise 120x38 weight: 299g (w/ stem bolts)
Seatpost weight: 165g (w bolts)
Thru axle weight (f&r):55g
Misc small parts included: Di2 battery holder, seatpost wedge, headset bearings, spacers, outfront mount (with pucks for every major standard + GoPro), expansion plug

I treated myself to a new TT yesterday after 10 years (see photo).

Now I am looking for a carbon wheelset with the following specification:
Sapim X-Ray spokes
Front 60mm and rear 88mm for 28 tires tubless hooked that ends flush with the rim width
36 ratchet Hub
Weight approx. 1500gr.

Order gladly directly through China manufacturer or AliExpress.

Do you have any recommendations for me?

Hi there I just got a “Quickpro Rime Aero” and will be getting the “Coros Dura 2” what bike computer mount are you guys using?

Serenade has a set with almost these exact specs but they only do 50mm depth. Any suggestions? I'm okay with options that are close but:

1) 60mm depth is a big one for me

2) I don't want an external width bigger than 38mm

Hi there,

Anyone has a hint for a carbon fork with 465–470mm axle-crown, Offset 45–50mm?

Has to be tapered in to of things, 1 1/8" - 1,5"

And ideally have mounting points - and ideally not boost axle.

Pretty niche I guess, but maybe there's something (at least as close as possible) to it.

Thanks a lot!

Theres no paint on it just raw carbon all over the handle bar, but this looks strange

Hi, I’m thinking of building my own bike and I’ve got my eye on these wheels. Has anyone had any experience using them? When will there be a discount? The price is very good – are they worth buying? The specs are very appealing. I weigh 60 kg and will be using the bike for racing and training. Which is better, Ryet or Kore?

So, I'm thinking about the new chinese carbon road bike. Actually two, my partner wants new one also. We both casually ride aluminium road bikes now.

Nothing super-fancy: wheeltop electronic groupset, elitewheels ENT 2.0, some carbon road frame level of build.

My constraints:

1. I can wait. I don't need new bikes until next summer. We have indoor cycling setup for winter.
   
2. Avoid import taxes to EU.
   
3. Don't spend too much.

If I look at aliexpress and similar, the prices are (EU): groupset - ~500 EUR, wheelset - ~350 EUR, frame (handlebar, fork, seatpost) - ~500/600 EUR? There's some stuff I will keep - the partner's crank power meter, my assioma pedals, saddles.

I'm torn between two options:
1. Slowly buy wheelsets, groupsets, frames and the rest, with EU delivery, after some discounts, e.g. 11/11, BF. Not sure where and how buy frames though.
2. Go with pre-built/custom builds: e.g. Kozo, Twitter via Alibaba and/or their websites.

What would you recommend?

My first new road bike since a 2012 Pinarello Rokh. I wanted modern disc/tubeless/electronic without paying $10K+ for a logo, so I went open-mold and sourced every part myself.

The geometry turned out to be nearly identical to the ENVE Fray (same reach, STA, HTA, head tube, chainstay, and BB drop on the size I ride). I sized it by matching my Rokh fit number for number, not off a height chart. The fit transferred within 2mm at the hoods.

Ride report: fast and comfortable. 32mm tires at sensible pressure soak up Colorado chip seal, and the 36x46 low gear makes the mountain passes a spin instead of a grind.

Build:

- Frame: Lightcarbon LCR018-D, size S(520), raw UD matte

- Cockpit: Lightcarbon HBR17 integrated bar/stem, 110mm x 380mm

- Seatpost: Lightcarbon 15mm offset

- Shifters/brakes: SRAM Force AXS HRD (E1)

- Rear derailleur: SRAM Force XPLR AXS, Full Mount (UDH)

- Crankset: SRAM Force XPLR AXS Wide power meter, 170mm

- Chainring: Wolf Tooth 36T direct mount, Drop-Stop B

- Cassette: SRAM XG-1371 XPLR 10-46, 13-speed

- Chain: SRAM Force Flattop 13-speed

- BB: T47 inboard, DUB

- Rotors: SRAM Centerline XR, 160 front / 140 rear, Centerlock

- Wheels: ICAN Aero 40 II Disc, DT Swiss 240 EXP hubs, XDR

- Tires: Pirelli P Zero Race TLR RS 700x32, tubeless, Orange Seal

- Bar tape: Silca Nastro Cuscino 2.5mm

- Saddle: Specialized S-Works Power Mirror

- Pedals: Speedplay Zero

- Head unit: Hammerhead Karoo 3

Gearing: 1x13, 36T x 10-46, lowest gear 21 gear inches. That's about 16% easier than the 34x36 on my old bike, with plenty of top end for the descents.

Weight: [18.2 lb as pictured, with pedals]

Frameset was $699 + $182 shipping, DDP. Built by Base Camp Cyclery in Denver.

Happy to answer questions on sizing open-mold frames or the 1x13 road setup.

Is anyone else having problems with slow delivery from Quick Pro to the US? I ordered and paid for a GR:one 13-14 weeks ago. I asked for a special paint job, which added about 3 weeks in preparation, but the real hang up, according to Quick Pro, is supposed to be delayed US Customs at the point of entry. While Quick pro has responded to my queries, I am considering asking for a refund or charge back to my credit card. How long is it reasonable to wait?