They didn't do it justice. Out front the entire race, then you just dropped the hammer for 3 laps at the end of the race to blow it apart. It wasn't even close at the end. Such an insane ride in a premier crit race. Nice work.
crazy race. We were sitting at the finish line the whole race wondering when the peloton would pull the break away back in. We were cheering for you to pull it off! so awesome to see you cross the line first!
Ben Delaney, is a monster. There are two things that always strike me about his post race reviews. 1) That he can put together a cohesive and informative summary of the race and equipment after finishing and often podiuming. 2) He jumps into races with a new bike all the time. I need at least a week with a bike to feel comfortable enough to race with it and he will get a bike a day or two before a race and jump on it.
Jessie's explanation of having to swap out everything with a new bike is exactly why I went with Winspace frame and build it up exactly as I want it rather than having to get rid of have the spec and buy new wheels, cranks, stem, bars, wheels, saddle, etc.
YES! I hate it when people compare custom built bikes with a Chinese frame to a stock pre-built. Manufacturers have massive pricing power and will get parts way under MSRP. Not even to account for the selling of parts on eBay or other secondary sites.
Ha, that tulsa weekend was crazy. I'm glad I could give some insight, cool to see you two's opinions on the racing! Jeff and I are doing a day one video soon- I did it on a chinese carbon build! So, stoked to see yours!
Regarding Dylan’s Unbound setup; wasn’t the whole point about his MTB tire setup that they’re faster rolling and more puncture resistant? Maybe I missed it, but it seems like Jessie didn’t catch that part of Dylan’s explainer video.
It's possible Jesse missed that part; puncture resistance was definitely one of the keys DJ was after, second only to rolling resistance (if memory serves).
Yeah, I think setup matters so much off-road because not only are you trying to maximize efficiency and speed but you have to balance reliability. Getting flats and mechanicals can be luck, but a lot of it is gear choice and skill too. You could run DH mtb tires and basically guarantee not getting a flat, or you could run light casing super fast tires and heavily risk a flat. Go more reliable, you better have the fitness. Go less reliable, you better have handling skill and luck. I think it's at least as impactful as on the road.
The magic of that Race King tire is it's somehow very fast and also pretty puncture resistant. Still lots of arguments over whether to run inserts. They hurt the effectiveness of sealant but are a lifesaver in the case of unfixable puncture.
This whole conversation got me curious to try the Race Kings for myself. Just ordered a pair. My gravel bike can supposedly clear 50s, so let’s give it a shot.
I found the Dylan Johnson video self-confirmatory that what he did to prep for this race actually worked... that crazy bike setup gave him the opportunity to remain in the front group. It's not just about satisfaction for this years result for him... but also the progression - how it's changed in the 5-6 years he's been competing at Unbound... granted it's not the 9th place in 11,5hrs like in 2019 or something, but the discipline has grown so much more competitive since then. As he was saying multiple times in the video, in the stacked field even repeating another 17th place would be a very strong result. A top 10 and a lifetime podium is unreal!
Jesse absolutely love your build👍👍 Great to see Joe's advice, and finally a light weight super bike build that is well worth the money.. Really want this build to ride as good as it looks
I’m so excited for Jesse to start riding this new setup. I want his no-nonsense take on the groupset and frame. If it’s reliable and decent setup, makes me more amenable to using these components on my next build.
Giant Propel with Sram Rival here. Absolutely no rub. Discs are still straight. Very different to my experience with mtb disc brakes, where I wouldn't even bother to try and adjust, I would just let it rub
im shocked.... i had no idea Chris was a Bicycle Princess to this level... WOOW! RUclips, tools and off you go, i built 4 bikes now from scratch with zero knowledge except youtube and forums, from crap bikes with mechanical to my boardman and canyon CF SLX, and now the S-Works wiht Force D2 groupset - PS: Also i am the guy who was in one of your episodes talking about upgrading my boardman SLR 9.2... i pulled the trigger on a 2021 Snake Eyes S-Works SL7 which only has 1700miles on it, guy just never rode it and stripped it to sell, comes with the stem and handlebars for only £2050, basically a new frame.. building it towards end of the month! Cant wait!
Absolutely love Jessie´s bike build direction. Looking forward to ride review. PS: my tip for Chris and learning mechanic stuff, just read manuals for everything :). I know it boring, but everything is there :).
Went from 172.5mm to 165.0mm Crank Length after 20 years of 172.5 and didn’t really notice and performance degradation but certainly more Comfortable and no more knee pain…..Had many Bike Fits so my position is dialed in. Can’t wait for Jesse’s bike review……..👍🏻
Saddle went up the difference between 172.5 - 165.0 so 7.5mm Saddle Up and went forward a few mm. Measure you saddle tip to your Stem Bolt before moving the seatpost then keep that number the same after you raise your saddle. Also my cadence is much easier to maintain at 90-95+ rpm than before. Enjoy.
You two blokes are a breath of fresh air…notwithstanding, getting stuff for free is not an arm’s length review/test…I.e dropping your own coin = a real test/review.
I’ve watched since you began and took a break for a coupla months (the algo stopped feeding me your show but suddenly began again ( I watch mostly cycling shows Arthur, Cade, GC Perf, Lantern R, Chris Horner, Vegan Cyclist even GNC - missed yours because I learn the most in a tight package). I’m writing because I have to say you’ve stepped up production values yet another notch - looks great!
I'm okay with Jesse upgrading to discs, he's earned the rim-brake lifetime achievement award for holding out this long and beside he'll always have his rim-brake bike for late-night rides under the moonlight. And it'll be great to have Jesse be a premier disc-brake bike reviewer, woohoo. And cheers to both of your for finding beneficial upgrades at good value, the story of our best lives on bikes. And about Dylan, I think his struggle, as it were, is to not accept conventional gravel bikes for racing and instead discover seemingly wild alternatives which create a better bike for each event. And turns out Lachlan did that, too, with that new helmet and belly bladder at Unbound.
Those aliexpress saddles are great. I've got one with the honeycomb, and it's fantastic. I ride it with running shorts and dont feel the pattern at all, so I wouldn't worry. They are very grippy if thats something you dont like
Connex make a re-usable 12 speed chain link. Ideal for waxing chains (off and on) and it requires no tools to connect and disconnect. Use a set pair of chains for ideal maintenance swaps.
This is an incredibly practical conversation about bike maintenance and personal parts build for a new setup. Loving it! Big fan for the maintenance series of videos. Would be cool.
Former professional mechanic here and I can’t imagine going to a shop for any normal job on a road bike. They are incredibly simply to work on and it’s only fear that stop people doing it. Just give it a try Chris and I’m sure you’ll be absolutely fine! The only jobs I hate and would pay someone else to do are rebuilding suspension forks/shocks and servicing internal gear hubs. Too many specialist tools to make it economically viable too it myself.
Good luck replacing headset bearings on my Ridley X-night, where the cables/hoses go inside the handlebar, then inside the stem into a tiny space by the steerer tube then finally pass through both the bearings. I managed to put it all together not being a pro mechanic, but boy, was it labour and head scratching involved.
53:44 The wider tires are optimising for reducing flats (without compromising speed which seems unbelievable) and the war is against the slow move to increase frame tire clearance and tire choice. This played out in MTB long ago so for MTBers it is like watching a rerun. Gravel is so intriguing as it is where road and off road athletes and tech collide.
This is the comment I was looking for. Part of optimizing in gravel IS avoiding mechanicals, as best as possible. And, at a given risk of a mechanical, you may as well be as fast as possible.
Last year, i bought and installed 5x ltwoo er9 groups. 1 died in a downhill with bad asphalt (vibrations). 2 died for no reason whatsoever, just riding. All 3 sound like the gearbox inside is broken. The 4th one has done almost 5k km, but has problems charging, so i've found myself charging the lithium batteries with a dedicated charger. The 5th one has seen very little use because my buddy crashed and getting a replacement front wheel has been an adventure. I really hope you get a newer batch where such kinks have been ironed out, because if not, you're going to hate yourself for choosing ltwoo :) When it does work, it works perfect though. It's fast, smooth, silent, brakes are great, you have level reach adjust, the app is awesome and you can switch from 9 to 13 speed in the app.
I took the plunge into fully rebuilding my SL8 after getting fed up with the service at my LBS's. Slowly got all the tools together. Watched the @gcperformance video building his SL8 and brake bleed videos and honestly that was plenty. Take it slowly, don't rush. I'm as ham fisted as they come and my bike is riding better than ever. Good on you for wanting to do it yourself.
As a mechanic - modern headsets can get tricky with all the cables. Messing that up can have big consequences. Brakes can drive you nuts to get them perfect. Take on other things so brakes don’t frustrate you and cause you to give up. Just put brakes later on your list.
Yeah, I have got a Ridley X-night for offroad riding and installing the brake hoses / Di2 cables in the handlebar, then through the inside of the stem and into the tiny space by the D-shaped steering tube was a nightmare.
Personally I’d advise Jesse not to go expensive on the cranks cos that’s a part you might wanna change later. 1cm shorter crank will completely change your bike setup.
I'm loving this, did I miss the video where the bike gets tested somewhere? I've always been someone who thinks 50% of the fun of riding is building their next bike from scratch, with zero brand loyalty... I'd love to do a scaled back generic version of this!
Loving this, never usually agree with anything Jesse says but this build will be very similar to a build iveould chose. Building a bike is so much better than buying off the shelf and replacing half the parts
Setting up the front derailleur is way easier and less work than changing a press fit BB in my opinion. Also the Park Tool videos are great and they have one for literally everything.
@ChrisMillerCycling Buying a new chain every 3 months is crazy! If you're keeping it in good knick, you're just throwing away money. Shimano chains last a long time too! A chain checker will save you a ton of money
Role of the bike shop? Two days out from the Tour of Flanders Gran Fondo. Purchase a fifty dollar shimano brake bleed kit. Screw the syringe into the bleed assembly giving it an extra tweek to make sure it won't leak. Snap the thread on the syringe. Read the instructions - DO NOT APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE. Wheel the bike 500 metres to the local bike shop. Pick it up the same day with optimised brakes.
Really looking forward to Jessy’s build, especially in the group set side with the performance expectations he has I’ve read some quotes from LTwoo staying that they are targeting casual rides and are not chasing the performance market and Ike that’s the cases it will show here
Rim brake die-hard here. The only reason I would switch to discs is also tyre clearance (and maybe possibly a classified hub). Can't wait to see the new bike built!
Chain length is easy. Put it on the biggest ring on the front and biggest on the cassette skipping the rear derailleur and add 2 link. Has work every single time for year.
To make sure you use the absolute longest chain possible the better way is to have the chain on the smaller front chain ring and smallest at the back, make sure has no slack and proper tension , most people go the other way , from the largest cog but that is wrong. Cassettes sizes differ at the largest point but all the same at the smallest cog.
@@user-hj7ex1rc9r It makes no sense, unless I misunderstood. Chain length should be determined based on the largest cog/chainring precisely because it varies between cassettes with different ranges. It's the way Shimano and SRAM manuals advise how to determine the chain length.
@@user-hj7ex1rc9r I know, but you wouldn't keep the chain on the small chain ring and at the same time be on the smallest cog for riding. I keep the chain in that gear only when the bike is not ridden to save the rear mech spring though, so in fact, I deliberately choose my chain length to be slack in the small/smallest combo so that the spring is under minimal tension most of the time.
@@82vitt you are correct , should not cross chain but you could be on the small front and maybe 12 or 13 in the back , my point and the better method is to set up the chain for the shortest length you thing you will ever use and not the other way around , in other words put the chin on the small ring in front , whoever smallest cog you thing you gonna use that combo at the rear , size the chain long enough where the derailleur cage has a little tension and you done. Many do it the other way around and find themselves with a chain too long
You're gonna be shocked at how good your new bike is gonna feel! Those wheels are so nice....I have a pair CRW 65/75. They recommend 28 mm tires for the wheels if you want maximum areo benefits. I do 28 front 30 rear.
I'm excited to see the build! I am sure it will be fast. Going from 2017 Canyon to 2022 Elves made me around 3 km/h faster at 200w. I'm surprised how little bike work Chris does, for someone who loves the equipment chat that much 😂
Whenever I buy a frame I always buy 2 extra RD hangers. Not that I buy frames that often, but that's the point; Get frame hangers while they're readily available and still likely to be reasonably priced. When I inevitably break the hanger down the line I have one I can put straight in (and it's comforting to have a spare whenever you travel) and another I can take to shops or send photos/measurements to find a replacement (since I always seem to pick frames that either aren't made any more or company has gone bust).
Two questions for you Jesse: A. Any reason to pick the Ltwo over the EDS group set ? B. In one of your past shows you mentioned about how stiff were the Lun Hyper, and that you avoid using them for long rides. It seems that the CRW will be stiff too (maybe even more than the Hyper) , so why did you decide to use that kind of wheels again? As always, great show🎉💪🏼. Looking forward for the next episode
I received the CRW 6575 wheels about 2 weeks ago and have a few hundred miles on them. My set weighed 1440 grams, and they feel much like the DT Swiss they replaced. At 80kg putting 1350 watts of sprint into them I can't make the disc brakes rub. Also GP5k 32mm rubber front and rear feels like a dream. I'm not losing time on strava segments compared to old 25/28 setup, and dirt roads now feel like my gravel bike!
I respect what Jesse is doing with his new bike and I am genuinely interested in how things come out. At this point, if it were me and based on what I have seen online, the only piece that I could not comfortably pull the trigger on would be the groupset. Frame = probably, cranks = yes, bars = yes, wheels = yes, cassette = yes, rotors = yes.
Having to swap parts to make it fit me as I wanted also put me off buying a new bike. I finally built a bike. It was way cheaper than buying a bike and having to sell the bits left over after the swaps. And it wasn't an Aliexpress/direct from China build. I did get the cranks/power meter from Panda Podium though.
Wheel truing, bb change, and one piece cockpit swaps/cutting steerers are probably the only things a normal person should go to a bike shop for. Everything else is more than doable. At least if we leave out super special jobs like facing brake mounts, bb's, fork and damper maintenance etc.
Pretty sure Rim Brakes are enough for 85% of riders. Fair play to Jesse as he's semi-pro and descends like one, moreover probably doesn't mind wet rides go into Australian outback. I'm OK with 25's and 100psi+ durianrider style.
@@cannon1156 I agree! ZERO WT riders or coaches agree with durianroider lol! He isnt even ripped like you are. Looks like a salami wrapped in lycra. I bet you would ride duroinrader off your wheel at 100w! duroinraper cant even get a hot gf. They are all his sisters lol.
Pretty sure 85% of riders can also benefit from better brakes, better modulation, 1 finger braking and big and comfy tyres 🤷🏻♂️ especially carbon rim clinchers with rim brakes are not a good setup for the average 80kg Joe living in a country with a mix of weather and some hills
I'm excited to see Jesse riding his new disc brake bike. I'm particularly interested in hearing his thoughts on the CRW 65/65 wheelset. It would be great if he could also compare it to the Reserve 52/63, which appears to be its closest competitor in terms of aero profile. I'm curious to learn how the 300g weight difference will impact this comparison.
I personally feel like replacing press fit bottom brackets are much more involved/complex than setting a front derailleur. I've never dealt with one but the lack of threads seem more daunting to me. It could just be bias from RUclips hating on press fit and saying they always have issues. I was "forced" for learn how to set my front and rear derailleurs after the local bike shop by me would always get it horribly wrong. I found it really easy once you do it once or twice. I'm running 9 speed dura-ace and a carbon frame from the 90s though. So maybe the modern stuff has tighter tolerances? That also means my bottom bracket is threaded. Press fit, t47, etc weren''t invented yet haha
What Jessie mentioned about the components is exactly the point why i went with dogma because i could spec it with 170 where the main stream comes with a 172.5 handlebar made to size etc.
I've been on Campy 53/39 w/12-29 cassettes for a while. Getting my 56/42 installed now. I also went with wider cassette to 11-32 to make up for the bump from 39 to 42 for climbing. For every 3T change on the chain ring, its ~ a 1T change on the cassette when dealing with the 1T jumps on the cassette. However I made the change in order to maintain the same speeds, and lower RPM and heart rate...per Dr.'s rec.
Great show!! As always. You should go for the Galfer rotors. They are so much better than Shimanos or SRAM. They don't bend and after heavy breaking and they are really light:)
Surprised you didn’t mention the CRW CS wheelset having 16 spokes, the same as cadex and synchros, the new gen carbon spoke wheels are all lower spoke count to make use of carbon’s tensile strength. This provides a much better ride feel.
I went the frame buy option my last bike and it was 2k less than buy a full bike and swapping part. I will not buy a full bike again, this was such a better experience than expected. With Chris' maintenance school, check with a shop to see if they offer the Park Tool class. They offered that at my shop in the past, it is a great thing for new cyclist. Also with him riding SRAM, the derailleurs can be done blind and the micro adjust on the app is a piece of cake to clear up noisey drive train
Great video guys and enjoyed all the topics covered. Lamperti said in his interview he was back home until July and then he will go back to Europe for more racing but just enjoys going to Tulsa.
Good luck with the built, I agree building a bike from scratch with hand picked components is the way to go , very curious how Jesse likes the bike , for what it is and vs his older bikes .
The only time I felt a major downside with 165 cranks is when you are really struggling up a steep climb and have run out of gears. Other times you just spin faster in a lower gear. It's not a problem.
on the point of the wide tyres in unbound. wider tyres that are mtbesquare are faster on uneven terrain. the reduction of vibration and micro-suspension allows the kinetic energy for the bike to move forwards rather then being pushed up. this is one of the more recent revelation in the dirt world
Finally moving from a bike with square shaped tubes like the TCR to an aero bike is going to be an eye opener. I like your choice of going with purely chinese components, very interesting. Not sure if I would be buying an 1800 frame from china, when I can get a scott foil rc, for example, for not that much more (you gotta wait for a good deal though). Maybe I'm just a sucker. But I really respect Jessie for going his own way and showing us all what's out there - hopefully this will put some pressure on western brands
Pretty sure Shimano is based in Japan. Pretty sure loads of carbon frames are still made in Taiwan. And for now, at least, the design and aero performance of western designed frames as the edge (the only exception to this may be Factor)
@@philipk4475the presumption was frames.... Taiwan or China same thing. If a few watts in a wind tunnel is worth the 2x - 3x price by all means splash the cash. Personally I don't believe a damn thing these manufacturers say and everyone shills for them lol just built a bike for 5k 5.8kg and is as good if not better than anything 15-20k
I really want to see Chris building a bike video. Looking forward to it! For SRAM chain since it has bigger rollers you need a compatible chain checker. Something like parktool CC-4. I personally use Force chain and they usually last like 1 year I guess (not sure). So far I have never been able to spot stretchy chain with Silca wax. Usually outer plate bent or something wrong like swapping gearing make me change chain.
The "king" has abdicated the throne. Edit: 40 mins in before you mention the free stuff? Talk about burying the lead. Jaw dropping stuff listening to the two of you discuss your mechanical aptitude. I assumed you'd do a lot more of your own work. I don't trust anyone with my bikes, not building or maintaining. You're missing out you know. Being able to diagnose, repair and build your own bikes is really rewarding.
Only bike job i dont do myself are wheel hubs and freehub bearings, so many different tools and specifics depending on the brand of hub i would rather just take it to a shop, also as far as Chris' s grx gremlins i would put money on it being a pinched wire or a dodgy battery, ive had a wire pinch in the headset area on an integrated set up
Timestamp 24:52 Shifting to the small ring can be bliss..and more power AND speed!! #deathto1x 56/42t is monstro. Here in South Florida “GC Perf Grant” territory, we like that. “Downshifting” my “transaxle” to the 42t is a godsend at times in this heavy, wet, hot, tropical wind.
Hi guys, great show as always. With reference to the Ryet 3d printed saddle they do eat bib shorts over a period of time. I swapped it out for the smoother style and it's a lot better, it's quite a bit firmer and doesn't have as much give, but it only weighs 113g!! Hope this helps
Wish Jessie would start with more of a main stream baseline so it wouldn’t distract from the focuses of each product. Start with Ultegra or Force - so you can stay focused on the ride quality of the frame characteristics and hear your thoughts and just get comfortable with disc brakes firstly. Most already know what Di2 or AXS feels like - he should too. Then compare to a Chinese group set. Then let’s hear the difference! Same with the crank, let’s hear the difference between Cybrei and Shimano or SRAM. Not putting on SUPER DEEP wheels, they make a bike feel fast at speed but not as nimble - taking away or distracting you from the true feel of the frame, coupled with already stiffer frameset due to disc brakes. Go for mid depth wheels which the masses ride and switch to the super deep later. Too much - TOO SOON!
Seems like an exciting build, the frame might be the 1st to be switched out. I might suggest buying high quality brake pads and rotors. They can make such a big difference.
I totally agree about the joy of making a bike custom from scratch (crank and handlebar length). Why would you pay a premium price for a brand name bike that you need to change parts out…
Thanks for talking about my win! Racing a 33mm Aerocoach bar and a 150m with 17degree Stem on the Simplon ;-)
you are a MACHINE, bravo.
They didn't do it justice. Out front the entire race, then you just dropped the hammer for 3 laps at the end of the race to blow it apart. It wasn't even close at the end. Such an insane ride in a premier crit race. Nice work.
Absolute weapon mate! I agree we didn't do the win justice ... and that pride II 👌🏼
Amazing race dude! As a fellow german I had to chuckle at Chris pronouncing your name as Mortice Augustine :D
crazy race. We were sitting at the finish line the whole race wondering when the peloton would pull the break away back in. We were cheering for you to pull it off! so awesome to see you cross the line first!
Chris should build Jesse's new bike
🤣🤣🤣
It's going to have enough problems without resorting to that level of building ineptitude
Ben Delaney, is a monster. There are two things that always strike me about his post race reviews. 1) That he can put together a cohesive and informative summary of the race and equipment after finishing and often podiuming. 2) He jumps into races with a new bike all the time. I need at least a week with a bike to feel comfortable enough to race with it and he will get a bike a day or two before a race and jump on it.
Jessie's explanation of having to swap out everything with a new bike is exactly why I went with Winspace frame and build it up exactly as I want it rather than having to get rid of have the spec and buy new wheels, cranks, stem, bars, wheels, saddle, etc.
YES! I hate it when people compare custom built bikes with a Chinese frame to a stock pre-built. Manufacturers have massive pricing power and will get parts way under MSRP.
Not even to account for the selling of parts on eBay or other secondary sites.
Same!
Ha, that tulsa weekend was crazy. I'm glad I could give some insight, cool to see you two's opinions on the racing! Jeff and I are doing a day one video soon- I did it on a chinese carbon build! So, stoked to see yours!
I knew Chris was a maintenance hubbard, but I didn’t realise it was so bad that he’d never checked a chain or changed brake pads 🥴😵💫🤣
Regarding Dylan’s Unbound setup; wasn’t the whole point about his MTB tire setup that they’re faster rolling and more puncture resistant? Maybe I missed it, but it seems like Jessie didn’t catch that part of Dylan’s explainer video.
It's possible Jesse missed that part; puncture resistance was definitely one of the keys DJ was after, second only to rolling resistance (if memory serves).
You were watching and paying attention. Yes😊
Yeah, I think setup matters so much off-road because not only are you trying to maximize efficiency and speed but you have to balance reliability. Getting flats and mechanicals can be luck, but a lot of it is gear choice and skill too. You could run DH mtb tires and basically guarantee not getting a flat, or you could run light casing super fast tires and heavily risk a flat. Go more reliable, you better have the fitness. Go less reliable, you better have handling skill and luck. I think it's at least as impactful as on the road.
The magic of that Race King tire is it's somehow very fast and also pretty puncture resistant. Still lots of arguments over whether to run inserts. They hurt the effectiveness of sealant but are a lifesaver in the case of unfixable puncture.
This whole conversation got me curious to try the Race Kings for myself. Just ordered a pair. My gravel bike can supposedly clear 50s, so let’s give it a shot.
10:48 mark - SL8, Propel, and Attack owner here. Thanks (again) for the shout out! Now, can a brother get a NERO Suit? 🤣
Yes, at retail. 😂
A true Chicago dweller. Get that beg on boy. You got any cheeseburgers to trade?
retail? Patrick puts out amazing content why your lazy ass consumes it, but criticizes. Give him all the Nero skin suits he wants for free.
all sizes still in stock mate
Has 5 bikes, wants a free skin suit…
I found the Dylan Johnson video self-confirmatory that what he did to prep for this race actually worked... that crazy bike setup gave him the opportunity to remain in the front group.
It's not just about satisfaction for this years result for him... but also the progression - how it's changed in the 5-6 years he's been competing at Unbound... granted it's not the 9th place in 11,5hrs like in 2019 or something, but the discipline has grown so much more competitive since then. As he was saying multiple times in the video, in the stacked field even repeating another 17th place would be a very strong result. A top 10 and a lifetime podium is unreal!
Jesse absolutely love your build👍👍 Great to see Joe's advice, and finally a light weight super bike build that is well worth the money.. Really want this build to ride as good as it looks
Us Coyle sycophant's are devout Chris, we wont leave over this. Maybe when he shaves his beard, grows a handlebar mustache and starts doing unbound.
😂😂😂😂
Chris has a weird emotional trigger about wearing cycling gear minutes after stopping cycling 😂
I’m so excited for Jesse to start riding this new setup. I want his no-nonsense take on the groupset and frame. If it’s reliable and decent setup, makes me more amenable to using these components on my next build.
I’m calling it: Jesse’s brakes are gonna rub and he’s gonna come back to rim brakes 👑
Hope so, I wrote a longer comment above but wasted an hour yesterday removing disc rubbing 😔 the calliper has like 0.01mm margin of error lol
Chris can fix them for him.
I have a Pinarello with Ultegra disc brakes and they heat up and rub/make noise. I’d swap my frame for a rim brake version.
I hope they rub when he needs to slow down
Giant Propel with Sram Rival here. Absolutely no rub. Discs are still straight. Very different to my experience with mtb disc brakes, where I wouldn't even bother to try and adjust, I would just let it rub
im shocked.... i had no idea Chris was a Bicycle Princess to this level... WOOW! RUclips, tools and off you go, i built 4 bikes now from scratch with zero knowledge except youtube and forums, from crap bikes with mechanical to my boardman and canyon CF SLX, and now the S-Works wiht Force D2 groupset - PS: Also i am the guy who was in one of your episodes talking about upgrading my boardman SLR 9.2... i pulled the trigger on a 2021 Snake Eyes S-Works SL7 which only has 1700miles on it, guy just never rode it and stripped it to sell, comes with the stem and handlebars for only £2050, basically a new frame.. building it towards end of the month! Cant wait!
Yep, Ive done so many jobs now just from watching instructional youtube videos
Absolutely love Jessie´s bike build direction. Looking forward to ride review.
PS: my tip for Chris and learning mechanic stuff, just read manuals for everything :). I know it boring, but everything is there :).
Went from 172.5mm to 165.0mm Crank Length after 20 years of 172.5 and didn’t really notice and performance degradation but certainly more Comfortable and no more knee pain…..Had many Bike Fits so my position is dialed in. Can’t wait for Jesse’s bike review……..👍🏻
How much did you adjust saddle height and setback
Saddle went up the difference between 172.5 - 165.0 so 7.5mm Saddle Up and went forward a few mm. Measure you saddle tip to your Stem Bolt before moving the seatpost then keep that number the same after you raise your saddle. Also my cadence is much easier to maintain at 90-95+ rpm than before. Enjoy.
Same here. No more knee and hip issues and increased power and cadence for same effort.
Chris, you should watch ‘Free to Cycle’ for your bicycle mechanic tips. He ain’t Mr Excitement but he gives excellent demonstrations.
You two blokes are a breath of fresh air…notwithstanding, getting stuff for free is not an arm’s length review/test…I.e dropping your own coin = a real test/review.
Y’all are up there with Lanterne and NorCal as the best cycling RUclipsrs IMO
Thanks man! That is great company to keep.
lanterne rides rim brakes, so does Benji
I’ve watched since you began and took a break for a coupla months (the algo stopped feeding me your show but suddenly began again ( I watch mostly cycling shows Arthur, Cade, GC Perf, Lantern R, Chris Horner, Vegan Cyclist even GNC - missed yours because I learn the most in a tight package). I’m writing because I have to say you’ve stepped up production values yet another notch - looks great!
Thanks Charles. That's weird RUclips stopped sending you the show, great to have you back. Potentially subscribing might help.
I love this show. I have one road bike friend I rarely see.
This is the chat I’d love to be involved in.
I race gravel in the SE US, and based on DJ’s YT advice I went from 40mm last season to 47mm this season and I am definitely faster and fresher.
I'm okay with Jesse upgrading to discs, he's earned the rim-brake lifetime achievement award for holding out this long and beside he'll always have his rim-brake bike for late-night rides under the moonlight. And it'll be great to have Jesse be a premier disc-brake bike reviewer, woohoo. And cheers to both of your for finding beneficial upgrades at good value, the story of our best lives on bikes. And about Dylan, I think his struggle, as it were, is to not accept conventional gravel bikes for racing and instead discover seemingly wild alternatives which create a better bike for each event. And turns out Lachlan did that, too, with that new helmet and belly bladder at Unbound.
Bearing press. Make one cheaply.
Threaded rod, 2 hex nuts to screw on rod, various size washers.
Works just fine for little $$$!
They're under $20 now on aliexpress. No real reason to do that anymore.
Those aliexpress saddles are great. I've got one with the honeycomb, and it's fantastic. I ride it with running shorts and dont feel the pattern at all, so I wouldn't worry. They are very grippy if thats something you dont like
Mixed 5d also good,
Connex make a re-usable 12 speed chain link. Ideal for waxing chains (off and on) and it requires no tools to connect and disconnect. Use a set pair of chains for ideal maintenance swaps.
I agree with Chris, interested to see it! Guessing not much faster, hopefully no major issues.
I'm guessing marginal gains
This is an incredibly practical conversation about bike maintenance and personal parts build for a new setup. Loving it!
Big fan for the maintenance series of videos. Would be cool.
Chris, you can check chain length stretch with a ruler. No special tool needed.
Also, chain breaker tool is needed to cut chain length to size.
Only concern is Jesse making a judgement about disc based on his Chinese components, but if he loves it, what a game changer.
Former professional mechanic here and I can’t imagine going to a shop for any normal job on a road bike. They are incredibly simply to work on and it’s only fear that stop people doing it. Just give it a try Chris and I’m sure you’ll be absolutely fine!
The only jobs I hate and would pay someone else to do are rebuilding suspension forks/shocks and servicing internal gear hubs. Too many specialist tools to make it economically viable too it myself.
Good luck replacing headset bearings on my Ridley X-night, where the cables/hoses go inside the handlebar, then inside the stem into a tiny space by the steerer tube then finally pass through both the bearings. I managed to put it all together not being a pro mechanic, but boy, was it labour and head scratching involved.
53:44 The wider tires are optimising for reducing flats (without compromising speed which seems unbelievable) and the war is against the slow move to increase frame tire clearance and tire choice. This played out in MTB long ago so for MTBers it is like watching a rerun. Gravel is so intriguing as it is where road and off road athletes and tech collide.
Dylan Johnson used 55 mm MTB tires at Unbound. Finished 10th!
This is the comment I was looking for. Part of optimizing in gravel IS avoiding mechanicals, as best as possible. And, at a given risk of a mechanical, you may as well be as fast as possible.
Last year, i bought and installed 5x ltwoo er9 groups. 1 died in a downhill with bad asphalt (vibrations). 2 died for no reason whatsoever, just riding. All 3 sound like the gearbox inside is broken. The 4th one has done almost 5k km, but has problems charging, so i've found myself charging the lithium batteries with a dedicated charger. The 5th one has seen very little use because my buddy crashed and getting a replacement front wheel has been an adventure. I really hope you get a newer batch where such kinks have been ironed out, because if not, you're going to hate yourself for choosing ltwoo :) When it does work, it works perfect though. It's fast, smooth, silent, brakes are great, you have level reach adjust, the app is awesome and you can switch from 9 to 13 speed in the app.
20% of the time, it works every time!
I took the plunge into fully rebuilding my SL8 after getting fed up with the service at my LBS's. Slowly got all the tools together. Watched the @gcperformance video building his SL8 and brake bleed videos and honestly that was plenty. Take it slowly, don't rush. I'm as ham fisted as they come and my bike is riding better than ever. Good on you for wanting to do it yourself.
Hey guys, great show.
Sorry to hear about the loss of one of 'our own' however, never good news. We are a rare enough breed, take care everyone ❤
Building the bike up yourself is half of the fun of getting a new bike
As a mechanic - modern headsets can get tricky with all the cables. Messing that up can have big consequences. Brakes can drive you nuts to get them perfect. Take on other things so brakes don’t frustrate you and cause you to give up. Just put brakes later on your list.
I’m nowhere near pro mechanic but totally agree.
Yeah, I have got a Ridley X-night for offroad riding and installing the brake hoses / Di2 cables in the handlebar, then through the inside of the stem and into the tiny space by the D-shaped steering tube was a nightmare.
Personally I’d advise Jesse not to go expensive on the cranks cos that’s a part you might wanna change later. 1cm shorter crank will completely change your bike setup.
I'm loving this, did I miss the video where the bike gets tested somewhere? I've always been someone who thinks 50% of the fun of riding is building their next bike from scratch, with zero brand loyalty... I'd love to do a scaled back generic version of this!
Loving this, never usually agree with anything Jesse says but this build will be very similar to a build iveould chose. Building a bike is so much better than buying off the shelf and replacing half the parts
Setting up the front derailleur is way easier and less work than changing a press fit BB in my opinion. Also the Park Tool videos are great and they have one for literally everything.
@ChrisMillerCycling Buying a new chain every 3 months is crazy! If you're keeping it in good knick, you're just throwing away money.
Shimano chains last a long time too!
A chain checker will save you a ton of money
I have the Chinese 3D printed Zeus saddle with carbon rails and I love it. I have now fitted it to all my bikes. And just $99 AUD
I'm so keen to see Jesse's full build and hear his take on it. Could be cool to do a separate update/review video after he's been on it for a bit.
Role of the bike shop? Two days out from the Tour of Flanders Gran Fondo. Purchase a fifty dollar shimano brake bleed kit. Screw the syringe into the bleed assembly giving it an extra tweek to make sure it won't leak. Snap the thread on the syringe. Read the instructions - DO NOT APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE. Wheel the bike 500 metres to the local bike shop. Pick it up the same day with optimised brakes.
Really looking forward to Jessy’s build, especially in the group set side with the performance expectations he has
I’ve read some quotes from LTwoo staying that they are targeting casual rides and are not chasing the performance market and Ike that’s the cases it will show here
I love Ben is stillin his kit when talking about the bike.
Rim brake die-hard here. The only reason I would switch to discs is also tyre clearance (and maybe possibly a classified hub). Can't wait to see the new bike built!
Can fit 28-30mm on my Winspace T1550 rim
Chain length is easy. Put it on the biggest ring on the front and biggest on the cassette skipping the rear derailleur and add 2 link. Has work every single time for year.
To make sure you use the absolute longest chain possible the better way is to have the chain on the smaller front chain ring and smallest at the back, make sure has no slack and proper tension , most people go the other way , from the largest cog but that is wrong. Cassettes sizes differ at the largest point but all the same at the smallest cog.
@@user-hj7ex1rc9r It makes no sense, unless I misunderstood. Chain length should be determined based on the largest cog/chainring precisely because it varies between cassettes with different ranges. It's the way Shimano and SRAM manuals advise how to determine the chain length.
@@82vitt you are not wrong but if you worry about the largest cog and dismiss the smallest you could have slack on the small/small combo.
@@user-hj7ex1rc9r I know, but you wouldn't keep the chain on the small chain ring and at the same time be on the smallest cog for riding. I keep the chain in that gear only when the bike is not ridden to save the rear mech spring though, so in fact, I deliberately choose my chain length to be slack in the small/smallest combo so that the spring is under minimal tension most of the time.
@@82vitt you are correct , should not cross chain but you could be on the small front and maybe 12 or 13 in the back , my point and the better method is to set up the chain for the shortest length you thing you will ever use and not the other way around , in other words put the chin on the small ring in front , whoever smallest cog you thing you gonna use that combo at the rear , size the chain long enough where the derailleur cage has a little tension and you done. Many do it the other way around and find themselves with a chain too long
You're gonna be shocked at how good your new bike is gonna feel! Those wheels are so nice....I have a pair CRW 65/75. They recommend 28 mm tires for the wheels if you want maximum areo benefits. I do 28 front 30 rear.
this will age well I believe "does he live close by? that's good" :)
I'm excited to see the build! I am sure it will be fast. Going from 2017 Canyon to 2022 Elves made me around 3 km/h faster at 200w. I'm surprised how little bike work Chris does, for someone who loves the equipment chat that much 😂
Whenever I buy a frame I always buy 2 extra RD hangers. Not that I buy frames that often, but that's the point; Get frame hangers while they're readily available and still likely to be reasonably priced. When I inevitably break the hanger down the line I have one I can put straight in (and it's comforting to have a spare whenever you travel) and another I can take to shops or send photos/measurements to find a replacement (since I always seem to pick frames that either aren't made any more or company has gone bust).
Two questions for you Jesse:
A. Any reason to pick the Ltwo over the EDS group set ?
B. In one of your past shows you mentioned about how stiff were the Lun Hyper, and that you avoid using them for long rides. It seems that the CRW will be stiff too (maybe even more than the Hyper) , so why did you decide to use that kind of wheels again?
As always, great show🎉💪🏼. Looking forward for the next episode
I received the CRW 6575 wheels about 2 weeks ago and have a few hundred miles on them. My set weighed 1440 grams, and they feel much like the DT Swiss they replaced. At 80kg putting 1350 watts of sprint into them I can't make the disc brakes rub. Also GP5k 32mm rubber front and rear feels like a dream. I'm not losing time on strava segments compared to old 25/28 setup, and dirt roads now feel like my gravel bike!
I respect what Jesse is doing with his new bike and I am genuinely interested in how things come out. At this point, if it were me and based on what I have seen online, the only piece that I could not comfortably pull the trigger on would be the groupset. Frame = probably, cranks = yes, bars = yes, wheels = yes, cassette = yes, rotors = yes.
Love the thought you've put into this project, Jesse.
Having to swap parts to make it fit me as I wanted also put me off buying a new bike. I finally built a bike. It was way cheaper than buying a bike and having to sell the bits left over after the swaps. And it wasn't an Aliexpress/direct from China build. I did get the cranks/power meter from Panda Podium though.
Yessss that time keeps creeping longer and longer
I'll be able to listen to you guys for a whole ride this time next year lmao
Wheel truing, bb change, and one piece cockpit swaps/cutting steerers are probably the only things a normal person should go to a bike shop for. Everything else is more than doable. At least if we leave out super special jobs like facing brake mounts, bb's, fork and damper maintenance etc.
learning how to change your bar tape can open up opportunities for you, particularly if you want less or more comfort, or wish to reduce weight/drag.
Pretty sure Rim Brakes are enough for 85% of riders. Fair play to Jesse as he's semi-pro and descends like one, moreover probably doesn't mind wet rides go into Australian outback.
I'm OK with 25's and 100psi+ durianrider style.
I have a couple of rimbrake bikes and in the area where I live I'll never wear out the brakes.
Durianrider .. lmao .. the guy is a joke
@@cannon1156 I agree! ZERO WT riders or coaches agree with durianroider lol! He isnt even ripped like you are. Looks like a salami wrapped in lycra. I bet you would ride duroinrader off your wheel at 100w!
duroinraper cant even get a hot gf. They are all his sisters lol.
Pretty sure 85% of riders can also benefit from better brakes, better modulation, 1 finger braking and big and comfy tyres 🤷🏻♂️ especially carbon rim clinchers with rim brakes are not a good setup for the average 80kg Joe living in a country with a mix of weather and some hills
Rim wear is a pain if you commute on your roadie. I’ve gone through 4 sets of rims on my CAAD10 in 12 years (120k km)
Brilliant vhat as always guts .... really looking forward to the bike build. I have the CRW 50/55 so will be very interested 👌
You and me both!
I have that same saddle and I have ridden them for like a year now and still really good and comfortable
I'm excited to see Jesse riding his new disc brake bike. I'm particularly interested in hearing his thoughts on the CRW 65/65 wheelset. It would be great if he could also compare it to the Reserve 52/63, which appears to be its closest competitor in terms of aero profile. I'm curious to learn how the 300g weight difference will impact this comparison.
I personally feel like replacing press fit bottom brackets are much more involved/complex than setting a front derailleur. I've never dealt with one but the lack of threads seem more daunting to me. It could just be bias from RUclips hating on press fit and saying they always have issues. I was "forced" for learn how to set my front and rear derailleurs after the local bike shop by me would always get it horribly wrong. I found it really easy once you do it once or twice. I'm running 9 speed dura-ace and a carbon frame from the 90s though. So maybe the modern stuff has tighter tolerances? That also means my bottom bracket is threaded. Press fit, t47, etc weren''t invented yet haha
Jesse is excited about bikes again! Good chat this week.
What Jessie mentioned about the components is exactly the point why i went with dogma because i could spec it with 170 where the main stream comes with a 172.5 handlebar made to size etc.
I've been on Campy 53/39 w/12-29 cassettes for a while. Getting my 56/42 installed now. I also went with wider cassette to 11-32 to make up for the bump from 39 to 42 for climbing. For every 3T change on the chain ring, its ~ a 1T change on the cassette when dealing with the 1T jumps on the cassette. However I made the change in order to maintain the same speeds, and lower RPM and heart rate...per Dr.'s rec.
With 165mm cranks you should give this to CAM Nichols and get him to test it like he does the other bikes he has built
Great show!! As always. You should go for the Galfer rotors. They are so much better than Shimanos or SRAM. They don't bend and after heavy breaking and they are really light:)
Surprised you didn’t mention the CRW CS wheelset having 16 spokes, the same as cadex and synchros, the new gen carbon spoke wheels are all lower spoke count to make use of carbon’s tensile strength. This provides a much better ride feel.
I went the frame buy option my last bike and it was 2k less than buy a full bike and swapping part. I will not buy a full bike again, this was such a better experience than expected. With Chris' maintenance school, check with a shop to see if they offer the Park Tool class. They offered that at my shop in the past, it is a great thing for new cyclist. Also with him riding SRAM, the derailleurs can be done blind and the micro adjust on the app is a piece of cake to clear up noisey drive train
Or just go to the Parktool RUclips channel, that’s how I learned the basics. Calvin and Truman are incredible teachers.
Great video guys and enjoyed all the topics covered. Lamperti said in his interview he was back home until July and then he will go back to Europe for more racing but just enjoys going to Tulsa.
As an old guy, I remember when Shimano was considered junk. I think in 10 years an Asian Brand will do to Shimano what Shimano did to Campag.
Good luck with the built, I agree building a bike from scratch with hand picked components is the way to go , very curious how Jesse likes the bike , for what it is and vs his older bikes .
Good luck on the build Jesse. Fun times.
Peak Torque actually tested de CRW and said they were aerodynamically impressive
I’m super slow, but I feel ridiculously proud of myself for being able to build a bike up myself!
Except bearings
Love the honestly with maintenance!!! Better late than never!
The only time I felt a major downside with 165 cranks is when you are really struggling up a steep climb and have run out of gears. Other times you just spin faster in a lower gear. It's not a problem.
on the point of the wide tyres in unbound. wider tyres that are mtbesquare are faster on uneven terrain. the reduction of vibration and micro-suspension allows the kinetic energy for the bike to move forwards rather then being pushed up. this is one of the more recent revelation in the dirt world
Finally moving from a bike with square shaped tubes like the TCR to an aero bike is going to be an eye opener. I like your choice of going with purely chinese components, very interesting. Not sure if I would be buying an 1800 frame from china, when I can get a scott foil rc, for example, for not that much more (you gotta wait for a good deal though). Maybe I'm just a sucker.
But I really respect Jessie for going his own way and showing us all what's out there - hopefully this will put some pressure on western brands
They're all made in China lol
Pretty sure Shimano is based in Japan. Pretty sure loads of carbon frames are still made in Taiwan. And for now, at least, the design and aero performance of western designed frames as the edge (the only exception to this may be Factor)
@@philipk4475the presumption was frames.... Taiwan or China same thing. If a few watts in a wind tunnel is worth the 2x - 3x price by all means splash the cash. Personally I don't believe a damn thing these manufacturers say and everyone shills for them lol just built a bike for 5k 5.8kg and is as good if not better than anything 15-20k
I think NERO needs to have a rip at unbound next year....
I really want to see Chris building a bike video. Looking forward to it!
For SRAM chain since it has bigger rollers you need a compatible chain checker. Something like parktool CC-4.
I personally use Force chain and they usually last like 1 year I guess (not sure).
So far I have never been able to spot stretchy chain with Silca wax. Usually outer plate bent or something wrong like swapping gearing make me change chain.
The "king" has abdicated the throne.
Edit:
40 mins in before you mention the free stuff?
Talk about burying the lead.
Jaw dropping stuff listening to the two of you discuss your mechanical aptitude. I assumed you'd do a lot more of your own work.
I don't trust anyone with my bikes, not building or maintaining. You're missing out you know. Being able to diagnose, repair and build your own bikes is really rewarding.
Only bike job i dont do myself are wheel hubs and freehub bearings, so many different tools and specifics depending on the brand of hub i would rather just take it to a shop, also as far as Chris' s grx gremlins i would put money on it being a pinched wire or a dodgy battery, ive had a wire pinch in the headset area on an integrated set up
Timestamp 24:52
Shifting to the small ring can be bliss..and more power AND speed!! #deathto1x 56/42t is monstro. Here in South Florida “GC Perf Grant” territory, we like that. “Downshifting” my “transaxle” to the 42t is a godsend at times in this heavy, wet, hot, tropical wind.
Hi guys, great show as always. With reference to the Ryet 3d printed saddle they do eat bib shorts over a period of time. I swapped it out for the smoother style and it's a lot better, it's quite a bit firmer and doesn't have as much give, but it only weighs 113g!! Hope this helps
Wish Jessie would start with more of a main stream baseline so it wouldn’t distract from the focuses of each product. Start with Ultegra or Force - so you can stay focused on the ride quality of the frame characteristics and hear your thoughts and just get comfortable with disc brakes firstly. Most already know what Di2 or AXS feels like - he should too. Then compare to a Chinese group set. Then let’s hear the difference! Same with the crank, let’s hear the difference between Cybrei and Shimano or SRAM. Not putting on SUPER DEEP wheels, they make a bike feel fast at speed but not as nimble - taking away or distracting you from the true feel of the frame, coupled with already stiffer frameset due to disc brakes. Go for mid depth wheels which the masses ride and switch to the super deep later. Too much - TOO SOON!
I think that is my concern as well. I can't help but feel this is set up to fail.
A snapped mech hanger is a good thing, it's a sacrificial part to save the frame.
165mm to 150mm cranks. only a positive move. comfort at TDC is the key. power is unaffected, because its about ATP, not levergae.
Dylan said that he had raced those MTB tires before in MTB races with no flats.
Seems like an exciting build, the frame might be the 1st to be switched out. I might suggest buying high quality brake pads and rotors. They can make such a big difference.
I totally agree about the joy of making a bike custom from scratch (crank and handlebar length). Why would you pay a premium price for a brand name bike that you need to change parts out…
Timestamp 21:07 🚲
Yes! I can do it myself, too, Jesse 🤘🏼
Yes Jesse's build plans sound very smart: "The Thinking Man's build".
Hyped for next week. Bike built video ... 👌🤙
Chris your comment..New frontier “ in regards to brakes…lol 😂