Giant Cadex 980c Build - Ultra Budget and Lightweight

[sunho]

I think your bike held up quite well over the humps dirt trail and potholes.
Should be fine. Not sure about the quality or grade of carbon fibre but just check for small crack lines and loud creaks every now and then

[dayne]

This has come up nice,
The reason the new carbon frames are very thin is because carbon fibre has come a long way in the last few years let alone 20.
It's the same as every thing, new cars are much thinner steel, plastic but are much safer than the old tanks.

This should hold up fine, my only concern would be how short the stem is and how far it's inserted into the head tube.

[frailer5]

Did you jump the speed humps on the downhill from the golf club? I did on this.

I confess I didn't. As much because I didn't trust my 'handiwork' from the night before. That would have been a good test for yours though. Any noise from it when you did?
Feel like a newbie on this rebuild stuff; but happy to learn from you guys.

[QuangVuong]

This has come up nice,
The reason the new carbon frames are very thin is because carbon fibre has come a long way in the last few years let alone 20.
It's the same as every thing, new cars are much thinner steel, plastic but are much safer than the old tanks.

This should hold up fine, my only concern would be how short the stem is and how far it's inserted into the head tube.

I'd say its down further than the threads, and should be alright. It is a Nitto, and not some cheapo stem.

Did you jump the speed humps on the downhill from the golf club? I did on this.

I confess I didn't. As much because I didn't trust my 'handiwork' from the night before. That would have been a good test for yours though. Any noise from it when you did?
Feel like a newbie on this rebuild stuff; but happy to learn from you guys.

Better safe than sorry eh? I took it easy on the first bump, but saw Andy ahead flying over them. Then I went all out as well. Other than the normal landing thud, I didn't hear any cracking or creaking. Had a look over the frame and the only damage there was, was a small nick in the paint.

[QuangVuong]

After a mishap from Wiggle, I finially got my bar tape. USE Alien carbon seatpost arrived today as well.


Now, I thought more expensive and branded tapes would be better. To me, it seems worse(thickness and softness) than $2 Chinese tape.


Compared to this tape that came with no adhesive tape(actually prefer no adhesive). It was thicker and produced a ribbed feeling.


Seatpost in


And a pair of carbon cages, just to finish it off.




Will get the bike weighed and component list finished up soon.

[Dan]

Quang, Chinese tape is shitbox. That deda tape is pretty shitbox too. Try some cork wrap like the cinelli. Preferences, I guess. Bike is looking good, though.

[Velo13]

Dan, I actually dislike the Cinelli Cork. Doesn't stretch and therefore breaks easily. I am a big fan of the cheap Serfas stuff.

[Dan]

Fair enough - I've always found it long enough to not need too much stretching, but agree that its not stretchy. That Deda Perforato, though? Breaks if you look at it the wrong way. Regular Deda? A bit better.

[munga]

bit it's sooooo light, dan!

form
function

i like the old ambrosio bike ribbon, and the fizik microtex is nice if you get white.
if its cork, it has to be cinelli. deda tape is crap. bbb stuff is ok too.

i want to get some of this kinda stuff again and relive my youth.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/F-U-B-A-R-PV ... 79a&_uhb=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[dayne]

Specialized faux perforated leather is epic in both white and black,
It's all I use on most my retro builds

[QuangVuong]

bit it's sooooo light, dan!

form
function

i like the old ambrosio bike ribbon, and the fizik microtex is nice if you get white.
if its cork, it has to be cinelli. deda tape is crap. bbb stuff is ok too.

The BBB on my bro's bike feels about as soft and almost as thick as Chinese tape. The only complaint about Chinese tape would be that it has bad QC. There are holes(5mm dia) once in a while in the tape, and no adhesive backing(which I dont mind at all).

I am beginning to see that this Deda tape is crap. It certainly is too firm for my liking, and feels quite thin. Maybe Ill go down the leather route next time I need to replace the tape.

And now the bike is creaking like crazy. Could be partially due to the new seatpost. If I tighten the clamp a lot, it wont slip, but the front of the saddle where the rails attach becomes loose? Like the saddle isnt fully connected to the rails. If I loosen off, the clamp will slip. May Loctite it. Could be a chainring bolt as youve said Munga, but havent checked yet. I have greased up inside the wedge of the BB a few weeks ago, which stopped the creaking til now.

Look forward to some CF rims coming up for this bike.

[ldrcycles]

Argh my eyes!!

I much prefer soft chunky bar tape like quangs chinese stuff, a few of my bikes have perforated faux leather Velo stuff (because I got 5 rolls cheap from the LBS ) and while it looks good on an older bike, it's too thin and hard for my liking. Better than nothing of course.

[munga]

Specialized faux perforated leather is epic in both white and black,
It's all I use on most my retro builds

will have to have a closer look next time

[Velo13]

Thread hijack. Who remembers that yellow fluoro profile bar tape that had skulls on it?

BTW, I really like this Giant. I remember selling quite a few back in the day. At the time (and only for a short period), you either bought a euro steelie, a Cannondale or one of these. Maybe a Klein if you were a dentist.

[trailgumby]

Looking very nice, Quang. Great work, lovely looking bike.

[QuangVuong]

Thanks to Joe who kindly picked up my carbon wheelset, the Fast Forward F4R. Initial impressions are that its super light, but almost fragile. I could feel the carbon sidewalls flex in when I was pressing in on it. Once these break, hubs will be used on my Aerohead rims.


Bike is a little dirty from this morning's retro ride, so dont mind the white marks.


Now I see why valves are 48mm .






Giant Cadex 980c Frame - $100 - 1723g
Giant Composite Fork - $0 - ????g
Shimano 600 Headset - $0 - 108g
Rolls Titanio Saddle - $0 - 309g
USE Alien carbon seatpost - $20 - 160g
Nitto Stem - $10 - ????g
Carbon Drops - $20 - 290g
Deda Bar Tape - $8 - 29g
105 Groupset(Mix of 105SC and 5500) - $65 - ????g
KMC Titanium Chain - $35 - 230g
FFWD F4R Wheelset - $50 - 1635g
Rubinos - $30 - 500g
Cables + Housing - $15 -????g

Total Cost: $338
Weight as of now: 8.5kg (Will get it weighed at a LBS for accuracy later)

[singlespeedscott]

Specialized faux perforated leather is epic in both white and black,
It's all I use on most my retro builds

will have to have a closer look next time

Meh. Velox cloth tape is where it's at. Nice and thin. I can't stand fat handlebar tape.

[trailgumby]

re: the creaking seatpost, use carbon paste like Ritchey's Liquid Torque. Then as little as 6Nm will be sufficient to keep it in place and ... ah, the silence

[QuangVuong]

Yeah I used Finish Line Fibre Grip. It's more the clamp I'm having issues with. I'm sticking with rattling saddle(super tight clamp moving the rails to a wonky position?). Better than having a loose clamp.

Today it wasn't creaking too badly though on a 40km ride.

[munga]

are your rails and clamp the same width?

[QuangVuong]

With my particular Rolls(titanium) saddle, not exact. On another leather salle(some Velo brand copy?) it fits better. I really dont wanna take off the saddle now as its a hassle to readjust again. Unless that will solve the problem.

[munga]

[Dan]

Fry speaketh the truth. New seat post time.

[QuangVuong]

It is a new seat post. Maybe I'll get round to trying a different saddle.

Anyway, just got some time to cut my head tube logo. The finishing touch!

[Dan]

Queen Victoria?