Williamcornock

Hi All -

Finished my first build. Turned out better than I had hoped for. Wanted to share.
Geometry fits me perfectly and I'm happy with my component choices. Have done a few very gravel-y 80k+ rides and it is super comfy.

Yes my bar tape is lopsided - fixable Also the bar tape blue is over exposed in the pictures - it isn't two tone or anything; it actually matches the blue shifter cable housing. I'll try to get a better photoshoot at some point but was too eager to share.

Many of the decisions I made were about this being my dream bike and not about those decisions being "logical". I use this on a daily commute all year round and wanted it to be durable, reliable, and beautiful. (I have my old CX bike with full fenders if it is pissing rain.) I've managed to keep beating my Strava segments on the commute I've been doing for years - even against runs done with a lighter carbon bike that should be faster. Likely some psychological motivation going on there but I'll take what I can get


The build:
Litespeed T5g frameset
SRAM Force 1 HydroR group
50t x 11-36t
Chris King headset, spacers, and BB
HED Belgium Plus wheels
Industry Nine hubs
3T Ergonova Alu bars
Shimano M8000 XT Pedals
Schwalbe One Tubeless 28mm tires
Thomson Seat post and Stem
Fizik Aliante Vs Saddle
King Cage Ti Bottle Cages

...for anyone concerned about my bike being stolen, it is in a gated secure area under camera in an area only accessible to my company no where near any sort of "downtown" or population centre. Its locked up with a Kryptonite Fahgettaboudit Mini and a cable to a giant steel tube sunk into concrete on both ends. At home it is stored in my home directly in front of a motion detector monitored by a security company. There's no guarantees in life but it seems pretty safe.

blakcloud

Nicely thought out and executed. Your bike looks great.

masterchief

I'm usually not a fan of colored cables or bar tape, but I think the blue freshens it up, and comes out as quite tasteful actually. It's easy to go down the safe titanium frame/all black components road, because it does look pretty good, but you see it all the time. The blue makes it stand out, and yet I'm not sure I would have thought of it/have had the balls.

I hope you're not in a very hilly area, 50-36 doesnt sound very low?

Williamcornock

It's fairly hilly, but for a long time when I didn't know any better my lowest gear was 39x26, so I just got used to it. If I ever do a real mountain climb I'll use my carbon road bike with 34x32, but for my day to day the gearing is fine.

Paul Barnard

I love the color choices. I have had an itch to build a Ti bike and that frame is one of my favorites. Only thing I don't love is the press fit BB. My bad knees would need an inner ring too. Nice work!

Darth Lefty 

I like the color too. I think you need something blue-trimmed around the seat area to round it out.

Williamcornock

Yeah actually - one of the Aliante saddles comes in a black and blue trim and I've been waiting for it to go on sale Absolutely agree it needs some blue there.

That seat is borrowed from an existing bike for now, but long term, totally agree with the comment Darth.

Williamcornock

I probably would have preferred a threaded BB too, but no creaking so far. I used Loctite 641 so I'm hoping that will help (suggested from a Park Tools article, although I understand that this is a controversial topic and I'm not saying I know for sure it was the best choice). Hoping that I just keep that BB well serviced with their injector tool and I'll never have to remove it. We'll see how it goes!

The frame is great for me - I'm not super flexible and the geometry fits me really well. Always a gamble! Fortunately I have two other bikes that were close to the right fit so I could kind of guess that this frame was the one for me comparing their reach/stack, and it turns out it fits just right. Could have not worked out that way. It was a happy day when I finally sat on it and found it to be super comfy (which is really what I'm looking for - I'm no pro racer).

markm109

How wide of a tire will fit on the rear of the T5g?

In February / March I built up a standard T5g (rim brake version). I put 28mm tires on it and if the back is even slightly not aligned I'll get rubbing on the non-drive side chain stay. It's a Conti brand tire clincher on a Velocity Deep V. I'm considering going to 25mm for this reason.

The T5 is not my gravel grinder, I have a VooDoo Nakisi for that. Replaced a Litespeed Catalyst with the T5 because I needed endurance geometry. The bike is awesome. It is as comfortable as my standby for the last 10 years - Litespeed Blue Ridge - but its as fast or faster than the Catalyst was.

Glad to find another Litespeed owner - there doesn't seem to be much love for those Ti bikes these days of carbon everything.

chaadster

Handsome bike!

Williamcornock

I think the T5g will take up to 40s. My 28s are no where near the chainstay. You say you built up a "standard T5g" - I don't think yours is the "g" version from what you are saying - I don't think any of the "g" versions have rim brakes. You just get a choice between standard and flat mount disc.

The only clearance issue I have is the rear disc rotor is at most 1mm from the chainstay. Makes me afraid to try new wheels as even a slight change could leave my rotor touching the stay.

Other than that one complaint, it is an amazing ride

I have a separate endurance bike (Carbon Synapse) but I'm not sure how much use it will get anymore (other than for road rides with really sustained climbs).

markm109

I miss typed - No I don't have a "g", just a regular T5. I was just wondering if the T5g could handle larger tires - mine is limited if I can't make these 28's work. If the T5g allows 40mm tires, that would be very good.

Williamcornock

I can't say I've tried 40s, but it looks like enough room certainly for 35s and I imagine some 40s would be fine. With my 28s there is a lot of room left over.