Custom Titanium Build - Cutting out the middle man - The Waltly Way
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- Опубліковано 16 чер 2024
- This is my custom titanium bike frame designed in Bike CAD and manufactured by Waltly.
This is the budget way of getting hold of a custom Ti bike. Feel free to ask me any questions, I'll try to answer them quickly.
Shot on Insta360 One X2 (It's still good) - 5% off with the link
www.insta360.com/sal/one_x2?i...
By popular demand,
Here's a link to the briefing doc and cost breakdown.
docs.google.com/presentation/...
---------- Contents of the Video -----------
00:00 - Intro
00:31 - Inspiration
01:13 - Bike Fit
01:51 - Geeking out
02:06 - Bike CAD
02:47 - Ordering from Waltly
04:00 - Dream Build
06:20 - First Test Ride
08:56 - Pros
09:59 - Cons
10:52 - Final Thoughts
Components list. (affiliated).
Integrated Carbon Handlebar - s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Ddk...
Carbon saddle - s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DFb...
Carbon aero bars - s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DlP...
Internal handlebar cable Lock - amzn.to/3tSd3LY or s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DFq...
Mountain Bike Rear Rack Adapter - s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Def...
Bell. www.never2far.com/en/p/rng-or... - Спорт
Good video. Great to see others having good experiences with Waltly.
Hey man, thanks for your support. Love your work BTW. I'd love to be able to do it full time like you, I've just never made the leap.
I had a Waltly frame built up early in 2023 - contacted Sumi in January, got the drawings worked up in February, and received my frame in April. I used the geometry of a Cannondale Synapse as my starting point, since I wanted endurance geometry and many reviews said that the Synapse had very comfortable geometry for long rides. I then built it up and have been riding the bike ever since. The bike now has just over 5000km on it and it has been great overall, both in looks and ride quality. It's quick and comfortable - I have ridden it as much as 350km in a single day without any comfort issues at all. My bike does not have an integrated headset (too problematic / annoying for maintenance for my tastes) but it does have internal cable routing. Weight of built up bike, including pedals, is about 9.5kg. I'm running 105 Di2 on mine. I'd highly recommend Waltly to anyone looking for a custom Ti bike at a reasonable price. I have to thank @ChinaCycling for introducing me to Waltly through his video about the company and his experience with them.
I'm at -15°c at the moment, but I can't wait to get back out there and rack up some miles. Glad you've had a good experience. I think they are brilliant.
Interesting set up for the TT bars, looks like I gotta look into those!
So happy for you Slade! Rock'n'roll!! 🚀
Thanks very much! See you on the road.
Great to see this.. Sumi and all the team are awesome. Waltly are my go to now
I wish I could be a repeat customer. One day maybe.
lovely build and video!
Thanks very much
Only 752 subs at this quality?
Keep up the good work m8! Rooting for ya
Thanks very much. I've been at it for years, but very inconsistently.
Feel free to take a look around.
Congrats the bike looks amazing
Thanks very much!
I had a Waltly MTB frame built at the end of 2021. I have it set up single speed because I spec'd it with their version of the Paragon machine works sliding rear "dropout" (thru axle, so not technically a dropout). It is amazing. I had the same experience as you, with Amy, getting the process started and seeing it through. $1500 shipped is an amazing deal for the quality provided. I am saving now for another, I want to build up a single speed cyclocross bike light as a feather and can't think of a better foundation. Waltly for the win!
Excellent!
Been using my Waltly bike for almost 3 years now, never been so happy! They have great customer service despite the almost exclusively email only correspondence.
I invited them for an interview for this film but sadly they said no.
Nice build. If youre going to be running the double stem/handlebar, go for a Ti fork.
My Ti fork is the favorite thing ive ever made, it is amazing. Mostly because i got the fork made with a low 28mm rake that rides so much better. And 180mm flat mount for that sweet brake power.
cool bike, even better music taste
Cheers, and cheers.
Beautiful lines on those tubes. You’ve made an incredibly classy bike that will serve you for many years. Thanks for sharing your experience with Waltly. I’m planning to go the same route one of these days, but not finalized in my geometry. Would you mind sharing what geo you ended up with?
Hey man, Thanks. I'm glad you liked it. Here's a link to the doc i sent them. docs.google.com/presentation/d/1UWtbSG0IC0ie7sD0rvHmkKLP74rFh4SZ1PQ64DLVdwo/edit?usp=sharing
Nice video. Very interesting how you've mounted a stem above the handlebar stem for the tri bars. Never seen anyone do that before.
I'm working on a fibreglass mount solution because I think it's ugly. Thankfully I've taken them off for the winter, it's not much fun riding on the snow and ice with aero bars.
Have been thinking of doing it for awhile now. Maybe when I save up more money. A wider tire cable cx/road style would be nice. In the meantime I found a beautiful Wisconsin made 2006 Lemond Titanium and I couldn't be happier with the ride. Very light. Comfy. People say it has Superior ride quality. Idk about that but I do like it.
Please make a video of the tools you own, specifically the ones used to build this bike including the grease
I'm glad it worked out well. Do you have a long enough plug in your steerer tube to extend under your handlebar clamp?
It's on the way! You are not the first to point out the safety issue. I'm working on a fiberglass or 3D printed solution to add a mount to the integrated bars.
Thanks for the beautiful video, nice bike and well done builded. I however had a terrible experience with the same company Waltly, but in my case I was talking to Sumi, she made so many mistakes, got the first frame wrong, shipped it back, remade it and got with less mistakes but still many things that I asked were missing. No room for negotiation once you get the frame, so I had to fix it locally and it was a big burden. In parallel I was doing another ti bike with a local builder in Japan (Equilibrium) and it was absolutely a different experience, just a piece of art, absolutely perfect, but just because the communication was much better, clear, not confusing like Sumi! Anyway, I can tell you your experience was much more successful and the outcome way better, so I think if you are lucky they are ok, but if something goes wrong you have no plane B with them.
Like I say, it's not an advert. I've heard mixed things, but mostly positive. I live in a country outside my language so I have a lot of lost in translation experience. I am very forgiving when the world speaks my mother tongue. There were many rounds to get it right but we got there in the end. Thankfully only one shipping experience. Glad you got a good ti in the end. Happy trails.
@@SladeTakalaLamey absolutely, I am not judging at all, I am also living in a foreign country and I dealt with communication barriers all my life for working. Waltly is a famous company, that’s why I also gave them a try, I mostly read good feedbacks, I was not just happy with their service, especially with Sumi’s communication style, etc…but I can tell you you have a great bike. I also used bike cad, fun and amazing, that was probably the most fun part, the journey rather then the destination…happy rides
@@marcospola If you are ever in Finland, you should check out the Midnight Sun Gravel. It's amazing. It's a 1000k, one week before mid-summer so the light is almost endless. Riding through the night is not only possible without lights, it's when all the deer come out to greet you. How's Japan for gravel? I have this idea that it's basically big cities, bullet trains and mountains. Am I wrong?
@@SladeTakalaLamey no, not wrong at all, Japanese efficiency.. if a road is ridden by at least one person it has to be paved :)…jokes aside, few gravel routes around, but mostly road bike, let me know if you ever come, I can recommend you some dudes around Karuizawa… tokyo is boring …Finland in summer is in my list…
@@marcospola thanks very much. You too.
Walty website doesn't mention prices either. How much does something like that cost? I don't think it's vulgar to talk price, it's an inherent aspect of any bike
There's a Google doc in the description with a full price breakdown.
@@SladeTakalaLameythank you! The postage and cassette look spicy but the rest looks reasonable, thanks!
I love the idea of that bike lock, but I would be interested to hear your thoughts about it having used it for a while now. I have a ti bike myself which i love, and I purchased a very robust (yet heavy) lock that I use when I anticipate needing to leave my bike for any period of time, but I would love a always-at-hand solution for those brief unanticipated stops. Does it work smoothly? Does it feel secure against a bare-hand attack? Can you hear it inside your handlebars?
Thanks for your wonderful video, it's brilliant to see people sharing their experiences like this.
It's stuck inside my handlebars and I can't wiggle it out. Ha.
Enjoy them miles
Thanks very much.
What an amazing build!
I was wondering for Ali aero bars attaching to aero handlebars with the aero profile, not a classic round tube, how did that go is there an adapter that fits them?
If you watch till the end of the linked video, it shows how I made an attachment for the bars.
ua-cam.com/video/x8eEqjENEUU/v-deo.htmlsi=J7Ml1_ceWOvmsjy0
However when I was making this build video, I just didn't cut the steerer tube, and added a second stem. Hope that helps! 😃
@@SladeTakalaLamey thanks a lot, was it design in cad and 3d printed or old school design and fab process?
@@benhadman2812 designed in blender, lazer cut plywood, then old fashioned glue and sandpaper.
What are the two things in your bar ends? One is a bell (where did you get that from, looks great!) and the oder thing a tiny lock? Seems super practical! Great video and bike btw :D
You are correct on both counts..
Heres the bell.
www.never2far.com/en/p/rng-or-bar-end-bell-road-gravel
And the lock
s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DFqbJOj
beaut bike bud, thinking to get one soon and build it up to a gravel bike
If you needed any encouragement... go-ooooooon, do it!
@@SladeTakalaLamey thanks buddy think I will do
@@SladeTakalaLamey I'll also do an review and unboxing on my channel as done a few bike things already
@@Froxdj awesome I'll check you out.
Great build. Where are the seat post and fork sourced from?
The fork was supplied with the frame they are pretty basic. But they measure 50mm 398mm. The seatpost is an Ali Express knockoff of the ergo.
@@SladeTakalaLamey Nice and thanks for the info. The same components can be found on the Canyon Grail which would be my bike of choice but thanks to you I now have a better and cheaper alternative 👍
@@Knight766 I first saw it on the grail but I'm a cheapskate. The seat rail clamp is set for metal rails I had to grid a bit off to fit my thinker carbon rails. Or you can buy the carbon specific clamps from ergon/canyon.
Really really really looking forward to mine. Right now it should be somewhere between China and Europe.
Is it gravel, or something else?
gravel, similar to yours but with a much more vertical seat tube (bikefit suggestion), shorter top tube and a slightly shorter chainstay@@SladeTakalaLamey
@@mireianievasrosillo8021 Nice 👍, I have the anatomy of one of those smoking aliens from MIB. Very short legs and a very long back. I'm also not very flexible (I can touch my toes, just). I favour a 50mm drop from saddle to handlebars. Hence the very tall front end.
@SladeTakalaLamey what headset did you use?
FSA integrated N.55 R 1 1/8" 36-45°, they supplied it, It was a gap in my knowledge and I figured it was the best way to ensure it fit.
There's a whole Google doc with specs and components in the description. Btw.
Wow, what a gorgeous bike! Can you tell me where you got the fully integrated handlebars from? :)
Thanks very much. The Handlebars are from AliExpress from the Meische Cycling Store. Kocevlo 420mm 100mm I paid 108€, so far they are great, no snapping or creaking. I've heard that when there is a problem with cheap carbon bars, you tend to find out in the first month. so wish me luck.
Perfect, I found them. I will ask you once I am ready to order, if that’s alright? :)
@@JulianZott of course
@@SladeTakalaLamey Hey Pliis. I ordered my frame a few days ago. I am so excited for it to arrive. I am in the process of ordering the wheels and handlebars as well ad wanted to check up on you if the handlebars are as good as they seemed when i first asked you?
Thanks in advance and have a beautiful Christimas and Holidays :)
@@JulianZott I am sorry to say that with flu, holidays, and very slippery icy weather, I've not been out much more than the test. But what little more I've done, I love them.
should have bring your trustee m17 crankbrother compact multitool mate totally save you the walk back xD
Great video. I really like your lighting and music and editing. It makes for an entertaining and pleasant viewing experience.
But I’m cringing at one thing. On such a dream build your using an oversized adjustable wrench for those small nuts 😬. You’re more likely to round off or strip the nuts. I’m surprised you’re not using the proper fitting open-end wrenches 🔧 there. But alas it’s still a great build.
What you didn’t bring tools worth you especially on your first ride? 😮
I’d still be hesitant about buying a titanium made from a no name in China. Sure maybe they make frames for name brands but at least they’re offering warranty. For something as exclusive as a one-off custom ti frame I’d prefer to stick with established brands that I can review their products and backed by solid warranties
Cheers for the compliments. And I know leaving without tools was daft, but I'm an idiot.
The torque wrench goes down to very small values, and I never went past the click.
I never would have trusted the process without Harri, seeing the endorsement in person gave me the faith. I'd give it a go. The savings are worth it.
@@SladeTakalaLamey I'm actually thinking it would be cool to go to the actual factory
@@geoleo2597 I'd be first in the list if they invite film makers to do a profile film, but they'd have to pay for the flights. 😏
Why not Litespeed or Lynskey? Slightly expensive but amazing quality!
I think from the comments below, you can see that there's lots of satisfied customers. But if they want to send me one. I'll happily build it up and film it.
@@SladeTakalaLamey Happy riding! ✌🏾
Nice bike 🙂 is there cost spread sheet? How is total weight of this beast?
I'll see if I can find it, I'm on holiday, so I'll get back to you!
@@SladeTakalaLamey Have a nice holiday. I'm wondering about this type of bike for few months now and your movie tipped the scale. 🙂
@@tkrzysiek Excellent. In all honesty I never would have had the courage to send large amounts of money blindly to china without Harri's endorsement. So if I can provide that for other people it's great. Cheers.
Would love a ping when you find it. Also very interested
@@connorazzarello5514 I'm back now. I'll have a look.
I have 30,000 miles on my Waltly ti 26" BMX single speed also terry in customer service is very helpful
I think they are brilliant. Although it makes me feel like an imperialist not knowing or using their given names.
@@SladeTakalaLamey Should I just tell them I want a Titanium copy of a Santa Cruz Chameleon and leave it up to them to get the exact dimensions. Or maybe they already have them on file...
@@mrvapor4791 You could try. If not you might find there is a Bike CAD file online somewhere, or just input the geometry to CAD from their specs, which I'm sure are available online. You might even find yourself tweaking it a little. Let me know how it goes, I'd be interested to hear.
@@SladeTakalaLamey I was playing into your use of stereotypes implying they are likely intellectual property thieves.
What is that in the drop bar ends?
In the right hand side there is a bell. In the other is a lock that threads inside the bars.
Here's an affiliate link. amzn.to/3tSd3LY
@@SladeTakalaLamey could you share the link on the bell too, please? Searched via different requests on Aliexpress, but no luck
Double stem looks illegal 😂
For the rest realy nice build. Do you have an extra long steerer plug to compensate for the double stem?
The forks were brand new so I just never cut them off shorter than I needed. The UCI has no jurisdiction here. I bought the integrated bars before realizing that I was never going to fit aero bars to them. I may lose them in the future.
@@SladeTakalaLameyyes true. Have you checked the steerer plug length? If it doesn’t go all the way down to the bottom of the lowest stem it can be dangerous when sprinting. The steerer can snap!
@@MarkBurghouwt cheers for the heads up. I'll look into it.
@@SladeTakalaLameythe clamp area needs to be supported from the inside. I have a 80mm Deda steering bung (I don't even like having the upper bearing unsupported.
Note: the handlebars may have come loose in part because of the flex that the unsupported steerer tube has.
@@galenkehler good to know. Thanks.
Honestly, who repairs a metal bike by welding, when on a bike trip? It is now easier to simply buy a new frame, because there are so many to choose from and they are distributed world wide. I think it is good you didn't go for double butting, because it probably gives you more rigidity, which is important for Ti.
You mention that you used the free version of BikeCAD, but your CAD drawings include elements that I can't access in the free version. Can you clarify?
Maybe they have closed down some functionality, it's often the case with free software. Twinmotion used to be free, now it's paid if you want to export anything (which is quite important).
@@SladeTakalaLamey Thanks. I think it will still serve my needs. I'll have to manually label a few things, like seatstay drop, for example. I know you opted to avoid graphics on your frame. Do you know if there were there any upcharges associated with them, had you chosen to have them? @ChinaCycling (Joe) really went to town on his.
@@michaelnewman4302 they quoted me $50 for a sand blasted logo. $80 for Lazer or anodized. I would have gone anodized but the example picture they sent had tape bleed on it, so I opted out.
@@SladeTakalaLamey thanks for the info.
Currently, there are two free versions of BikeCAD. One runs inside your web browser and the other can be installed on a laptop or desktop computer just like BikeCAD Pro. The standalone version is stuck at version 17.5 while the web based version is currently at 20.6. The decision not to update the standalone version was primarily to incentivize the purchase of BikeCAD Pro. The cost of BikeCAD Pro is only a one time fee. All future updates are free of charge. Coupon codes are also available for customers who can't justify the full price.
I personally had very bad experience with Walty, or I can say zero experience, as they totally ignored my order inquires, I sent them emails/forms in 2022 n 2023 several times, but got zero response. Obviously they are so keen with doing business with UA-camrs, but not ordinary cyclists.
I ended up trying another company in Baoji and couldn’t be happier, ordered 2 custom frames from them.
I didn't dangle the UA-cam carrot at them, and my subscriber numbers don't move many mountains even if i had've. I've obviously heard mixed things. I can only speak to my own experience which was broadly positive. Sorry you had a shitter.
What aero bars are those?
Those are the cheapo Ali Express ones. There are some components I see a point in spending lots of money on. And others that I really don't.
@@SladeTakalaLamey amazing! Can you link me?
@@rdx913 I'm setting up affiliates, but in the meantime, here you go. Happy Christmas.
€31.14 20%OFF | Newest road bike triathlon Time trial 3K UD 12K full carbon fibre bicycle extended TT style rest handlebar lightest
@@SladeTakalaLamey I know you responded to this months ago, but I think I only understood just now: you're using a second stem. I was wondering how you got the aero bars over your original handlebars. Did you do this to preserve hand positions on the handlebars? If yes, why not just use spacers?
Two stems 🤯
It was a trial while I worked out the aero bar mounts. If you look at my solar panel film, I've solved that problem now.
ua-cam.com/video/x8eEqjENEUU/v-deo.htmlsi=BsxX7tK4BRVOnGBM
@@SladeTakalaLamey Oh 👍
Talking about the cost would not be vulgar. It would be good and useful information to see the cost of a specific example.
After popular demand, I put the Google doc in the description. It's all in there. 😎
cool. thanks
@@SladeTakalaLameynice. thanks! ....cheaper than I thought. It's a shame that shipping is so expensive.
@@SladeTakalaLamey avoiding the vulgarity of having it in the video by providing reference slides google doc is perfect 👌
Hi, I'm literally one or two emails away from finalizing my Waltly gravel bike frame. Super-excited, as you probably were at that point, too. It seems like you had good communication with Amy. I have been assigned to Sumi and communication is very, very tricky, to say the least. I have to greatly simplify my English (which isn't always easy when you talk tech), be extremely specific, be extremely repetitive and even then Sumi often doesn't understand it right or even wrong, making changes I never requested, which I then have to spend 3-4 more emails undoing. I also felt pressured into certain directions (like a T47 bottom bracket, which I absolutely didn't want) and external cable routing, even though I described my desired routing in excruciating detail in my very first email to them. What normally should take 1 email, often takes 3-4 emails. She is also not very detail-oriented, often forgetting important details, so it takes further emails to remind her not to forget certain points. With the 12 hour delay (I'm in Spain), this has added up to almost three months now. Even though I went into this super-well-prepared in terms of specifications (I read other users' stories before) and even though I know a lot about bike tech (sometimes more than the average bike mechanic), I'm already at over 100 emails and that's just to get to the end of the design process. So I really hope the frame (which will actually be quite similar to yours), comes out well and it will be all worth it. But communication with Sumi, I have to be honest, was/is super-challenging.
I'm sorry to hear that. I live in Finland where the level of English is often better than in England, so I'll agree the level of English with Waltly was sometimes an obstacle. But as I'm a mono-lingual Englishman living abroad I am very forgiving of anyone who is even trying to speak my language.
Amy was the first to admit that she is in sales and is not a bike mechanic. So she apologized if I used a term that she didn't understand and simply asked for a photo of the component that I was referring to.
I had a bit of back and forth over tyre clearance and bottle cages, but my geometry stayed as originally ordered, so we never had to discuss that.
I had to insist that we drop the chainstay yoke. And said I was willing to sacrifice tyre clearance for that decision. It turns out tyre clearance was ample.
Never had an issue with internals (I went fully internal).
I asked for a T47 because it gave a decent gap for my hose, I've not heard an argument against that bb.
I am sorry to hear you've not had the best of experience. I hope it will all be resolved by next spring and you can enjoy the fruits of your labour. Good luck. Let me know how it goes!
Thanks for sharing your experiences @pliisfi ! I think you got lucky being assigned to Amy then! Sumi's level of English must be quite some levels below that of Amy. I'm actually German by birth, so my first language is German. I lived 15 years in the U.S., meaning I'm also U.S. citizen and speak English fluently. I have been living in Spain for the last 8 years, and - consequently - Spanish became my third language. So yeah, I know exactly what you mean by being forgiving with English. Being forgiving was simply not the issue. The issue was that even very simple sentences were completely misunderstood to the point where she took clarification questions as calls for action for changes ... even though I was not requesting changes, but just asking questions! This happened so many times, that it often took 2-3 emails (meaning 2-3 days) just to clarify that I was just asking a question and then 2-3 more days to undo the changes I never asked for. I also provided very organized feedback documents in Excel format, yet half the points I raised were either overlooked or incorrectly "corrected" multiple times. Being organized and detail-oriented was not her strength. Sumi does seem to have technical understanding, or at least her responses indicate that, but it's entirely possible that her replies came from someone who does. I'll never found out.
As for being pushed into things: that happened to me on many occasions as well. First it was very ugly oval tube choices that I clearly stated I'm not interested in. It took me quite a while to convince them of the hydro-formed tube shapes for down tube and top tube I really wanted. Then it was the bottom bracket. I want to use a gravel-specific 386EVO thread-together bottom bracket from Rotor, which is the only one with enough clearance to route my brake cable through the bottom bracket shell. Yet they continuously tried to sell me a T47! Related to that, I had to explain my semi-internal cable routing probably 15 times and was forced to create to-scale, super-detailed technical drawings in Adobe Illustrator to explain to them what they really should know themselves. And finally it was the yoke, which they also tried to sell me so many times, even though I'm asking for just 40C tire clearance on a 48T 1x chain ring that's on an offset axle with +2.5 mm more tire clearance. Plus, I needed to actually route a battery cable from the seat post through the bottom bracket and drive-side chain stay to my electronic rear derailleur, which wasn't gonna work with a yoke. Only yet another very technical and very detailed at-scale Adobe Illustrator drawing finally convinced them that a chain stay instead of a yoke is possible.
Well, the remainder payment was done today and my frame will go into production now. Can't wait to receive it and build it!
@@martinthormann top marks for patience man. I hope that you can turn it round to a positive experience and that every mile releases the stress a little bit more.
@@SladeTakalaLamey Hope so, too. Here's my final CAD drawing drive.google.com/file/d/1wb7YbcLO9B5biNWxae2k5AZDU0efWMrH/view?usp=sharing as well as a Photoshop mock-up of the desired end state: drive.google.com/file/d/1x4vITsXT6JtPE0LKRGBCM3BB9dJoIl3L/view?usp=sharing P.S. Obviously not my frame and not my wheels, plus chain looks off because the Google image I used was a 2x, but you get the idea. ;)
And great job on your build!
i thought custom geo. means no head set spacers, im just going to leave the double stem thing alone.
The headset is aspirational. I will be dropping throughout the season while I go to the gym to do some backwards sit ups. It is my optimal geo when I am at peak. (Which I am currently far from).
I'm working on a better aero bars setup. :)
Really liked the video, great presentation of the topic. But I could never, in good conscience, buy a bicycle that is made in China.
Phone, TV, Dishwasher, even Socks all held to a different ethical, quality and transport miles standard than bikes I suppose.
@@SladeTakalaLamey I avoid buying those from China as well. Note "avoid", it's not always possible. But yeah, I guess I can see your point, even if I don't share it.