MyBike.parts
Chinese OEM producers are getting more and more popular. This kind of ordering process offers saving opportunities, custom paintings, decals and new and novel frame choices besides the big brands which produce in some cases in the same factories!
The city of Xiamen is now a hot spot for Carbon Frame and Wheelset production after the expansion of Carbon Frame Production from Taiwan to Mainland China in the early 2000. One of those companies with a longer standing is Lightcarbon. Their new model, the LCR018-D, is a new blend of road bike & gravel bike a.k.a. the All-Road Bike with a interesting design and relaxed Endurance geometry, as well as a Downtube Storage Access flap/door, where you can store some tools, tubes and stuff to keep the bike clean of saddle bags.
In this post, I want to introduce you to the bike I ordered in July 2025 from Eurobike and build together in Oct 2025 as my new main bike. There were some - new for me - hurdles, such as the T47 BB that I had to overcome and document here for other interested riders.
For German readers: I made a Youtube video which shows the build process and complements this post:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNzrg-W_oXQ
1: Bike introduction
The LCR018-D isn't a full-on race machine or a burly gravel bike. It sits perfectly in the middle – an "all-road" bike with "endurance" geometr, which you can take on less-than-perfect pavement or even some light gravel paths.
The main facts:
Frame Weight: ~1000g (size 52, without storage door)
Fork Weight: ~430g (uncut)
Total Frameset Weight: ~2.1 kg (including handlebar, seatpost, hardware)
Tire Clearance: Officially 38mm, but the Eurobike show bike ran 40mm tires, suggesting some margin.
Bottom Bracket: It uses a modern T47 thread 85.5mm internal cups (T47i 85.5). This is threaded, so (with the right adapter) it can be easily plucked in and out.
UDH - Universal Derailleur Hangar: Uses a "mini UDH" (Universal Derailleur Hanger), which is functionally identical to the standard SRAM UDH but lighter. Standard UDH hangers are also compatible. No more proprietary derailleur hangars, Yeah!
Style: Endurance geometry, internal cable routing, optional downtube storage compartment, integrated handlebar (HBR17) that also come with a Garmin/Wahoo/Bryton mount and GoPro mount., and a distinctive "eye of the wind" design on the seat stays. Comfortable, aero-ish, looks fast but not brutal. Fully internal cables.
Price: The frameset (frame, fork, handlebar, seatpost, headset) starts currently at about $650. Paint and shipping are extra. The Flip-Flop color took $120, the delivery about $170 or so.
Geometry: You can find the Frame Sizing on Geometryeeks: https://geometrygeeks.bike/bike/lightcarbon-lcr018-d-2025/ - I ordered size 52, or here from their catalogue:
2: Ordering - No Website, Just WhatsApp
Buying this frame isn't like clicking "add to cart" on Amazon. You talk to a real person. I got in touch with one of their sales representatives from Lightcarbon on WhatsApp, and they guided me through the whole thing.
I decided to go for a custom "chameleon" paint job that changes color in the light (flip flop color). It cost extra, but I have no regrets. They sent me pictures and a video of the finished paint before shipping it, which was pretty nice. The forum notes that complex paint schemes can add $200+ and 2-4 weeks to the lead time.
You can find colorschemes they offer here and here.
Final Quote and Payment: My total came to just under $1000, including the frameset, custom paint, and shipping to Germany.
Lead Time & Communication: I was quoted an October delivery when I ordered, and the frame arrived on October 2nd. The forum is filled with varying lead times, as production was batched by size. Size 52 was among the first, with sizes 56 and 58 having longer wait times into late 2025. A word of warning: the tracking status on DHL might not update for over a week. Don't panic! It's normal. My frame showed up at my door in Germany about 12 days after I got the tracking info, and the tracking info only updated 2 days before delivery.
The delivery was without any tax or so, as the delivery sender was a German Logistics GmbH.
Besides the Ordering Catalogue and the banner on their website, there is currently no list item on their website! They wrote me, they will add it after finishing 54 production! I will update this post then.
3: Unboxing
The box was solid and the frame was packed really well with lots of foam. The paint was flawless and the raw carbon finish was just perfect. No scratches, no weird glue spots. Everything felt high-quality.
The storage compartment in the downtube is a sweet feature. The door is metal and clicks shut more or less well (more about this later). It’s a great spot to stash a tube and tools so you don't need a saddle bag.
4: Build process & issues
This was my first time building a bike with a fully integrated handlebar. It was a learning experience!
Tools You Gotta Have:
Magnetic Routing Kit: If you try to route the brake hoses without one of these, you will lose your mind. It's an absolute must-have.
The Right BB Tool: The T47 bottom bracket needs a specific tool. Make sure the one you buy matches the pattern on your specific BB. I learned this the hard way and had to wait for tools to arrive.
A metal saw: You'll need to cut the fork steerer and maybe the seatpost.
Here is one suggestion that might work. I used a Rotor Bottom bracket (Rotor T4724 Internal Steel - T47-85,5/86,5/89,5/92-24).
The Tricky Parts:
Cutting the Fork: This is the scariest part. Because the handlebar is integrated, You need to cut 4-5mm below the top of the handlebar (which the manual also displays clearly). I used a miter box and a metal saw, and it worked out okay. Just go slow and double-check your measurements. Use working protection gear, such as gloves and a mask, if you work indoors.
A Youtube viewer suggest to me, to add water, which catches the carbon dust better, and make tape around the cutting spot. This avoids cracks in the carbon and makes the cut more smooth, they told us.The Bottom Bracket: Getting the bottom bracket tightened to the correct torque (40 Nm) was a struggle. My tool kept slipping. In the future, I will try again with newer tool
The Easy Parts:
Once the cables were routed, everything else was pretty straightforward. The disc brake mounts were perfectly aligned, so setting up the brakes was a breeze.
Using the storage box hole to help guide the cables through the frame made the job even easier.
5: The Ride - Was It All Worth It?
In a word: yes.
I've taken it on a handful of rides now, and the first thing you notice is the comfort. I'm running Schwalbe 35mm tires, and combined with the frame and leaf spring seatpost, it just soaks up rough roads. It's smooth and quiet, no squeaks and creaks so far, just the rattling of the internal brake hose on bumps, which I will fix with a dampener later.But when you stand up and push on the pedals, it also feels stiff and responsive. It doesn't feel lazy at all. With my short 80mm stem, the handling is quick and fun. The short reach of the HBR17 handlebar contributes to a comfortable, upright endurance position. It's exactly what I wanted: a bike that's fast but doesn't beat you up.
It surely is an huge upgrade from my previous aluminum bike in terms of comfort and optics (at my speed and power levels, total weight and aeroness are not as important, surely!)
The completed bike weighed in at 8.45 kg, equipped with a Shimano 105 Di2 groupset and T1100 XMCS carbon wheels with Schwalbe G-One Speed 35C.
One problem though: the storage door might be a little too loose. During 2 rides at the exact same spot over rough gravel where the bike shakes hard, the door handle came loose and the door with the empty bottle cage flew away. As the door is made of metal or aluminum, no harm here.
It can be fixed by adjusting the tension of the door handle on the backside with an allen key, just a few degree more or less made the handle more tight. I will watch it and see if this solves the problem now.
Full Build List:
You can find my full build list (Shimano 105DI2, Xiamen Carbonspeed CS-D50W33) here on my builds site:
https://mybike.parts/b/DQ3fRjLl3dJXPsXmJVZTig
6: Questions and Answers from me and Forum members
Here are the quick answers to the questions everyone was asking on the Chinertown forum and on my Youtube comments
"Will it fit 40mm tires?"
Probably, but it'll be tight. The official limit is 38mm, but it seems to work with some 40mm tires depending on your wheels. At the front no issue, maybe even 42 or more, but back is tight with the chainstays and even Front derailleur. Hard to say definitely, as the tube size depends on rim width and pressure, too.
"Does the UDH work with SRAM XPLR?"
Yes. Lightcarbon confirmed it.
"Is it compatible with electronic shifting (Shimano/LTwoo) or mechanical shifter?"
There are access holes for both types of setup. The box includes rubber caps to fill the unneeded holes for the
"How big of a chainring can I run with 1x?"
If you're using SRAM, you can go up to a 54-tooth ring. For Shimano, the max is 42-tooth.
"Does it come with a chainstay protector?"
Nope. You should add some clear tape to protect it from chain slap.
"What's the deal with the BB tool?"
It depends on the brand of bottom bracket you buy. Some need a 16-tooth tool, others (like my Rotor) need a 12-tooth. Check before you buy!
"My Size is XX and my Inseam is YY, is this frame for me, what size is for me?"
I suggest comparing the Stack & Reach values with your current setup and evaluate it. I used me previous bike and raised the stack a little. Also, I used the sizing option of MyVeloFit before on my previous bike and it's suggestions spit out bikes from other brand in the same size (52) like the one I ordered.
Everyone is different, and one's comfort is the other's torture.
"What is the lead time for Frame size 54, 56, .."
The general order of production was 52 -> 54 -> 56 -> 58. While the smaller sizes (52, 54) started shipping in September/October as planned, the larger sizes (56, 58) experienced longer delays, pushing well into November and December 2025. High demand was cited as the reason for these extended lead times.
"Whats the total weight of the frame/of your build":
I showed the weight of the individual frame parts in my YT short. But you can also see it on my builds page (see above), where I weight in all parts.
So, that's my build. It was a fun project, and I ended up with an awesome bike that I can't wait to ride more. If you're on the fence about this frame, I'd say go for it. If you want to mount bigger tires as 38, better look for the gravel frames from LC instead.
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