Java Freccia Carbon Mini Velo: Part 1 - Frame & Fork

Another mini velo? While browsing Taobao, I came across this mini velo frameset that looks rather interesting. This is a carbon fiber mini velo frameset, which is quite rare as mini velo frames are mostly made of aluminium or steel. The main advantage of this carbon mini velo frameset is the weight, which is much lower than the aluminium Wheelsport Fantasy frameset that I have. The weight will be examined in a subsequent post.

My plan is to get this new carbon mini velo frameset, and transfer all the components from the Wheelsport mini velo over to it. Let's take a look at this frameset and see why I decided to get it!

Java Freccia carbon fiber mini velo frame

No welding on the joints, as they are all molded by carbon fiber sheets

Integrated headset design to save weight. No need to press fit any headset cups, just drop the sealed bearings in.

Down tube tapers from a bladed shape at the head tube to a squarish shape at the bottom bracket for stiffness

Nice glossy finish on the frame!

Seat stays are joined to the seat tube BMC-style.

Aero shaped seat post, with hidden seat clamp wedge for a clean look

Riveted front derailleur mounting, for brazed on type FD

Press fit bottom bracket, in order to save weight. Hope it does not cause any problems...

Only part of the cabling that runs external to the frame. Two holes for RD cable and FD cable.

Special tubed portion that guides the FD inner cable from the cable guide at the bottom...

...and out from the rear of the seat tube. If designed correctly, the inner cable will not rub on the edges of the tube. This also means that water will not enter the frame through this hole as it does not lead into the frame.

Rear triangle of the frame

Aluminium rear derailleur hanger. Note the exit point on the chain stay for the RD cable.

Flared rear triangle design, 130mm OLD. Can use either road caliper brakes or the special aero V brakes.

Java Freccia carbon front fork

Even the long steerer tube is made of carbon for weight savings

Angled mount for the bottom headset bearings already molded into the carbon steerer tube. No need to press in a crown race.

100mm OLD, for 451 sized wheels

Can use either road caliper brakes or the special aero V brakes

Usually, it can be risky to buy a carbon frame from an unknown source. However, since this is a Java branded carbon frame, I am not too worried as Java is already quite an established brand in the folding bike and mini velo market. Moreover, this Java Freccia bike model is also being sold locally, which means that this is unlikely to be a frame with dubious quality.

After studying the frame and fork in greater detail, I found that the quality and design is quite good. The surface finishing is nice and glossy, with well defined edges and smooth surfaces. There are also little touches here and there which shows that some thought has gone into frame design. Generally, the build quality is quite decent, which is what I expected from Java.

In the next few posts, I will write in greater detail about building up this carbon mini velo, and what are the differences between this and the Wheelsport mini velo.