This 3D-printed piece adds internal cablestops to that hole on the downtube, so the shift housings run from bar into head tube and down to that access hole:
https://www.printables.com/model/391559-supersix-evo-internal-cable-stop
The tight bend into the head tube contributes to less-than-perfect shifting, but I think an integrated bar will allow for a bit more space to have more gradual bends.
(The reality is that I’ll go wireless as soon as I stumble upon a good enough deal.)
That’s a very cool solution! My supersix came with mechanical 105 but also one of their integrated knot hollogram bar/stems. Well, the bar was the Save version but I swapped to a narrower knot version. I had 11 speed Etap from another bike which I put on it when I changed the bar. Electronic set up saves so much aggro when building bikes!
It was a full-on paint job. Cost me £1800 (about $2300) for the design, finishing and painting. That was also for a matching painted helmet. Not cheap, but I loved it. But I’ve learned a lesson now…don’t custom paint bikes unless you absolutely have to. No-one cares when it comes to selling it.
Very nice paint job! I am also planning one day to do custom paint to some of my bike(s). One thing i am always wondering, what is the reason that almost always the brand label is also included during repaint. I assume you are not sponsored by Giant (even if it is nice brand 
). I would prefer actually that new bikes would be without labels or very small ones if they have to be there.
Good looking rig, out of curiosity, are you running 11sp chainrings with 12s drive chain? if so how is the shifting, any dropped chains?
Thank you, yes 11 speed R8000 rings on a 12 speed di2 drivetrain. no problems for me
On the subject of mixing speeds, a brief roadtest running a KMC 11-sp chain over TA Spécialités Zéphyr (110×5) & Zélito (74×5) which are designated 9/10-sp, yielded no dropped chains. But the combination was noisy. But I’m not using those chainrings on that bike because I could not shift away from the middle ring. I think that was more a FD / front shifter / chain incompatibility, or for the for middle -» big shift a chainring spacing problem.
In other news, TA has got on board with the X80 BCD format, offering down to 28t for GRX. 
Looking at the image of the 28t, it does look like there might’ve been room to go one smaller, but 
offering 28 is better than not offering 28.
Ah, that’s good to know its not just me that pays over the odds for things and then realises they have limited resale appeal to others 
That said, the most I have ever paid for a new paint job is probably only near £100 for a new powder coat - never quite loved any of my bikes enough once they got tatty to want to spend on a real custom job.
Quick question - where have you had a powder coat at £100 done? Is is a friend/family rate or a car bodyshop etc? That does sound like a great rate.
The reason for this having the Giant logo included was that I worked for Giant UK for 8 years, and this bike was the very first press demonstrator bike that was imported into the UK and did the round around several of our Bristol-based journos. When it was finished going around the houses, I bought it and after a while decided to repaint it. Kind of had to include the logo as original as it would have been seen as poor taste not to, especially for the price I bought it for after the demo usage…!
So I’ve had 3 frames coated at different places, all in the region of £70-£100. None have been quite as glossy or “perfect” as a bike fresh out of the box, but equally, no orange peel/dimpled effects that you might get on a proper bargain job.
I got an original 26" wheel MK1 Marin Riftzone done at a place called Garrick Coatings in Preston. Probably 10 years ago now. They’d done bikes before, knew what to mask up (bearing surfaces etc). Kawasaki green for that one. If they still exist then I’d try them again.
Then I had a Giant TCR ALR SL done in plain gloss black at a local container unit business which advertised doing bikes on Facebook. Think I saw they subsequently sold their business.
Most recently, a local powder coaters on the outskirts of Bolton have coated the frame I have on the turbotrainer in a battleship grey. The frame was in a rough, pitted, corroded state before they even started, so they did say it wouldn’t be able to cover up the surface imperfections - which was fine by me as it was only ever going to stay on the turbo trainer. I’d probably try them again if I had another frame needing doing.
I’d like to have a look at what the supposed “best of the best” powder coat would look like, as the above were functional and looked tidy, definitely fine from a distance, they just weren’t quite as glossy as a brand new bike. Perhaps because they weren’t lacquered? Does one bother with lacquer on powder coat???
Gen 7 Madone SLR7 in Axinite Flip color with a few changes
Aeolus RSL saddle
RSL51 wheels / 28mm GP5000 S TR
XTR Rotors
Bang on at 7.5kg with no pedals or mounts
2021 Specialized Epic HT Comp, full SLX build
Just got it this year from a guy who bought it new and never used it. I could tell the stem bolts had never even been undone before.
Haven’t really changed much, but got a crank power meter and had to swap to a slightly shorter dropper cause my legs weren’t long enough. Of course I went tubeless too.
It’s proving to be an amazing bike, it shines equally on gravel rides and trail rides. I’m coming from a Roscoe 8 trail hardtail and to my surprise I don’t find the Epic to really be any less capable when mountain biking.
New Bike!
Trying to cut a long story short: My 2017 Mondraker Dune has a terminal issue and I’ve not had a new MTB in 7 years. Again, long story short: I picked this up at the weekend and for all intents and purposes its brand new.
2023 Privateer 141 Ohlins edition. 1 of 100 produced.
This is all excellent, thanks so much for the info. I’ve spent a load on painting bikes in the past and I just want a simple / cheap option for a bike potentially in the future. Powder coating and transfers would be good enough for me. Thanks for the suggestions!
My first ‘real’ road bike (was previously using hybrid bikes and a track inspired fixie until I realised I love the sport).
A 2021 Canyon Ultimate CF SL Disc.
All basically standard with mechanical ultegra but upgraded the wheels to Zipp 404 Firecrest (just cause they look cool, i don’t cycle fast enough!) and a 3D carbon printed saddle and Carbon bottle cages all of which I sourced from AliExpress
I actually wanted the bike in blue but I bought it during covid and stock was flying off the shelves so when I saw it was in stock i bought it right away.
Think it’s actually ever so slightly too big for me but I do love riding it still. Hoping, if all goes to plan, to get a Tarmac SL8 later this year/early next year which I’m going to buy the parts for individually and get it built up. This bike will then become the dedicated turbo trainer/winter bike
Nice “first bike”
Certainly first bike worth a damn, anyway! Prior to these I had a massively oversized basic ‘Hoy’ hybrid bike about a decade ago and then before that it would’ve been a BMX in my early teens
Got hooked, started going out for longer rides and it became apparent that a) I needed gears for hills and b) fixed gear was no fun going down the cheddar gorge.
A few months later I decided to go the ‘in for a penny, in for a pound’ route and just throw myself into it. Best choice I ever made
the color! 
Worth knowing if the powder coaters you choose has done bike frames before but loads of them have - you don’t want them unwittingly powder coating the internals of the seat tube, BB threads, threaded rack mount points etc A powder coat finish is pretty robust if they do it nice and thick.
