Any thoughts on the 145% Chinese tariff on purchases?

[amacal1]

So yeah, everyone should be a tad more careful on your Chinese bike frames, we can't easily replace them now! 

Pretty sure most of our non-chinese bike frames are all Chinese anyway. And, if you happen to own one of the handful of brands and models that aren't made in China, then you're probably not worried about a silly little thing like "replacement cost" anyway, lol

[coffeebreak]

Last day of the de minimis. This is it folks. Even if tariffs vanish I think days of shopping on every Choice day are over for me.

[lidation]

We'll see what Trump will do. He is a business man who changes a lot just trying to get what he wants. I don't think he really cares about shopping on Ali and Temu but this is probably his "cards" that he "created" for negotiation.

[Tijoe]

I woke up today feeling somehow different.  No compulsion to look at "beginning of the month Choice and dollar" deals.   No reason to spend endless hours searching for cool new items, or deals.  No need to save coins and coupons.   

Where I live, Spring has sprung, and its riding time.  For some unknown period of time, it's time to put Aliexpress behind me as a past experience in life.   

I just wish I had stocked up on more tires...

[jonathanf2]

I'm still keeping up with my coins. I have access to a few international addresses I can ship stuff to. Though I would have to plan to have somebody pick up my items or take a trip myself to get the items. Hmm, what can I ship to Canada that will fit in a carry-on? 

[jonathanf2]

I just wish I had stocked up on more tires...

You get tires from Ali? The only items I don't use from AliExpress are tires, chains and bike kit.

[amacal1]

You get tires from Ali? The only items I don't use from AliExpress are tires, chains and bike kit.

Ditto on the tires and chains. But I have gotten a few pieces of clothing from Ali and have been impressed.

My other hard 'NO' for Ali stuff is helmets and water bottles.

[coffeebreak]

I got tires from AliEx, multiple times. Continentals for my cheapo rim brake builds that I did over last few years. Still have a couple of left in 28c. All have been fine. It was also the first time when I got brown (not tan) walled tires. I wish GP5000s were reasonably priced, there wasn't much benefit to buying them on AliEx.

[jonathanf2]

Ditto on the tires and chains. But I have gotten a few pieces of clothing from Ali and have been impressed.

My other hard 'NO' for Ali stuff is helmets and water bottles.

Actually I should specify I don't buy bibs from AliEx. I've tried a few and they don't give me that snug fit around the crown jewels! I do use AliEx gloves, cycling caps, double zipper wind vests and breathable cycling socks.

Strangely, I'm okay with AliEx helmets and magnetic water bottles for my gravel bike. I've crashed multiple times on road/dirt and my helmets have been fine. I specifically use magnetic bottles for gravel due to the fine grit dirt here in California. That stuff just scratches up traditional bottles like crazy. For my road bike I stick with CamelBak bottles.

[jonathanf2]

I got tires from AliEx, multiple times. Continentals for my cheapo rim brake builds that I did over last few years. Still have a couple of left in 28c. All have been fine. It was also the first time when I got brown (not tan) walled tires. I wish GP5000s were reasonably priced, there wasn't much benefit to buying them on AliEx.

My go-to tires are Panaracers from eBay, which seem to be cheaper buying on eBay as opposed to other vendors. My favorite for road are the Panaracer Agilest Duro. They come with an additional protection layer, but still weigh less than other tubeless road tires. Also I'm a hardcore 25c tire guy on road bikes and their 25c tires mount tubeless easily. For gravel I just get GravelKings. The new X1s are nice.

[coffeebreak]

My go-to tires are Panaracers from eBay, which seem to be cheaper buying on eBay as opposed to other vendors. My favorite for road are the Panaracer Agilest Duro. They come with an additional protection layer, but still weigh less than other tubeless road tires. Also I'm a hardcore 25c tire guy on road bikes and their 25c tires mount tubeless easily. For gravel I just get GravelKings. The new X1s are nice.

Mine too. Just got the Panaracers for my Dao wheels, from Amazon sold via 365cycles. $42 a pop, not bad. I always go for Panaracer GKs even on my endurance bike that I mostly used on the road.

[courdacier]

I'm still keeping up with my coins. I have access to a few international addresses I can ship stuff to. Though I would have to plan to have somebody pick up my items or take a trip myself to get the items. Hmm, what can I ship to Canada that will fit in a carry-on? 

ship it to Canada, ride it once, rinko it and voila!

[00Garza]

You get tires from Ali? The only items I don't use from AliExpress are tires, chains and bike kit.

I got a pair of tubeless continental terra trails for $40 for upcoming gravel build. They seem legit. I’ll see how they work out. Their price has since gone up to about $50 each.

[jonathanf2]

ship it to Canada, ride it once, rinko it and voila!

Alaska Air flies to Vancouver airport (YVR) direct from Los Angeles. They only charge regular baggage fees ($35 USD) to ship a bike up to 70 lbs. Though I pack a bunch other items in there (you know for cushion  ) and I'm still under 50 lbs. of stuff! I use them every chance I get when flying with my bike. That's also one of the reasons I don't use integrated bars/stem spacers, since it's easier to pack. 

[courdacier]

that's a brilliant tip, cheers!
I do all my "real" mountain biking around Denver, but one of these days...