Hi guys,

So, Souke Sports (https://www.souke-sports.com/) is looking to drum up some transactions on their Amazon storefront for certain items.

Tim You from Souke has asked anyone who is interested to reach out to him via IG (Souke_sports_cycling_wear)

How it worked for me:
1) Souke provided a list of eligible items
2) I went to Amazon and sent him the link to the item in my local currency
3) He sent me funds via PayPal
4) I used said funds to buy the item

He asked me to ask others who might be interested.

This is just FYI for anyone interested.  I do not personally know Tim and have no relationship with Souke.
I do not get anything from Souke for referring anyone, nor do I know how long they plan to do this for.
All I can say is that I scored a pair of winter gloves out of it. YMMV

I am currently looking at a couple helmets from a brand called Sunrimoon (under a company called Cigna).
Company looks to specialize in helmets - mostly bike and motorcycle.

When it comes to road helmets, do you prefer:
Comparatively less aero with more vents?
Comparatively more aero with fewer vents?

Would you even consider a helmet from China? If not, why?

Here are the helmets I am looking at.

28/FEB/2022
Last unit sold. Thanks everyone who participated  for making this a success!

02/FEB/2022
2 Left in Stock

13-DEC-21

First Impressions Review.  Yes I know I have a vested interest, but will try to be as objective as possible.

First off-don't bring a cross-over SUV to a pick-up truck party - stuffing 825lbs of trainers in my Hyundai Tucson was a feat of Tetris ingenuity.  It took me a few times to get it right.
Then I still had to unload them when I got home.   I felt that for a few days

In the Box
-Smart Trainer
-QR 135mm and TA 142/145mm adapters
-QR Skewer
-USB ANT+ Stick
-8-9 Speed Cassette Spacer
-European Power Plug (I let ThinkRider know, and they FedEx'ed me the North American adapters.  Fortunately they use the standard PC Tower/Monitor plugs, so I already had a bunch of those cables around)
-Front Wheel Stand
-Instructions
Allen Key

Build Quality
I couldn't fault the build quality of the unit.  Seems solid - no unexpected flexing, rattling, etc.
The newer leg design seems more rigid than reported on the Gen 1, although I have nothing to compare it too.
The unit is around 50lbs
The legs bolt on using 4 M5 (I think) bolts. 
As typical with Smart Trainers (like Tacx and Kickr), it doesn't have an On/Off switch for whatever reason.
Since the legs are fixed, they do not fold for moving.  This is not an issue for me, as it pretty much stays in the same place.

Using the Unit
I downloaded ThinkRider tools to calibrate the unit, and update the firmware
I tested the unit with Powerfun and heard from a buyer that it is compatible with Lezyne's stationary mode.  I train using Onelap
Bike hooked up to the unit without issues using the provided adapters.  The hub is compatible up to Shimano/Sensah 12-speed cassette.
Onelap immediately discovered and was able to pair with the ThinkRider using the USB ANT+ receiver on a Windows Laptop, or BT on an iPhone and Samsung Galaxy.
The unit is fairly quiet.  I use a waxed drivetrain, which proved noisier than the smart trainer.
Not sure what more to say here - it works as advertised.
I personally did not experience any stability issues with the trainer.  I am 188cm and 79kg. My sprint is a rather middling 800W. I also do not have the tendency to rock violently when I sprint.
The resistance seems to track well with the simulated environment. When in ERG mode, power adjusts to cadence smoothly, even if I try to mess with it by screwing with my cadence or shifting gears.

The Negatives
The first downside I am not sure if it is a problem of the unit or my power meter. With the power meter and trainer calibrated, my power meter routinely reads about 10W higher than the trainer. UPDATE: Assuming the trainer reads power at the hub, the discrepancy is in line with drivetrain efficiency losses compared to power at the cranks, especially since I run 1X
I have not been able to isolate the issue, and am tempted to get a pair of Assiomas to use as a tie-breaker.


No cadence sensor - it does not provide a sensor nor has a built-in sensor (like the TacX).  I use my power meter to measure cadence.  CONFIRMED with the latest firmware, it now calculates cadence (like the Kickr). 

All in all, I'm fairly pleased with the unit so far.  I'll keep logging time on it, and let you all know if anything changes.
I do still have some units left, as some folks backed down or couldn't wait and bought a unit. 

Chinertown price is $650CAD - which is just over $500USD

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22-NOV-21
Hi all! 
They finally arrived at the warehouse yesterday. 
I'll am expecting to pick them up on Wednesday, and can ship on Thursday (or even on the Wednesday).

I've already PMed those who are in.  If anyone else is still interested, let me know.  I still have a couple unspoken for

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17-NOV-21
Hopefully this will be the last update before these are ready to sell

The latest from the customs broker:
Hi Alan,

I don’t think there’s any holds. Have you paid their invoice? If not, you will have to pay this before you can claim your goods.

I just received an update that this shipment is expected to arrive in Toronto tomorrow, but it’ll take another couple days from there for them to unload it.

-------------------------------------------------------------
06-NOV-21
Ship has arrived in BC!
Hopefully it will clear customs quickly, then it's a 6-day trip to Toronto

-------------------------------------
25-OCT-21

Trainers shipped! 
On the good ship COSCO GENOA, departing from Shanghai
If you google it, you can track it's progress.   
Looks like it left Qingdao today

-----------------------------------------------------
21-OCT-21

ThinkRider officially posted the X5-2 on their site:
https://www.thinkriderfitness.com/products/thinkrider-x5-2-smart-trainer
MSRP: $799 USD/ ~$960CDN

-----------------------------------------------------
8-OCT-21 UPDATE:

Done!  Order placed!

Will have to see what brokers fees, duties, and taxes come out to when it hits Canadian shores, but unit price is expected to be between $600 to $650. 

A touch more than anticipated.   
----------------------

So, season winding up and I am thinking of getting my first Turbo trainer.

I am looking at the Thinkrider X5 Neo. 
Rather than buy one, I am thinking of buying 15 of them wholesale.
If I did, would anyone in the Toronto, Canada area be interested in buying?

I'd be selling them at cost, factoring in duties and shipping.

I reckon the price per unit would come in under $600 CAD, all-in.
For me that's better than spending $1000 plus tax

Anyone interested?

Anyone else using them as cheap bike theft insurance?

If so, where is everyone placing them?  They are a fair bit larger than I anticipated, and apparently they do not transmit well through carbon

Under the saddle seems popular, but not the most difficult place to spot. 

For now, I have it strapped to the top of my saddle clamp, somewhat camouflaged in an old piece of inner tube. 

The thing I love about binge shipping on AliX is that feeling of Christmas every day as packages show up at the door.

These are the flat mount dual piston, cable-actuated hydraulic calipers from Juin Tech.
As far as I know, these are rebranded and sold as Yokozuna Ultimas (Ultimo?) as well.

Comes with two sets of what appears to be organic brake pads. 
Not strictly a Chiner part, as they are not from Mainland China. 

332 for both calipers, pads, and hardware.  Maybe a bit less, as the cardboard spacers were still in the calipers. 
Cost: about $222USD.

Continuing to post parts and gear as they come in, for informational purposes

For practical reasons (stop and go, high traffic commuting) SPD shoes always worked better for, historically. 
The new build have the Titanium Speedplay-like pedals, so needed new shoes.
In the vein on trying all things Chiner, I sprung for the City Cycling C3.
Cost - about $115 to $120 USD

Build quality is ok.  The edges could be finished better where the upper meets the heel, and around the tongue area.
I am an 11.5US size, and their 45 fits comfortably snug.

Comes with 2 ATOP (Chiner BOA) fasteners. Sole can be remolded using heat (in the oven, or boiling in a bag) to match your foot shape while pedalling.

Surprisingly light a 595 grams.  Comparable to upper mid range shoes.

Generally well reviewed, but I have a knack for destroying apparel. Let's see if they fall apart!

For anyone interested, here are the weights associated with the Sensah Empire Pro Carbon 2x12 groupset.

This is from the Sensah Store on Aliexpess.
The cassette has been swapped for a heavier one after complaints of pre-mature wear from the lightweight one.  This has increased the weight by 160 grams, but still is in line with an equivalent 105 cassette.

The chain is YBN.