So I received a 2nd Spedao/SRoad cassette from the Lexon store which I purchased during the last sale, this cassette doesn't appear to be skipping. I'm wondering if the 1st cassette (which I returned) had a bad 12t cog causing it to skip? Anyways, just to verify, does everyone else's cassette make more noise in the 1st-2nd small cogs compared to a standard cassette?

I have an 11 speed 11-32T Spedao/Sroad cassette. No skipping or unusual noise on any cogs.

I used a bikinGreen adapter to lower my FD for the Senicx 46/30T chainrings. Worked great. On some frames the chainstay would limit how much you can lower the FD, in particular smaller sized frames. I used it on a size small 52cm frame, and there was enough clearance to get it low enough for good shifting. But the adapter may not work so well on a size XXS frame, say.

Here's the listing I bought from: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/155224761356

Although I really like my Sensah Team Pro shifters, the hoods bothered me. It sounds minor, but when the hood moves around and no longer line up with the shape of the lever body, it's really noticeable.

My brifters were fairly new, so the hoods were of the newer smooth variety, with no hint of the sandpaper-like surface that the older hoods supposedly had. However, while they may have been an improvement compared to the previous model, I wasn't satisfied.

I had previously purchased some aftermarket hoods on AliExpress for a pair of old Shimano 5700 brifters, and I liked those better than the original Shimano ones. So when I saw that aftermarket hoods were also available for Sensah, I decided to give them a go.

And I really like them! They're a little shorter and much tauter than the original Sensah ones, with a less shiny appearance. So far they've stayed firmly in place.

I ordered two pairs from the same seller, and though one pair came in a Shimano-inspired blue cardboard box and the other pair in a ziplock bag, they appear to be identical. The cardboard box said "Haining Qi Ke Sports Goods Co.,Ltd." on the back.

Here's the link to the seller I purchased from, but there are other sellers on AliExpress that appear to sell the same product: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005428727777.html

I've attached some photos of the Sensah hood for the right brifter (on the right) and the aftermarket hood for the left brifter (on the left).

4 TPU tubes + patch kit for less than $13 USD:

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805240823049.html

I purchased a set of these Newboler tubes recently. One didn't hold air at all - a leak near the valve. The other failed after the second time I inflated it - it was flat the morning after. Luckily I got a quick refund from the seller. This was in two different wheel/tyre combos, with brand new tyres.

I'm looking for some post mount disc brake calipers to go with road levers for a budget build.

Browsing AliExpress, I came across these Toopre calipers. Has anyone tried them?

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002592200859.html

They're dual piston and look like TRP Spyre clones.

The Seaboard frame comes with a carbon fiber fork: https://tsunamibicycle.com/product/gr02-gravel-frameset-alu-alloy-disc-brake-thru-axle-black/

Sydney, Australia