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Component Deals & Selection / Re: Interesting Aliexpress finds! - good deals, interesting stuff, new products etc!
« on: November 10, 2023, 01:44:14 PM »
Is anyone seeing anything particularly good for 11.11 sales?
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47
Maintenance, Mechanics, & Tools / Re: What lube?
« on: November 04, 2023, 08:41:52 AM »
I followed Zero Friction's guide:
I didn't want to deal with multiple baths of mineral spirits, so I got some CeramicSpeed UFO drivetrain cleaner ($28 for 500mL) and stripped 3 factory chains pretty quickly with ~100mL. I expect to be able to continue to use this 500mL for quite some time (50 factory chain cleanings?)
For waxing, I happened to have a mini crock pot lying around I'd never used before that is now dedicated to waxing chains. I used Silica Secret Hot Melt from Amazon that I got for $34. I put about half of the bag in the pot, it's a small enough pot that it's almost difficult to fit the chain in but it's not too bad. I left the solid wax in the pot to heat up for next time.
I have my mountain bike and road bike chains brand new waxed now, we'll see how they hold up. I plan on wiping off the outer part of the chain and then "dunking" them in the wax pot every 300 miles or so.
I didn't want to deal with multiple baths of mineral spirits, so I got some CeramicSpeed UFO drivetrain cleaner ($28 for 500mL) and stripped 3 factory chains pretty quickly with ~100mL. I expect to be able to continue to use this 500mL for quite some time (50 factory chain cleanings?)
For waxing, I happened to have a mini crock pot lying around I'd never used before that is now dedicated to waxing chains. I used Silica Secret Hot Melt from Amazon that I got for $34. I put about half of the bag in the pot, it's a small enough pot that it's almost difficult to fit the chain in but it's not too bad. I left the solid wax in the pot to heat up for next time.
I have my mountain bike and road bike chains brand new waxed now, we'll see how they hold up. I plan on wiping off the outer part of the chain and then "dunking" them in the wax pot every 300 miles or so.
48
Component Deals & Selection / Re: Interesting Aliexpress finds! - good deals, interesting stuff, new products etc!
« on: November 03, 2023, 09:43:08 PM »For those with a lot of Ali points, 28% extra discount available on that frame, not sure what Twitter frame quality is (and you need to be able to live with that name on it) but good price for a full suspension I think:
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mrTrs4U
The listing says you can request no logos/names on the frame! So the quality is still an unknown but at least you won’t have that on the frame
49
Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components / Best way to Chinertown road disc groupsets? :)
« on: November 03, 2023, 08:48:39 AM »
I'm looking at groupset components and trying to decide between Shimano mechanical/Di2, and Sram AXS 11/12 speed. It feels "easy" to get Shimano grey market from Aliexpress, but where should I be looking for the best deals on Sram? I know there are Aliexpress vendors like Ltwoo, but I don't trust their electronic shifting yet and it's not that much cheaper than Shimano 105 Di2.
Do you tend to buy a complete groupset or do you buy the shifters/brakes/derailleurs from Sram/Shimano, and then add in chinese/Aliexpress cranks/cassettes/chains/etc?
Do you tend to buy a complete groupset or do you buy the shifters/brakes/derailleurs from Sram/Shimano, and then add in chinese/Aliexpress cranks/cassettes/chains/etc?
50
Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components / Re: Best value carbon wheels?
« on: October 30, 2023, 08:04:00 PM »Speak with Pro-X, large catalog of different rims, spokes, hubs. Good quality. Just like Yuanan they are OEM to others.
https://www.proxcarbon.com/prox-carbon-road-wheels-c52db-ratchet-freehub-system-road-disc-brake-carbon-wheels_p94.html
I recently enquired a quote for ratchet hub, 55mm deep and sapim cx-ray spokes.
379 USD for a standard wheel set + 70 USD for upgrade to Sapim CX Ray.
449 USD for ratchet hub, 55mm deep, cx-ray spokes and a set weight of 1540gr. I believe that's quite good?
That's pretty solid! How much was the shipping, another ~$100?
Im using these, so far so good.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001466800426.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.3.624a26ba7MzpT1&algo_pvid=c7c2ae35-bb8d-4ae2-9c97-3648fd41985e&algo_exp_id=c7c2ae35-bb8d-4ae2-9c97-3648fd41985e-1&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21GBP%21573.17%21343.91%21%21%21674.16%21%21%4021038e8316986631249881220e646a%2112000030724453284%21sea%21UK%212193145146%21&curPageLogUid=rmfWq4t8ReCb
Those look pretty nice! I need to look into Hygge some more, I've definitely heard that brand during my searches.
Imo if you want a modern build and use wider tires you need at least 2mm internal width rims. My vote here goes for elite edge or contact Leon from yuanan .+86 157 3827 4372. Very responsive guy. Can give you few options or a rim catalogue for custom build.
I've chosen custom build and will have my gravel wheels in few days.
Yes! I was looking at some of the wider rims and was planning on maybe 28-30c tires. I can't run anything larger than 25c at the moment with my current bike. What width do you recommend? I assume a bit wider than 2mm
51
Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components / Best value carbon wheels?
« on: October 29, 2023, 08:33:20 PM »
Hello everyone! I've been lurking the last few weeks trying to understand what vendors and components are available and reliable. One question I had was really around road carbon wheel sets. I've primarily heard of Elitewheels as the "go to" option, but then there are quite a few varieties and I'm not positive where the ideal point is to spend money.
For reference, today I have an older Fuji SST frame, 2008 generation Sram Red, and Giant P-SLR1 wheels today, and I'm looking at making a newer build with a bit more of an endurance frame (maybe the CFR-1056 frame) and wider tires, but still trying to keep the weight down.
Cheapest: Elitewheels ENT Disc - 50mm depth, 17/26mm width, 1751g - $431 - https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2255799847268989.html
Midlevel?: Yuanan (Elitewheels supplier) - 50mm depth, 1329g - ~$605 - https://chinertown.com/index.php/topic,4527.0.html
Most expensive?: Elitewheels Edge - 50mm depth, 21/28mm width, 1347g - $713 - https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804581390724.html
Are there any other popular/reliable options I haven't considered? I'm sure there are other vendors I haven't considered?
Thanks!
For reference, today I have an older Fuji SST frame, 2008 generation Sram Red, and Giant P-SLR1 wheels today, and I'm looking at making a newer build with a bit more of an endurance frame (maybe the CFR-1056 frame) and wider tires, but still trying to keep the weight down.
Cheapest: Elitewheels ENT Disc - 50mm depth, 17/26mm width, 1751g - $431 - https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2255799847268989.html
Midlevel?: Yuanan (Elitewheels supplier) - 50mm depth, 1329g - ~$605 - https://chinertown.com/index.php/topic,4527.0.html
Most expensive?: Elitewheels Edge - 50mm depth, 21/28mm width, 1347g - $713 - https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804581390724.html
Are there any other popular/reliable options I haven't considered? I'm sure there are other vendors I haven't considered?
Thanks!
52
Component Deals & Selection / Re: Best and worst overall quality/value components/tools/gear from AliExpress?
« on: October 27, 2023, 10:16:24 AM »
- 1-piece SROAD CNC steel cassettes (SRAM x-dome knockoff). I know a lot of people shit on these, but I frankly find them to be fine and exceptionally light for the price. I've bought 4 so far I've had examples in 10, 11, and 12s. All perform great.
Do you have any links to a 10 speed SROAD cassette? I've been trying to find one (I'm on old 2008 generation Sram Red on my road bike and Sram XO 1x10 on my mountain bike), but it's difficult to find. I'd assumed there's not enough volume to justify an Aliexpress seller making a 10 speed version, but I'd love to be wrong there
