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Re: Patty's Long Rant and Guide To Affordable Frames
I'm actually surprised by this. I don't find it to be any less stiff than my Tarmac SL7. And I'm a pretty big guy around 85kg. My 168 is actually my crit bike right now just because I don't want to crash and break my nice Tarmac. But performance wise I found them to be pretty similar. January 26, 2024, 06:52:30 PM |
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Re: Patty's Long Rant and Guide To Affordable Frames
Also I know people on this forum who are REALLY down the rabbit whole that can piece together builds for sub 2k at similar spec. I would guess the main benefit this forum has spread is education on how to get cheaper carbon wheels. Many argue wheels are the most important upgrade ATM, you can only really save serious money if you go full low budget with direct2consumer-parts from China. I built my TT-X38 with LTWOO er9, Magene powermeter and full carbon wheels + a number of 2nd hand parts (like my Sram cranks, saddle and Vittoria tires) for less than 2.5k EUR. But to do that, you're required to invest A LOT of time researching parts, be prepared to deal with problems when building the bike up and you need to take the risk that customer service and warranty might be troublesome or even more or less non existent. I mean, there's a GIANT concept store in my city. For not that much more money, I could probably walk in there, grab a bike and come back and have the shop deal with issues, should there be any. But for me, this is also about the journey. I like to come up with the idea of "my dream bike", source all the parts and think every little detail through and then build up something that I couldn't buy anywhere else and that potentially no one else has. January 30, 2024, 01:00:15 AM |
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Re: Patty's Long Rant and Guide To Affordable Frames
I'm going to be brutally honest here as well. I'm likely one of the "super experienced members" you mentioned. For about a decade, I've been assembling frames and wheels directly from China. My journey began with discovering groups like MTBR, iPlay, Pieter, etc., and eventually led me to chinertown.com Infinite thanks and love to Sitar_Ned!! I hope my contributions have helped build this fantastic forum and gave something back from what I learned here. I'm fortunate to have a well-paying job that allows me to build bikes for friends and family as a hobby, at no cost to them. My goal is to provide them with great bikes at fair prices and to make them happy. I'm historically particularly biased towards Carbonda and Lightbicycle, brands that you amusingly never mention. This isn't because they pay me (they don't). It's because, among all the providers I've tested, they have never let me down. Their products are neither the cheapest nor overly expensive. Moreover, if anything goes wrong, their customer support surpasses that of any Western brand I've dealt with. I understand that some people, like Trace Velo, Joe, to some extent Hambini, many others, maybe you, chasing followers to carve out a living on YouTube and social media. However, this has turned on the marketing machine around here. No-name frames are suddenly sub par, while stickered frames selling at double the price, or even worse, branded frames are the real deal. Persuading folks they need some stiffness and aero benefits only pros might need. And it works! People are seeking broader validation and rely on branded visuals to reassure themselves they're not making a misguided decision. It doesn’t bother me people trying do their thing on YouTube and elsewhere. But your arrival here has sadly contributed unintentionally to the spoiling of the pristine wilderness that Chinertown once was 
January 31, 2024, 05:19:05 AM |
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Re: Patty's Long Rant and Guide To Affordable Frames
Takiyaki I agree with you on those points. In particular the average cyclist hasn't a clue to look at these options. 95% of people who buy a bike are looking to the big brands for a variety of reasons the biggest of which they just don't know enough and want a carry away product. Personally I appreciate people who are early adopters and willing to share their experiences on here or YT so I'm not sure why the knock. Lightbicycle, nextie, etc kind of opened the doors to these less expensive direct options. They make great products, but if I'm being frank, their prices are slowly rivaling some of the more mainstream brands and the value isn't what it used to be. That's not bad or wrong. It's just what it is and I think likely what their business goal was in the first place. Can't fault them for wanting to make an actual profit on what they're doing. I still consider them every time I'm looking, but end up just buying a similar product for less on Ali. To each their own I guess. I have no issues with either side as it's just opinion. January 31, 2024, 10:21:00 AM |
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Re: Patty's Long Rant and Guide To Affordable Frames
This is unfair and kind of wrong IMO. Regarding Pat it's probably a little unfair. But carbonazza has a point: The more companies like winspace see how they are seen as reputable brands delivering higher quality, the higher their prices will rise. Even more so, if they pay something for the marketing and being named and shown by "influencers". And the whole point of buying those Chinese frames is to spare all the cost for marketing-bullshit. Not buying a name, but just the frame for just riding. I would prefer to keep it that way. January 31, 2024, 10:38:09 AM |
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Re: Velobuild VB-R-168 Frame
@TCal I've just sent you a PM on my instal method  For the filing, you need to file the inside of the cable stop where the outer enters the stop, I needed to 'open' the hole up on the cable stop so the angle to cable entered wasn't so tight. January 31, 2024, 01:50:52 PM |
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Re: Sensah Empire FD Stiff
The sensah 2x1 front mech just is that way afaik. If you cant figure out a way to soften it you can replace it with a 105 front mech
February 03, 2024, 11:04:10 AM |
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Re: Sensah Empire FD Stiff
I've set up Sensah groupsets with both 105 11 speed and Rival 22 front derailleurs. Both were an improvement and can be found for like $20.
February 03, 2024, 12:26:24 PM |
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Re: Sensah Empire FD Stiff
Agree, the Sensah FD is far away from being a masterpiece of design and function. It will work, however, but in my experience it is sensitive to routing of housing, bends and cable friction. If you can optimize above, it is okay - but nothing more. February 05, 2024, 02:05:35 AM |
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Re: Anyone buy from kingbike888 on ebay? Looks legit...
I ended up buying these and they have been rock solid, used for gravel races with 45mm tires, on the road with 35mm slicks, straight and true.
February 08, 2024, 01:59:07 PM |
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