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Re: LTWOO ER9 & ERX - Electronic groepsets
Oh man, watching that installation video is pretty good! No I just used some tape and packing foam my bike came in. Have done similar on other Shimano batteries in the past and it works fine. October 05, 2023, 06:26:11 PM |
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Re: LTWOO ER9 & ERX - Electronic groepsets
Was able to get everything installed - awaiting wheels to get everything positioned, but some notes on challenges I had: - Obviously, use wrenches. I tried to use pliers because I was missing a 5mm wrench and it just made shit very hard, ended up actually backing the hose out of the olive while half-compressed and had to replace the olive. - As a second-time hydraulic user - realized that BH90 and BH59 olives are the same, it's the needle that's different - needed to order some anyway, so now I have a full set of both lol. - Also, even though L-twoo uses shimano-style mineral oilt and not DOT fluid, the caliper actually uses the sram-style, recessed-threaded adapter - so, my shimano bleed kit didn't do the job, had to get a new adapter to fit the caliper. - Ended up completely draining the l-twoo oil from the rear brake through all of the hubbub, which, whatever. - Once I actually had everything connected up, it was a fucking cakewalk - *really* love the air release in the brifter, makes topping off so easy. I didn't introduce any air or lose any substantial fluid on the front brake, so I now have one fully bled and replaced (rear) brake with shimano mineral oil and one completely untouched l-twoo-filled (front) brake. Both feel the same, nice and responsive, smooth pull, clear stoppage at a similar travel and quick return. Fun experience to learn by; the more I do these, the more I learn how to be tidy with the mineral oil, haha. October 09, 2023, 12:29:39 PM |
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Re: LTWOO ER9 & ERX - Electronic groepsets
What chargers you guys use? I know the charging cables are included but I am worried about the power supply or if I just plug it in with phone charger it might die or something... I have just used standard phone charger with USB input. October 10, 2023, 08:19:02 PM |
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Re: LTWOO ER9 & ERX - Electronic groepsets
I too fell into the trap of ordering flat top batteries. I can confirm that they don't work. They just about do not make contact with the pins in the battery holder. Hence, no power. Apart from that I connected the groupset with the charger. It powered up. Pairing was super quick. Connecting the app was easy. A quick firmware update and everything works. Everything shifts as it should. I was able to set it to 11sp. It came set up as 12sp from the factory. Still waiting for my wheelset and the right kind of batteries so it will be a while until I actually get this on the road, though. October 12, 2023, 07:37:18 AM |
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Re: Interesting Aliexpress finds! - good deals, interesting stuff, new products etc!
Regarding the Aliexpress app. I don't want to put a Chinese invasive app on my phone. I am sure there are ties back to the Chinese government. I am sure they are tracking you... yeah man they're coming to get ya. hide yo kids hide yo wife October 12, 2023, 10:44:38 AM |
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Re: Interesting Aliexpress finds! - good deals, interesting stuff, new products etc!
Regarding the Aliexpress app. I don't want to put a Chinese invasive app on my phone. I am sure there are ties back to the Chinese government. I am sure they are tracking you... Have U maybe ever heard about Edward Snowden and US government? October 12, 2023, 11:13:15 AM |
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Re: Interesting Aliexpress finds! - good deals, interesting stuff, new products etc!
Whatabout-what? I wonder what the disc pads I purchased a year ago off Aliexpress are made out of: Sintered compressed dirt end Elmers glue?. They appear to wear really fast. Or perhaps I stop a lot? Hmmm From aliexpress? Obviously they're made out of tracking nanoparticles secretly made by the chinese government in collaboration with all the aliexpress brake pad manufacturers. They wear quicker because they leave tracking dust on the floor and the satellites pick up your movement. While everyone is worried about being tracked by apps, this is how they getcha. Thought everyone knew this? October 12, 2023, 03:16:13 PM |
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Re: Best and worst overall quality/value components/tools/gear from AliExpress?
These are my two best: Kalloy Uno Ultralight 7050AL Stems: $17.50 https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2255799842115476.html These are very light and generally a quality component. Barely heavier than the Darimo AL stems and less than 1/10th the price. Ridenow TPU Tubes: $6-$8 each for the 24g versions: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805247862356.html Light and good quality TPU tube. They make a lighter version, but I have yet to try them. Worst: Any pulley wheels or ospw stuff. Total junk bearings. Most use the 689 size. If you want to play with fancy bearings in your RD, look for people reselling Kogel ones that they picked up for free during their sales. October 13, 2023, 03:43:49 PM |
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Re: Best and worst overall quality/value components/tools/gear from AliExpress?
Warning, fairly long post incoming. I've spent a lot of money on AliExpress over the years. I thought of doing a video like TraceVelo with my top 5 best and worst but I didn't want to just copy him. Anyways, here's a semi-short list of various items over the years. I broke it down into: Awesome, Not So Good, and Meh (kind of in the middle). In no particular order. Awesome: - Carbon bottle cages (Carbon Works copy): 7-8g each, cost was around $20 so not super cheap but better than $80 or whatever the real ones cost, and they've been solid. Have to make sure you get the updated version with a perpendicular bottom lip. I have 4 total and love these (https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805102025523.html?spm=a2g0o.cart.0.0.c81b38daE33I3q&mp=1&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa) - Elita One seatposts: I have three on three different bikes and they've all been rock solid and offer a good weight savings - Black Inc copies (handlebars and full cockpit): really like these, plenty stiff and decent weight. Actually can't find the handlebars any longer which is a shame because I wanted to pick up another pair. The full cockpit is my favorite bar out there - UNO (Kalloy UNO) stems: probably the best price to weight stem available on the market. Period. Amazing stems, I have like 4 of them in different sizes on various bikes. - Magene PES P505 power meter and crankset: $300 for a power meter and crankset is crazy good. And they're just as accurate as western brands. Straight swap for Shimano cranks and chainrings, took 15 minutes to make the swap without any issue. Only small problem is inherent in many spider power meters is they don't do well with oval chainrings (read high). But really hard to beat for a budget power meter - Spexcel long thermal tights: only one ride so far but they're really nice - Stone oval 1x chainring: nice and solid, looks good and feels well built - DIY Di2 satellite shifters: probably one of my favorite purchases of all time. They're way cheaper than real shifters, low profile so easily hidden, and you get two buttons for one wire. They've been amazing. Hard to ride without them on my other bikes (https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805615867809.html?spm=a2g0n.order_detail.order_detail_item.3.274cf19c5jJ5OE&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa) - random aero socks: cost like $4, decent quality, no aero data but they look and feel just like my much more expensive ones - Sigeyi direct mount derailleur hanger: more expensive but high quality and low weight, lots of colors - Mixed brand direct mount derailleur hanger: cheaper but only comes in gray - WestBiking 3D printed saddle: almost put it in the meh category, but it's a decent saddle, just didn't work out becuase the shape of it required a zero setback seatpost to slam it forward enough. But they did get the firmness in the right spots - Ti bolts: I've bought so many from various companies. All have been good. Not So Good: - Tarmac stem computer mount: does its job, little heavy, weird spacing of screw holes makes swapping the actual mount piece impossible - Alpinist Cockpit copy: good weight at 250g for bar/stem, but insanely flexy and the computer mount rivnut broke on the second ride and you can't use normal round bar mounts - ZTTO bar tape (Supacaz copy): terrible quality. I bought some pink tape and the whole top layer was gone by the end of my first ride and my gloves were pink. Like it seriously lasted a single ride. - Spexcel arm warmers: ripped when pulling them on the very first time - Balugoe 3D printed saddle (Power Mirror copy): really bad quality. The rails were angled in such a way that the nose was pointing upwards at a very steep angle. Could barely get a level saddle position. The firmness of the 3D material was wrong, too. The rear was super soft (like a sponge) that you sunk in and could feel the carbon base, but the front was rock hard and super uncomfortable. - Darevie jersey: low quality, weird fit (loose in torso but super tight in armpits), corny phrases on sleeves - TanTan X19 frameset: terrible quality, multiple issues with frame and supplied (and missing) parts. Even worse customer service, threatened to doxx me (my name, home address and phone number) when I put in a claim Meh: - OG-EVKIN bar tape (Lizard Skinz copy) - not bad, nothing special but it's decent. Slightly more slippy when wet than real Lizard Skinz - Ride Now TPU tubes: I went back and forth on whether these should be on the awesome list or not. They're super light and make a great saddle bag backup tube. They're pretty cheap and you can get a bunch in bulk for a great price. But mine have been hit or miss with quality. I bought a 4 pack recently and 2 had holes right out the box. And you can't really test them out prior to use if you want to pack them down small for your bag. So far, I've bought 10 and 3 have holes without ever being ridden. - Spexcel jerseys: sizing is odd, L was too big and M fit like a toddler's jersey. Just too big of a gap between sizes. Decent quality otherwise just weird sizing for me Making this list just informed me on how much I've spent to "save money." Edit: Fixed the link for the Di2 satellite shifters. October 15, 2023, 07:29:47 PM |
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Re: Groupset News
Wow. Supposedly the shifter throw was already kind of long with the mechanical shifters. Can't imagine with those hydro monstrosities.This is a photo I took at the Shanghai Bicycle Expo in May this year. You can refer to the shift lever throw in the picture. October 16, 2023, 10:26:51 AM |
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