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91
Looking forward to building this frame up, couldn't be happier with the condition it arrived in.

The color looks great! I'd definitely put some clear protective decal tape on the frame to preserve the paint. What groupset/parts are you planning to use?
92
After a month and a half since my original order on AliExpress was placed, then automatically cancelled because of tariffs, then reordered via the company's website a week after that, my frame finally arrived to me on the east coast of the US.

My order journey started when I had mistakenly ordered a size 54 frame on AliExpress but realized half a day later that it was too small, and requested to size up to a size 56 instead. To David's credit, he was pretty quick to confirm the size change. However, I was worried that this was a casual confirmation and would just send me a size 54 anyway. Once the order was auto-cancelled on AliExpress, then re-ordered through their website, I wanted to reconfirm the sizing was a 56 before shipping -- but it turned out the frame had already been shipped.

After a month of reading about various issues about SP's supposed poor paint quality, damaged frames, other various issues that have popped up on this thread, I had maximum anxiety that my possibly undersized frame wouldn't survive the trip from overseas. This trip included a 10-day long ocean journey, clearing customs without incurring additional costs (David assured me it would be delivered DDP), and finally a 5 day trip across the US via FedEx ground.

To add to my worries, when the box arrived, there was a small dent in the side of the box... I was filled with dread already. I have to say that although the communication between customer support was sparse, my worries about any potential packing issues, frame sizing, and paint quality were finally put to rest once I unboxed the frame. Even though the packaging probably could have used a couple foam blocks to prevent the frame from bouncing side to side in the box, the mummy foam wrapping around the frame was certainly enough to protect it in the long trip here.

I measured the frame, and it matches exactly what sp-cycle lists on their chart for a 56 frame.

The paint is absolutely stunning to me. I got it in the blue chameleon color scheme and I couldn't see anything wrong with the paint quality. I love the blue-purple shift and I can't wait to see it assembled, in the sun. The only issue is the typical paint overspray onto the BB shell and the caliper mounting points, which I expected. I took the frame to a shop literally hours after receiving it to get the BB shell faced and will file down the brake mounts myself. On the way to the shop, I got a few compliments by other bikers and the shop workers on the paint job. ;D

Looking forward to building this frame up, couldn't be happier with the condition it arrived in.

93
I think many commenters on bike-related topics, not just here, focus too much on the cost of raw materials when calculating a "fair" retail price. A year ago, the head of Factor sat down with a tech editor from Escape Collective to discuss costs. The raw materials estimate was approximately $365 USD, but the total cost to deliver a bike to regional distribution hubs was closer to $2,000 USD. Once you strip away the expenses that most Chinese brands and ODMs don't incur, such as aero development, marketing budgets, and the cost of freight shipping. You get down to about $1,500 USD. Let's say rounding up was involved; for the sake of being critical, let's deduct another 10-20%. $ 1,200-$1,350 USD is probably closer to the loaded cost that a brand would pay for a WT-level bike made at one of the higher-end factories (including the factory's profit).

A ~3x markup is standard for manufactured goods with complicated supply chains and retail involvement, so it's not surprising that brands like Factor and Specialized are not swimming in profits. I don't know if others would consider the Tavelo Arow or Quick Pro to be up to that standard, but looking at costs does make the prices these brands are asking seems fair to me once you add in a few hundred bucks for marketing, distribution, paying the people that work at the brands to provide customer service, b2c sales,  customer engagement for product development etc.

Whether or not the incremental cost of the higher-end bikes makes a difference to you is a different question. Regardless, I am very grateful that after 20 years, some of these companies still choose to work directly with consumers.
94
your look much better than mine, where can i get the same one


Excuse me I don’t understand, where  can you get the same what?
Frame? Crank?
95
Component Deals & Selection / Re: Chinese cycling clothes
« Last post by Scott902 on June 03, 2025, 11:38:30 AM »
I wonder if there are multiple red Cheji pads? I have a pair of Cheji bib shorts with a red pad, and the pad is average at best.

I also dont find the red pad that great.
96
Cyclocross Frames, Wheels & Components / Re: Fast/race-ish Gravel Bike wanted
« Last post by klindsey00 on June 03, 2025, 11:20:26 AM »
I built up a G068 for around 2500 USD with elite wheels and sram rival axs 2x (dunno the weight but it's an XL frame and I didn't try to go for lightweight parts) . pricing is very uncertain right now with the tariffs (at least for the US). The biggest variation in build cost would be group set and wheels imo,
97
Sales & Classifieds / Re: SPEDAO (SROAD) SLR2 11-speed Cassette, 11-42t HG
« Last post by ehvoo on June 03, 2025, 11:16:34 AM »
Been a long time since you posted but if you still have it lemme know!
98
Only a handful of YouTubers, including myself, have reviewed Tavelo bikes. Anecdotally my frame (Arow) in particular was problem free. Same with the customers and athletes I've spoken to privately.

No one knows Tavelo's exact costs per frame. But if frames only cost $200-$400 to manufacture and a brand sends out 5 frames to content creators, how much then are their marketing expenses in this particular scenario? Maybe $2000 including shipping? That's the cost of a single frameset. Spending just 2 minutes on Tavelo's Instagram page highlights the fact that the overwhelming majority of their marketing is supporting professional race teams, not influencers. Just like your favorite western brand. Because it's proven to work.

I'm not sure when this moral high ground against companies using YouTubers and race teams to promote products started in this forum. Chinertown lives in a total vacuum separate from the average consumer who wants nothing to do with anything we discuss in here. The frustration against content creators I can understand. What is supposed to be an unbiased video turns into a marketing commercial. But you'd have a more difficult time convincing a consumer to invest in a Tavelo Arow that's been marked up 200% versus a Tarmac SL8 that's been marked up probably 500%

Regardless of someone like myself advocating $600 TanTan frames, $2000 Tavelos, and $4000 western brands, someone will take issue. Every consumable we purchase has marketing costs baked into it.
99
Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components / Re: CWind G30 U build
« Last post by Serge_K on June 03, 2025, 10:11:49 AM »
The inside looks both great and absolutely terrible. Very confusing.
There are clear signs of bladder use, which i havent seen on a frame since velobuild frames 3 or 4 years ago, or on fake frames more recently. There's also extensive wrinkling in the downtube, which is bad because it means compression didn't really work properly.
You also bought a gravel bike to commute on the road.
Why not get a Long teng 301, for eg? you would have paid the same, but your frame wouldn't be a dog from aliexpress, and you'd have an actual road bike, yet relaxed, with 38C clearance. You'd even have had downtube storage to neatly carry heroin paraphernalia for long days in the office.
I do like the colour though. Although solid white is probably the worst colour for a commuter bike.
100
Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components / Re: Stem for vb-r-066
« Last post by Serge_K on June 03, 2025, 10:01:35 AM »
I bought this for friends recently. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007557399904.html
It's cheap, it works.
you can probably ask VB to ship bars with exit points left and right of the stem area, instead of in the middle of the stem area, that way you route through the bar, under the stem, and into the frame. If not, worst case, you just route the hose externally, then under the stem, and into the frame.
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