Chinese cycling clothes

[Avalius]

Damn nice legs, ex bodybuilder here. Lost alot of muscles going from 87kg to 66kg hah

[kubackje]

Damn nice legs, ex bodybuilder here. Lost alot of muscles going from 87kg to 66kg hah

I wasnt at the gym for like 6 years. But even when I was weightlifting my legs never looked that good. Even when rest of the body was shredded fo 7%. I also lost a lot of muscles, but I've stopped gym/sports due to seroius health issues I had for few years and was looking like a zombie at peak illness. I came back to good health last year and this year I am really on top of my form. Clean lifestyle, good diet, lots of cycling Also to have muscels and vains like that one need lots of carbs So High carb/sugar, low to med protein and low fat is the way.

[bremerradkurier]

You're a beast! And kudos for not skipping leg day

One of the benefits of being a long term cyclist is being able to use the whole weight stack on calf raise machines at the gym.

You can also get a nice head rush pushing 200kg of plates on the 45 degree leg press and almost passing out when you stand up due to low blood pressure from all that cardio work.

[johnnyboy4711]

On the lookout for winter gear- possible water resistant any recommendations?

Some of my previous orders that i recommend

great socks
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005278163835.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.77.6b7e1802N8F5Ri

good baselayers (XXL as sizing is small as per my size below)
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005991028411.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.92.6b7e1802N8F5Ri

good gilet(large is snug, I am 179cm and 90kg)
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003366215078.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.87.6b7e1802N8F5Ri

cannot recommend these bibs
padding way too hard in them
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004323174278.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.132.6b7e1802N8F5Ri

[Sebastian]

Can someone recommend a lightweight packable down jacket (or something similar)? There's a few offerings on Aliexpress but not sure about the quality. There's a slightly more expensive but very interesting hooded cycling jacket from Inbike. But it's not a down jacket, it seems. Looking for something I can wear on the gravel bike in the winter and take with me on Bikepacking trips.

[rtuk]

Can someone recommend a lightweight packable down jacket (or something similar)? There's a few offerings on Aliexpress but not sure about the quality. There's a slightly more expensive but very interesting hooded cycling jacket from Inbike. But it's not a down jacket, it seems. Looking for something I can wear on the gravel bike in the winter and take with me on Bikepacking trips.

Also interested in a lightweight but warm bikepacking jacket

[kbernstein]

Aegismax is very well regarded for down sleeping bags. I've had 2 and I would absolutely trust them for a jacket too. Not sure how packable though

[PLA]

Can someone recommend a lightweight packable down jacket (or something similar)? There's a few offerings on Aliexpress but not sure about the quality. There's a slightly more expensive but very interesting hooded cycling jacket from Inbike. But it's not a down jacket, it seems. Looking for something I can wear on the gravel bike in the winter and take with me on Bikepacking trips.

You sure you want down? I think you'll be too sweaty for down, it'll end up just losing its loft and you'll end up cold and miserable. Unless it's for sitting in camp exclusively. If it's while being active, I'd always go synthetic. For on bike I'd go a polartec alpha direct insulated jacket. You'll be warm and dry. If it's for sitting at camp then sure, you could just get a decathlon down jacket to save some coin.

[Sebastian]

You sure you want down? I think you'll be too sweaty for down, it'll end up just losing its loft and you'll end up cold and miserable. Unless it's for sitting in camp exclusively. If it's while being active, I'd always go synthetic. For on bike I'd go a polartec alpha direct insulated jacket. You'll be warm and dry. If it's for sitting at camp then sure, you could just get a decathlon down jacket to save some coin.

No, not sure at all. I didn't know that was a problem with down. I have no experience with it. Since Rapha promote their down jacket for cycling I reckoned that you can use it for that. If it's only for after the ride I'd obviously not care as much about fit and potential water resistance.

[Serge_K]

No, not sure at all. I didn't know that was a problem with down. I have no experience with it. Since Rapha promote their down jacket for cycling I reckoned that you can use it for that. If it's only for after the ride I'd obviously not care as much about fit and potential water resistance.

Down absorbs water, you're not supposed to sweat in down. For example, when you're mountaineering, when warmth really matters, your biggest enemy is sweat: your layers are going to include down because its insulating properties are dope, but if you start sweating and stop (part of the climb when doing belays), you very quickly question your life choices.

And so, you dont wear down on a bike, because you sweat on it. Once down is wet, if you're in the wild, you're as good as fucked.
Primaloft and other synthetic fibers that cost much less than down are better suited for sweaty situations because they absorb moisture less, dry faster, and continue to perform somehow even as they get wet.

For bikepacking, i would very much worry about moisture management and the insulation properties of my garment when wet. Being cold, wet and miserable in the evening because your gear is wrong should be avoided if at all possible.

Rapha selling down jackets can make as much sense as canada goose selling down jackets, or moncler: Rapha is a luxury brand, down is expensive, natural, and popular: they get it to sell you that jacket for a pretty penny, & it doesn't mean you should camp with it.

[bremerradkurier]

I'm surprised Rapha isn't selling Aerogel clothing to flex even harder on the poors.

[jonathanf2]

Anyone try carbon soled shoes from AliEx?

I'm looking at these right now:
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256803407280298.html

[Pedaldancer]

No, not sure at all. I didn't know that was a problem with down. I have no experience with it. Since Rapha promote their down jacket for cycling I reckoned that you can use it for that. If it's only for after the ride I'd obviously not care as much about fit and potential water resistance.

Well.
A hand up for down jacket.
But: on bikepacking the down jacket is what you use in the evening/ night or during break.
Did that in Norway..I wore my down jacket every day. But I didn't go for Aliexpress, i bought a Dynafit.

What I also do is down jacket in winter commuting. But only if it's not raining. The sweating during the commute ride can dry during the day time.
You could check out decathlon down jackets as PLA also recommended. 
At least there you know that they are certified downs.

Other than that there are amazing good Softshell materials that stay warm even getting humid.

[Pedaldancer]

Anyone try carbon soled shoes from AliEx?

I'm looking at these right now:
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256803407280298.html

Not carbon but I had/have
Darevie : a bit more narrow than Shimano/Northwave
Boodun : very similar fitting as Shimano regarding width . A bit soft, but they do have carbon versions also.
Santic: very stiff although "only" plastic sole. Width also comparable to Shimano/Northwave
Sizing.... you should follow the instructions on each company
. For me it's Shimano 41, Northwave 41, Santic and Boodun 41.  But I really measured my foot and insole length of a good fitting shoe
The Darevie was slightly smaller but 41 was also OK.

A good feature on the link you shared is the Atop system. You can get replacement parts for that and it's also very robust.
But for me the price is 120€.. for this I'd look during sales for some known brand.

[bremerradkurier]

Anyone try carbon soled shoes from AliEx?

I'm looking at these right now:
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256803407280298.html

Bought these Bont clones-no idea if the heat shaping I tried with them really works, but they were plenty stiff and had great arch support.  Tongue tended to bunch up under the wire laces.

Upper somehow managed to be both not well ventilated for hot summer weather but at the same time getting waterlogged very quickly in the rain.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2261800158652638.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.57.67a560cfjlVNmX&algo_pvid=9bb54f22-3135-4b5c-8b2c-8c0197b62aaa&algo_exp_id=9bb54f22-3135-4b5c-8b2c-8c0197b62aaa-28&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21USD%21149.00%21149.00%21%21%21149.00%21149.00%21%40211b6c1717278106239354583e3320%2120000000178525699%21sea%21US%211699911272%21X&curPageLogUid=hveue9msrSiX&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A