Interesting Aliexpress finds! - good deals, interesting stuff, new products etc!

[00Garza]

Any good stores with replacement thru axles? I had to cut mine off due to a stripped head. I need a 160mmx12mm M12x1 M6x1 rear thru axle. Thanks!

I bought some Heppe branded thru axles from World Bike Store to replace the oddly sized stock ones on my gravel bike. Been really happy with them.

HEPPE MTB Road Bike Thru Axle Front Rear Hub Shaft Skewers 12x142/148 Wheel Axis Hub Shaft Quick Release 120-178mm P1.0/1.5/1.75
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mOhFDy8

Not the size you need, but you should probably be able to find them in their store.

[jonathanf2]

I bought some Heppe branded thru axles from World Bike Store to replace the oddly sized stock ones on my gravel bike. Been really happy with them.

HEPPE MTB Road Bike Thru Axle Front Rear Hub Shaft Skewers 12x142/148 Wheel Axis Hub Shaft Quick Release 120-178mm P1.0/1.5/1.75
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mOhFDy8

Not the size you need, but you should probably be able to find them in their store.

Thanks, they have my size! I'm going to buy locally first, just so I can get up-and-running. I'll probably order another for backup.

Ideally I wouldn't mind a QR style thru axle. My gravel bike has one, but for my particular thread pitch, it seems they only have the standard one that requires a hex wrench. The less tools the better!

[coffeebreak]

I too am running Heppe on my VB frame. Good stuff, just like their cables. However if you are in hurry, Amazon has some. I have a Yoder or something that I used on my trainer and it's been fine. I remember they had around 20 or so different options including thread pitch variations.

[bremerradkurier]

Elita now offers a longer rail version of one of my favorite AliX saddles.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806853095715.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.46.5c491802A1CBq9&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa

[coffeebreak]

Elita now offers a longer rail version of one of my favorite AliX saddles.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806853095715.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.46.5c491802A1CBq9&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa

This looks similar to no name carbon saddle that I have been buying/using for quite some time. But if this is different than those I'll be down for one.

[00Garza]

This looks similar to no name carbon saddle that I have been buying/using for quite some time. But if this is different than those I'll be down for one.

Had one of those on my road bike and loved it. At first glance this one does appear to have longer rails.

[jonathanf2]

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256807080569011.html

I recently picked up the ZTTO 9-46t 11 speed cassette. Everything looks good, I was able to shift through all the gears with proper indexing. It's just under 337g for the cassette. Everything is riveted (no screws), steel cogs from 9-40 and alloy at 46t. 9t seems to work well (not as bad as some people make it out to be). In comparison, the all-steel Spedao 10-42t 11 speed cassette weighs around 359g.

Only downside is shifting is sub-optimal with a standard Shimano GRX 812 RD. The cage rubs in the 2nd to big cog if the B screw isn't turned further in, but doing so it affects high gear shifting. It'll shift, but not in-spec smooth. I'm already looking at acquiring a GRX 822 RD to get better shifting or just go with an Garbaruk cage for the 812 RD.

I would have preferred if it was a 9-42t cassette, but with similar construction to the Spedao 10-42t (not the cheap screw spider version for $35 USD), but I see this cassette more like an all-steel 9-40t with an emergency 46t bailout.

[Hmpf]

I am looking for brake levers for my triathlon bike. Not hydraulic ones, but mechanical ones for cable pull.
Can anyone recommend something?

[00Garza]

I am looking for brake levers for my triathlon bike. Not hydraulic ones, but mechanical ones for cable pull.
Can anyone recommend something?

I think the only tri shifters you'll find on Ali are microshift. You're probably better off going with shimano offerings on ebay.

EDIT: just noticed you only mentioned brake levers. Yeah, no clue about those on Ali.

[jonathanf2]

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256807080569011.html

I recently picked up the ZTTO 9-46t 11 speed cassette. Everything looks good, I was able to shift through all the gears with proper indexing. It's just under 337g for the cassette. Everything is riveted (no screws), steel cogs from 9-40 and alloy at 46t. 9t seems to work well (not as bad as some people make it out to be). In comparison, the all-steel Spedao 10-42t 11 speed cassette weighs around 359g.

Only downside is shifting is sub-optimal with a standard Shimano GRX 812 RD. The cage rubs in the 2nd to big cog if the B screw isn't turned further in, but doing so it affects high gear shifting. It'll shift, but not in-spec smooth. I'm already looking at acquiring a GRX 822 RD to get better shifting or just go with an Garbaruk cage for the 812 RD.

I would have preferred if it was a 9-42t cassette, but with similar construction to the Spedao 10-42t (not the cheap screw spider version for $35 USD), but I see this cassette more like an all-steel 9-40t with an emergency 46t bailout.

I ended up having to use a Goatlink extender for this ZTTO cassette using the GRX 812 RD. The GRX 822 12 speed RD I tried definitely did not work with 11 speed shifters. I'm not sure how that one dude on Youtube was able to get it to work with GRX 11 speed shifters, but shifting was bad. I now suspect Shimano is using different pull ratios for their 12 speed mechanical shifters.

Funny thing is I'm using the Goatlink 10 speed extender, but it seems to work fine on the 11 speed GRX 812 RD. In fact shifting is quite good. A little bit more effort when on the small cogs, but towards the middle and large cassette cogs, shifting is even better than stock. Anyways, this should probably hold me over for awhile and I'm in no rush to go electronic especially with this wide cassette range.

[jonathanf2]

Whoa, looks like they've cut even more weight from the mixed steel/alloy road cassettes. Now they're all coming in at sub 150g that's even including the 11-36t cassettes in both 11 and 12 speed. Personally I wouldn't use these cassettes since I spend half my ride time on the big cogs, but I could see these being great for those who don't climb often or for race specific purposes.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256807440536685.html

I would do the pink cassette though :

[coffeebreak]

Whoa, looks like they've cut even more weight from the mixed steel/alloy road cassettes.

This is is the same that was discussed a few days ago. That weight is frightening.

They even give you a warning -

[jonathanf2]

This is is the same that was discussed a few days ago. That weight is frightening.

They even give you a warning -

At least they warn you. I'd definitely use this for race only!

[coffeebreak]

Those colors are truly something though! Should be a great ww component on a bike that you don't much ride but just post photos and tell people how light it is.

[JonMS]

Whoa, looks like they've cut even more weight from the mixed steel/alloy road cassettes. Now they're all coming in at sub 150g that's even including the 11-36t cassettes in both 11 and 12 speed. Personally I wouldn't use these cassettes since I spend half my ride time on the big cogs, but I could see these being great for those who don't climb often or for race specific purposes.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256807440536685.html

I would do the pink cassette though :

I ordered the ZTTO variant of this in 11-36t 12 speed for a gravel bike build I'm doing. I'll update when I have it all built how it goes. I've had good luck with other hybrid aluminum/steel cassettes and am aware of the reviews on the RIRO ones that came before these.