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

[Super_davo]

I don't like the alu / steel mix cassettes but with only the largest cog as aluminium... it could be OK. On the 12 speed cassettes the lowest gear is generally so low it doesn't get that much use, and you'll always be shifting from or to a steel cog so when it does wear, it shouldn't completely kill the shifting.

However what annoys me is that the headline price is just for 11-30, the 11-36 I want for my Marmotte set up is a full £20 more which pushes it beyond the price of all steel monoblocks (and TBH I value the all steel reliability / longevity over the tiny drop in grams). I will likely bite if it drops a bit in price.

[ZacItaly15]

I confirm the good overall quality of the Kogel Kolossos replica installed on my 8050 Di2.
Very robust, no impact on performance at all.
Even the lower bearing seems to spin decently.
I bought a ceramic 2RS 608 bearing in case of suicide of the stock bearing (I'm afraid it's ZZ not shielded)

[jonathanf2]

This just popped into my AliEx feed, 182g 11 speed 11-34t all-steel cassette.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256808186976785.html

[KopytoNieBladzi]

I'm not sure if this has been posted yet, but it's a sub-200g HG road cassette with only a single alloy cog, the rest are steel.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256808121037063.html

I've got myself ztto SLR gen.2 just for a blue accent but recived gen.3 for same price
12s 11-34t hg 148g
perfect shifting on almost every gear beside largest steel which is bit wobbly

[rtuk]

Edit - nvm - was being a numpty!

[coffeebreak]

This kit to convert mechanical/rim brake shifters to hydraulic disc brake system seems interesting at $55 give or take.

https://a.aliexpress.com/_msAUu7Z

[mrpercussive]

This kit to convert mechanical/rim brake shifters to hydraulic disc brake system seems interesting at $55 give or take.

https://a.aliexpress.com/_msAUu7Z

Reminds me of something Giant used to do

[coffeebreak]

You are right. Giant with their Connect stem that housed the hydraulics.

[Tijoe]

This kit to convert mechanical/rim brake shifters to hydraulic disc brake system seems interesting at $55 give or take.

https://a.aliexpress.com/_msAUu7Z

I saw these a while back and didn't think they were worth considering.  Here is why.   If you purchase a modern road/gravel/cross frame that has provisions for mounting disc brakes, this says to me you will be building a new generation bike.  Why the heck would you put on older generation STI/integrated cable shift/brake levers instead of purchasing modern integrated hydraulic shift/brake levers, or go with electronic shifting and hydraulic brake levers?

Overall this is a false economy. 

(Yes I understand that there are a lot of older generation bikes out there that have cable driven disc brake calipers that these would work with.  I just wouldn't want the hydraulic reservoir to cable module mounted on my handle bars.)

[jonathanf2]

I have a friend who's a real penny pincher when it comes to bikes. He'd probably get something like this so he wouldn't need to buy new hydraulic shift levers! lol

[00Garza]

Those people that buy entry level gravel bikes like State, Poseidon, or Ozark trail can use this relatively cheap option to see what better braking is like before committing to full hydraulic.   

[Ludo]

I doubt they are the ones looking for stuff here or aliexpress, or they would just build better from scratch, no?

[amacal1]

I doubt they are the ones looking for stuff here or aliexpress, or they would just build better from scratch, no?

Yes. If they're Alexpress shoppers, they should get an eGR for $300 or less. That $300 includes the calipers, hoses, barbs/fittings, and levers. Oh, yeah, and an electronic derailleur. I literally put that on my Poseidon. Foolish not to, if you want to spend money upgrading a bike like that, do it properly.