Chinertown
Chinese Carbon Road Bikes => Cyclocross Frames, Wheels & Components => Topic started by: Changebiker on April 13, 2025, 05:22:13 PM
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Hi folks,
I was wondering what your evergreen, go-to value for money parts for a gravel are.
I just decided for a bit of a 'special' frame, as I'm needing a foldable bike for train rides - and would like to start driving into parts.
https://www.changebike.com/change-mountain-folding-frame-df-933b
Not the ideal gravel geometry, will have to get as close as I can.
Though to not get hung up on that - would like to rather know more about your favourite go-to (Chiner)parts when building a gravel.
Thanks!
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Gravel or not, there are some parts that are on most of my bikes (depending on the compatibility)
1. Uno stem
2. Elita One seatpost
3. Lightweight cassettes from Wuzei, Sunshine etc (not the super light colorful ones)
4. Cooma brake pads
5. Heppe gold shift cables
6. Fish bone cable housing
Apart from these, Zniino handlebars which I have on 3 bikes and Elitewheels wheelsets. All my bikes are also running KMC chains from AliExpress.
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After having tried 2 zniino handlebars I believe i won’t buy the original version from which mine is “inspired”.
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haha the corner bar replicas? yeah those were the ones I first got, then one more (with extended "horns") and then another regular drop bar - all fantastic.
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check out Dahon GB2 foldable full gravel bike 27.5 wheels. Folded in reasonable dimension, not as compact as brompton type.
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Thanks for the first suggestions - keep them going! :)
@kwantani
I followed it since the never released GB-1. the 2 is also not available in many regions. I was checking with shipping forwarding from hongkong to Germany, but especially with the high EU import duties on full bikes, the price was a total premium - for a bike with pretty crapp components,
It has also disappeared from the webpage as I recently noticed - I wonder what's wrong with it - especially after the GB-1 also never made it, but looked pretty much identical as well. Not sure how much to trust the folding mechanism either tbh...
Anyhow, the changebike frame is ordered - and has much more authentic reviews and long-term praise than the GB-2 with only some out of the box videos...
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Stuff I use and hasn't broken after about 5.000km:
- ZTTO bottom bracket (steel bearings)
- PassQuest chainrings
- Ryet 3d print carbon saddle
- Mixed 7D ultra light carbon saddle
- IIIPRO disc brake rotors
- Magene Base power meter
- Goldix 12s ultralight all steel cassette 11-34
- Raceworks pedals
- Ridenow TPU tubes
- Cycplus speed and cadence sensor
- colorful cheap non slip handlebar tape (no "brand"; rockbros was shit and lost color quickly)
- silicone crank arm protector - actually one side has a cut but crank beneath is fine, so I guess protector is protecting
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What else is a no-brainer value for money go to?
My frame is arriving next week and I need pretty much everything - curious to hear your picks!
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What else is a no-brainer value for money go to?
My frame is arriving next week and I need pretty much everything - curious to hear your picks!
What's your go-to group set? I was looking at wheeltop, but their gravel group costs 600€ upwards in Europe, that's hardly a bargain anymore - and isn't even a full group set yet.
Summing up deals for individual components, a full Shimano grx 820 groupset comes in below 400€.
So I'm kinda curious if I'm overlooking any other options you folks are going for...
Thanks!
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With a bit of luck, you can find SRAM Rival AXS levers and then a SRAM Rival XPLR or GX AXS rear derailleur second hand. You can then save money by pairing with whatever crank you want and a ZTTO cassette.
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Tires: go western
Tubes: ridenow
Rims: XMCS for carbon, DT swiss for alu
Spokes: Pillar or Sapim
Hubs: definitely go chinese with Goldix or Koozer. The Goldix 370 series is my go to for cheap durable somewhat light builds, available in avery option imaginable
Stem: Uno 7075
Handlebars: unless you want some specific shape or carbon, probably cheaper to go western or Uno
Bartape: currently love the Motsuv, thick rubbery and 5$
Groupset: can't beat Shimano offerings on bikediscount: maybe cheaper to get just the levers+derailleur+chain on there and then get a Shimano cassette on aliexpress (unless you want lighter, original Shimano is cheaper and works the best), Senicx crankset or Magene PES if you need power, Wuzei chainrings.
Rotors: the cheap 5$ each Zrace centerlock are perfect, 10$IIIpro if you want lighter
Seatpost: Elita One
Saddle: Ryet the cheap 15$ 180g is awesome, no carbon
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Whoa - Great input!
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With a bit of luck, you can find SRAM Rival AXS levers and then a SRAM Rival XPLR or GX AXS rear derailleur second hand.
There's just SO much less on the market! I'll keep an eye open for a bit though to get an idea of what's coming in.