Hello everyone!
I'm new to the forum, and it's a real pleasure to discover all the useful information and valuable experiences shared here!
The only issue is that there is so much information that some of it is getting a little outdated. So I thought I'd start this thread to get some recent advice and recommendations from you guys.
My project is to build my first Chinese road bike, with one simple goal: build an extremely high-performance bike at an attractive price!
Here are the main areas where I'd love to get your advice:
* Saddle: In your opinion, what are the best options in terms of weight, quality and, most importantly, comfort?
* Wheels: What would you recommend for the best balance of weight, quality and performance? I'm hesitating between replicas of well-known models (Roval, Zipp, Black Inc...) and wheels from Chinese brands.
* Frame: I'm considering a few options: a Winspace T1550, something similar to the Factor Ostro VAM 2.0, a replica of the latest Specialized SL8/SL9, or even a genuine second-hand frame. I'm open to recommendations for good frames and reliable suppliers.
* Bottom bracket: I'm not sure which standard to go for or which model to choose.
* Groupset: I'm thinking about buying a high-end second-hand groupset. However, are there any particularly good Chinese cranksets and crank arms worth considering?
* Tools: I already have some tools, but not everything. What are the essential tools needed to properly build a bike from scratch?
* Bar tape: Any recommendations for good quality bar tape?
And most importantly, if I'm forgetting any important components or details when building a bike, please let me know!
I'm not the most experienced mechanic, but luckily my grandpa will be there to act as my personal mechanic! 😄
Anyway, that's quite a lot of questions at once, but I'd really appreciate it if some of you could take the time to share your experience, recommendations and good deals.
Thanks to everyone who took the time to read this!
Ride safe, everyone!
Ok, my 2 cents:
Saddle, I love the Ryet
Wheels is the one no brainer, there are fantastic oem at every price points now from 500$ to 1200 (I don't see the value in spending more)
Frame, you have a few very good options at every price point again. The number of one quality frame that came out this year is pretty impressive.
Groupset, shimano through arancee is probably best, but I would pair it with Magene TEO
It depends on your budget. It sounds like you want an aero road bike that's also lightweight. Most of the stuff like saddle and bar tape are things that you can easily figure out or is personal preference.
Frameset/BB: If you really need a road bike right now, I think the best deal is the Evolve CIMA (similar to SL8), and I'd guess they'd have sales or bundles with wheelsets for Black Friday. You can even find genuine Factor Ostro VAM 2.0 or Tarmac SL8 framesets used for around 2.5-3k if you look online, but those framesets do not have UDH. The bottom bracket depends on the frameset you buy, which typically is either BSA or T47 nowadays. I would wait until next year though, because it seems there may be more Chinese framesets to be released, like the Seka ExAero RDC or Yoeleo Zen. Evolve might release an aero road bike too (they sent out a survey a couple weeks ago).
Wheelset: Honestly, I think Chinese wheelsets are better priced and farther ahead in terms of specs than the Western brands (wider, lighter, carbon spokes, etc.). XMCS has great wheels from what I heard, and they are fairly affordable and customizable. I think XMCS wheels tested faster than Reserve wheels as well. There's also Craft CRW wheels which are popular too. You should check out Panda Podium that curates somewhat more reputable Chinese brands if you want.
Groupset: I think there are many deals on 12 speed Ultegra or 105 Di2 right now, where you can get it cheap, because the new Shimano 13 speed is coming out next year. Chinese groupsets haven't had good reviews yet. Again, you can wait until next year to see what the reviews of Sensah or Magene groupsets will be before purchasing.
Saddle: I didnt like Ryet with the 3D texture but Im gonna try the smooth one. Def the weight weenie pick though
Frame/wheels: if you are a heavier rider and/or ride on rough roads IMO it's worth prioritizing tire size and clearance. I also prob wouldnt go too high end as resale will be pretty abysmal. $1500 for a frame and $1000 for wheels is good. Lots of great brands. My personal reccs would prob be XMCS, BTLOS and Elitewheels.
BB- IMO just stick with a conventional one from a reputable western brand. I put this in the same category as tires/groupsets.... not a place to try and save money or experiment.
You are getting into the Chinese bike game at a great time. I did my first build around 2019-2020 or so. Things have advanced substantially just in the last 2 years. There is a wide range of quality available, and again as a heavier rider on less than great roads the ability to run tire widths to match my conditions is exciting.