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Re: Overall AliExpress carbon pucker factor? + CLANNAD wheels In Nov. 2021 I purchased close to $1,500 in wheels/rims/spokes from CLANNAD.   I had them build up 2 front 110 X 15mm wheels, + 6 carbon rims.  4, 29er in 2 different widths, and 2,  27.5 carbon rims.  To date, I have built up 5 wheels using 5 of the 6 rims.   
Impressions:   The rims weighed the claimed weight.  All the rims are high quality.   Wheel building went fast and smooth and I had no problems getting them to even spoke tensions, the wheels being very true and round. (Some of the easiest wheels I have built over the years.)

One pair of the 29er wheels have several thousand miles of single track and back country terrain on them and they are still perfectly true/round.  The other pair I've been using have around 1000 off-road trail miles on them.   (Main set of wheels I use are 32 spoke, the other set with narrow rims are 28 spoke. Each pair is less than 1500 grams before installing stems, tire liners, and 6-bolt rotors.) (I have also used the 32 spoke set for several bike packing trips where I carry 30+ pound pack weight beyond my 210 lb weight.)

No pucker factor on any of the carbon rims I have purchased over the years.  I've had by far more failures riding super expensive USA carbon road wheels made by well known brands, than I have had issues with any Chinese carbon rims.
March 03, 2023, 12:17:31 PM 		1
Re: Overall AliExpress carbon pucker factor? + CLANNAD wheels I just purchased a set of their rim brake road wheels.  I wanted specific hubs and I also wanted the upgraded Pilar 1420 spokes.  I asked a bunch of questions and they answered them very well and quickly.  Once built I got pictures of them and then they shipped.  Still waiting for them (only been 6 or 7 days) but so far very happy with their service.  Once I get them I will try to update this thread with my thoughts.  I stumbled across them but I have found that to many of these Chinese companies, aliexpress is their main outlet to the western markets.  What seems like a back ally market place to us is in fact a very legitimate marketplace for them.  I feel like this view is pushed a lot by YouTube shills that are supported by big brands.  Those big brands don't exactly want to compete against direct to consumer options and spreading fear and trying to de-legitimize the products they offer is a great way to do it.   

My whole fleet of bikes are open mold frames and open mold rims.  I don't ever see myself buying a name brand carbon components again. 
March 03, 2023, 08:09:24 PM 		1
Re: Fake eeBrakes G4 due to popular demand, these are the bolts that i bought to replace the standard issue bolts that come on the fake EE brakes.  i used the stock washer as it is very thin and fist well around the shoulder on the new titanium bolt.  one other nice thing is the new ti bolts use a 4mm hex key instead of the T25 torx.  i am not a huge fan of torx for bikes as that is the only thing that uses them on my bike.   

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804682267951.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.83.26821802TDMD8r&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa&_randl_shipto=US

as for the performance of these brakes, i have only taken them around the block a few times.  they seem to be very powerful in the few times i slammed them to test them out.  i was able to lock them with ease and they do feel very firm and solid at the lever.  i have read of some other super light brakes feeling very spongy but these are very nice.   
March 08, 2023, 08:44:43 PM 		1
Re: Sub-1,000g wheels for $739USD at CarbonBikeKit.com They're using some h-works, chosen, novatec, powerway and bitex hubs, but the majority do indeed come from the same place as foldix, wherever that is.

The only spokes I'd actually use are the 01 and 02 ones, the others all have more questionable designs. Possibly 03 as well but I can't tell from the picture how the hub side of the spoke is bonded to the metal.

The rim profiles are boring and mid, but some of them are crazy light.
November 16, 2024, 06:53:45 PM 		1
Re: Sub-1,000g wheels for $739USD at CarbonBikeKit.com The thing is I have no idea who makes those rims . From what I've observed there's like 2 or 3 manufacturers that sell their products to a bunch of brands. Some of those brands may be those manufacturers but I couldn't say which. CBK definitely uses some of the same rims as what I've seen in other places.

I might do like Charlie from Always Sunny and make a chart of all of these some day.
November 16, 2024, 08:41:31 PM 		1