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Messages - jonathanf2

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1066
Component Deals & Selection / Re: Interesting Aliexpress finds! - good deals, interesting stuff, new products etc!
« on: February 24, 2023, 10:57:49 AM »
Quote from: coffeebreak on February 21, 2023, 11:46:59 AM
I found one like that made by Towild and got it delivered a few weeks ago. The experience has been pretty good so far. I was worried about the O-ring not able to hold against rain but it does. I have ridden in the rain and no water entered through the seam where the body splits in two. I don't like the confusing UI (as compared to much simpler XOSS light) but that is just nitpicking. I haven't been able to run the battery dry mid ride so I guess the battery life is good on the default battery they supply.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256802488550065.html

I found that same Towild light on Amazon for under $20 with next day shipping, so I ordered there instead. Sometimes I'm just impatient! It weighs about 55g less than my heavier Lumina light at about 95g (vs 150g). The Lumina is better built, but I really don't like mounting it unless I know I'm riding at night due to it's weight. I feel I can leave the Towild light mounted since the weight penalty isn't as bad and it does clean up the cockpit. I still run my lights during the day, because there were 26 bike fatalities in my city alone last year. You don't want to become a white ghost bike memorial!

1067
Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components / Re: STATE bicycles Undefeated carbon frame - any guesses on the origin?
« on: February 23, 2023, 02:21:48 PM »
Quote from: coffeebreak on February 23, 2023, 01:22:52 PM
I saw a State bike recently and it had State branded shifters and drivetrain. They just rebrand Sensah stuff?

Yes, all rebranded Sensah components. It's somewhat of an open secret.

1068
Component Deals & Selection / Re: LTWOO RX hydro sets
« on: February 23, 2023, 12:59:21 PM »
I have GRX hydraulics on my gravel bike and I was considering going with LTwoo, but now I'm thinking Juin Tech GT-Fs might be in my future for my road bike and keeping things mechanical.

1069
Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components / Re: STATE bicycles Undefeated carbon frame - any guesses on the origin?
« on: February 23, 2023, 12:52:53 PM »
I saw that awhile back, I was curious who they were sourcing the frames from? They also use Sensah for their shifters and RD.

1070
Component Deals & Selection / Re: Interesting Aliexpress finds! - good deals, interesting stuff, new products etc!
« on: February 17, 2023, 01:23:23 PM »
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256803455977621.html?

I decided to give this hollowed out alloy crankset a try on my gravel bike (I ordered without logo). It's the lightest alloy crankset I've found at a reasonable price. It weighs more than the Racework carbon crankset, but it probably can take more abuse on the trail. I plan to pair it with a 40t chainring. This seller also has the 1x chainrings similar to the Racework/Zeroing chainrings if you want to order in one set. Though I opted to order elsewhere under the Racework name, because I can't take the Goldix brand name seriously!

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805026974642.html

1071
Component Deals & Selection / Re: Interesting Aliexpress finds! - good deals, interesting stuff, new products etc!
« on: February 17, 2023, 01:14:10 PM »
Quote from: coffeebreak on February 17, 2023, 12:50:49 PM
Not Ali-Ex but Wiggle has Panaracer GK SK 38mm tan-walled tires at $25 a pop if anyone is interested. I felt they are aggressive and slow for road use if you are mixed rider like me who does not take the bike in car to the trail but rather ride on the road to reach the trail. But in the wet, snow, loose gravel the SK are simply fantastic.

https://www.wiggle.com/panaracer-gravel-king-sk-folding-tire-2

Oh and no tax + very reasonable shipping to the USA. I have paid far more than this for shipping within the USA for two tires.

I predominantly climb loose dirt trails and ride tarmac since I don't drive when off-roading. I found running GK SS on the rear and SK on the front give me the best compromise. Plus the SK knobs wear out faster when mounted in the rear. The SS tires have a smooth center tread, but still enough grip on the sides to help once going on the trail. The SKs on the front help bite when downhill descending, and last longer when mounted on the front wheel.

1072
Cyclocross Frames, Wheels & Components / Re: Flyxii FE-02 Build
« on: February 16, 2023, 05:33:53 PM »
Quote from: 00Garza on February 16, 2023, 03:50:18 PM
Yeah, I'm already eyeing some alu bars as back ups just in case.

For the stem, just use a torque wrench and apply the proper NM and you should be fine. i find the shifters harder to torque though due the bolt placement, I usually just do those using a regular hex wrench, but I tighten them carefully.

1073
Component Deals & Selection / Re: Interesting Aliexpress finds! - good deals, interesting stuff, new products etc!
« on: February 16, 2023, 05:30:01 PM »
Quote from: Tijoe on February 16, 2023, 02:02:29 PM
I made a conscious decision not to purchase American Classic tires.  To me, they need to come clean and disclose more regarding where they manufacture their tires.
I don't care if they are made in China if they are open about it.  But their website still has no contact phone number or state anything about where their tires are manufactured.  Perhaps someone to has purchased American Classic tires will look on their tires and see where they say they are manufactured.

I thought AM Classic was a Taiwanese operation? Anyways, they've upped their prices from the intro $30 USD to $40-45 USD, so their appeal isn't all that great anymore. I tried both their Timekeeper slicks in clincher and tubeless, and the clinchers have flimsy/weak sidewalls and the tubeless version are a real pain in the butt to bead. My buddy had an issues with their gravel tires and tossed them in the trash. Plus they smell funny.

Every few months I find Panaracer tires on sale so those are my go-to tires now. The latest Agilest tires are fast! I beat a previous hill climbing sprint PR segment by 7 seconds on those tires. Lastly Panaracers have that fresh rubber smell I like to sniff!

1074
Metal Frames / Re: Another Seaboard GR02
« on: February 16, 2023, 05:19:31 PM »
Quote from: TidyDinosaur on February 16, 2023, 12:36:13 PM
Maybe because for a little more you have a carbon frame? I went to their website and it would be about 525 eur for the frameset.

True! Though they do sell Advanced Mountain AM framesets both in alloy and steel on AliEx. Geometry-wise they look almost exact to the Tsunami/Seaboard frames, but they sell for much cheaper. In the US there's a company called Poseidon Bikes that periodically sells their alloy gravel framesets for $299 USD and they include a lifetime warranty for the original owner as long as it's not crash damaged.

1075
Metal Frames / Re: Another Seaboard GR02
« on: February 16, 2023, 11:13:59 AM »
Nice build! Have you weighed it yet? I'm surprised these Seaboard builds aren't more popular amongst the AliEx crowd.

1076
Cyclocross Frames, Wheels & Components / Re: [Q]Comfortable Long ride Gravel Frame.
« on: February 15, 2023, 08:55:34 PM »
Have you considered a steel frameset? If comfort is your priority, steel is real!

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2255800851721023.html

1077
Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components / Re: Elite Wheels / Aliexpress / Trace Velo
« on: February 15, 2023, 08:44:16 PM »
Quote from: jonathanf2 on December 09, 2022, 12:24:24 PM
I recently had an issue with my front disc carbon wheel and I contacted Elite Wheels via Amazon (where I bought them). I sent pictures and the serial number. Since my wheels were still under the 1000 day warranty coverage, they said they would send me a new front wheel. Unfortunately it seems their production is backed up and they're shipping wheels as they get built. So there's a 12-14 day wait. I probably won't see the wheel until next year, but I'm wondering if buying through Amazon made them more responsive regarding warranty coverage? I'm a bit paranoid buying wheels from AliExpress and I'd rather pay a little extra and get my wheels within the same week from a local distribution warehouse. Anyways, crossing fingers I get my new wheel!

UPDATE: I just want to respond to my own customer service interaction with Elite Wheels. I eventually received a replacement rim with no hub or spokes. I was hoping to get a new front wheel and thankfully my old hub+spokes were still good. I had to go to my local LBS and luckily they cut me a discount for the hub+spoke transfer to the new rim (I noticed my friend's bike in the shop and mentioned I was the one who referred her). Anyways, they followed through with their warranty service, but they should have asked if my hub/spokes were still in working order. I'd rate their service probably an 8/10 with room to improve. Though, I'm wondering if they were more prompt to respond since I was an Amazon customer versus an AliExpress customer?

1078
Component Deals & Selection / Re: Interesting Aliexpress finds! - good deals, interesting stuff, new products etc!
« on: February 15, 2023, 12:11:33 PM »
Quote from: coffeebreak on February 15, 2023, 11:44:02 AM
Thanks for the replies all. Since I wanted tubeless and these are probably not that, I went ahead with tried and tested Panaracer GKs from a bike store that's closing down. I will eventually order the 40c and put them on a reserve rim set.

Yes 25c and 28c are both 350g/tire per the description. Never weighed my other road tires but that does seem heavy.

Panaracers are my go-to tires. I constantly find them going on sale, they're easy to setup tubeless and brown sidewalls always look good! I even picked up GK 28c slicks for my road bike, because the roads in my area have been absolute trash, so I needed something durable. Panaracer also has lightweight Agilest tires which are awesome as well. A shop in Colorado was selling them for $48 for a pair and they clock in at 190g per 25c tire for the clinchers. Even the tubeless 25c tires clock in at a scant 215g.

So far when it comes to components I've been leaning towards Chinese carbon frames/wheels/cranksets/misc. components, Taiwanese TRP/Juin Tech brakes + Xpedo pedals and Japanese Shimano shifters/RD/FD + Panaracer tires. I find this trio tends to form the best budget/performance/quality combination.

1079
Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components / Re: My Winspace T1500 build
« on: February 15, 2023, 09:41:33 AM »
Have you considered a threaded PF style bottom bracket? Once you're able to get that jammed BB out, I might consider switching over to that just to make future maintenance easier for yourself while you're still in the build process.

1080
Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components / Re: Shimano GRX brake adjustment
« on: February 15, 2023, 09:38:02 AM »
If all else fails, you might want to try different rotors. For example my Shimano ice rotors didn't place well with my GRX calipers, so I switched to a different rotor for my rear caliper and I was able to get that to align properly.

Quote from: 00Garza on February 14, 2023, 03:41:13 PM
Wait a minute! I was ruling out chinese groupsets because supposedly shimano or sram are so much easier to set up. What gives?!! ;D

Shimano shifters and RD/FDs are still my favorite, but GRX brake calipers are a PITA to get aligned properly due to very tight tolerances.

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