Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Messages - BalticSea

Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 13
1
V-ish shaped rim profiles are actually back in vogue with tire widths over 28mm. Look at rim profiles for industry leaders like HED vanquish, Enve SES 4.5, Roval CLX, Zipp 303 and 404 (after MY2022). At least for rear wheels, all these rims have v-ish profiles. HED and Zipp use v-ish profiles front and rear. I think the idea is that with wider rims and hookless beads, recapturing air trailing off the tire is less of a concern because it stays attached across a wider range of conditions than before.

Actual market leaders (i.e. CRW Works, Roval Rapide CLX II) don't use v-shape profiles. Zipps are trash tier wheels in general.

2
Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components / Re: tires from AliExpress
« on: March 17, 2025, 08:59:36 AM »
I once tested those cheap Jinjer tyres and they were not bad to be honestly.
But it was dry, unsure what would happen in a race on wet surfaces :-)

Do you get a free album copy with purchase of tyres or at least merch with Tatiana's signature?  :)

3
It's certainly a stunning bike, but it is more akin to an Aethos/SL6. I just have a soft spot for the aerolight road bikes like the v4rs, the Xelius DRS and the Addict RC, but I haven't found something visually appealing in the chinese market which is not a full endurance (SLC3, Afield) or a full aero race bike with weird quirks.

I'll swing other way – what about Velobuild VBR177? It's light, stiff and has similar tube profile to Addict. The only downside is the BB86 bottom bracket

4
I have a feeling that the website has not been updated since 2007.

But hey, it could be worse, just look at Amazon website.

With that said, they're definitely using Chinese frames, but overall value doesn't seem terrible.

Ok, nevermind, the value is absolutely terrible. I thought it was 2700 USD for complete bike build with Force AXS, not 5k.

5
Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components / Re: New frame 2025 : TFSA JH-35
« on: February 19, 2025, 01:09:08 PM »
They either have less rolling resistance or more comfort, not both at the same time.

https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com/specials/grand-prix-5000-comparison

And in my experience, albeit clouded by frame material etc, the road comfort going from even a 28c road bike to a 42c gravel bike is marginal. We're still talking about zero suspension frames and bumps being handled by a few mm of tire. Narrower tires are lighter and more aero. I think for decent roads 28c is the sweet spot. 32c makes sense more for flat insurance than comfort IMO. I have 28c and 32c on some of my bikes and don't feel a huge comfort difference.

Weight difference between 28mm tyres and 32mm tyres are literally 100% irrelevant.

6
Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components / Re: New TanTan Aero Frame TT-X65
« on: February 19, 2025, 05:36:21 AM »
I really think they should stop calling everything Super light / ligthweight when it isn't. I mean, for a full out aero frame it is not bad, but superlight is not what it is. Furthermore, the weigth is mentioned for the babysize triple xs. Average size (52 / 54 / 56) will be a bit heavier, making it go to 1100/1200gr probably.

The seatpost/sadle clamp looks different. Not sure whether I like that, but visually better than the TT-style sliding rail (like the x38 foil-clones).

The advertised weight is for size 50/M, which is a closer to traditional size S/52

7
Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components / Re: Quick Blade Aero
« on: February 15, 2025, 03:53:30 AM »
So when ordering you have selection of 5 sizes ranging from 460 to 550.

Geometry chart provides 6 sizes ranging from XS to XXL.

The website is completely useless.

8
Looking at the seller page, the seller is based in Spain! that's almost guaranteed it's a scam. Someone from Spain selling Chinese brand bikes on a Chinese online platform with a dirt cheap prices?

please report the seller to the AE.

Quote a few legit Chinese sellers/brands have their warehouses in Europe. Vector optics (not cycling related), iCan, Elitewheels, Light Bicycle come to mind

9
Riro / racework carbon crank:
some people will warn you of the aluminum axle, but the 24mm diameter will leave more bearing size for the pressfit bottom bracket
170mm crank length, not good enough for Pogi wannabes
Magene P505-S1103 powermeter in 3-bolt
Pass Quest chainrings, available in SRAM gearing 48/35 and for flattop chains

Would you rather change your BB bearings more often or have spindle break mid-ride?

10
Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components / Re: Elves Falath EXP
« on: February 12, 2025, 02:37:52 AM »
What did they rip off? Bayonet forks aren't that unique anymore, and imo, that Colnago is the best execution of one on a road bike. The seattube design concept was done before, somewhat, on a steel bike, but Colnago put massively more thought into it.
Cervelo S5 and TT version of BMC Timemachine

11
Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components / Re: Elves Falath EXP
« on: February 11, 2025, 04:39:48 PM »
Looks like a really bad mash-up between the new Colnago and the Madone rear hole.
I kinda liked the previous Falath Evo, had they just reduced the distance between the wheels and the frame a bit more and gotten the weight down a bit it would have been a fine aero bike. Then again, Elves sales are imo mostly carried by their fancy paintjobs.

Let's not act like Colnago totally didn't rip the design off from 2 of their competitors.

12
Wheels came in today!  First impression is WOW!  Finish and build is fantastic. I really wasn't expecting the logos to be of high quality but they are maybe some of the best I've seen on wheels. They are not busy stick on decals.   

Weight for 60/75 came in at 1320 gr.  That's in line with climbing wheels from a decade ago! 

Disc is 963gr with valve stem.

Shipping was about 8 days.  Shipped via FedEx to the USA.

Pictures below.   

I won't be able to report on ride for a while. It's winter here and roads are a mixed bag.

My only complaint would be that I was expecting the rear hub to be a star ratchet with ceramic bearings.  It's a 3 pawl hub with what look like standard steel bearings. This isn't the end of the world but different than what was communicated.

Is the 60/75 set 26mm wide at the brake track? I'm looking for set of wheels for my Venge and I did have Ace Sprint wheels in my radar, but ended up passing on them.

13
Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components / Re: Elves Falath EXP
« on: February 07, 2025, 09:42:59 AM »
Hmm, very Madone-esque looking frame. Is it just me or is the wheelbase really short?

14
Regarding budget chains, I think the real hero is SRAM PC1110, it's available in quite a few places for 15 USD/EUR, at least in my country it's cheaper than Decathlon's packed chain.

15
Compared to what other shape tube ?

Peak Torque has done a video few years ago on compliance of carbon tubes, he also did a simulation of load bearing of few most popular seatpost shapes:
https://youtu.be/C8eg4O3OrvM?si=oRzFzLxhokAimy3J&t=831

27.2mm carbon seatpost had about the same seatpost as D shape post or minimized aero seatposts (he used Giant TCR's shape, but Tarmac, Specialissima and some other bikes have very similar shaped posts). Deep aero seatpost was the most stiff, but it also had the biggest surface area by far considering it had same wall thickness as other tubes (that might not always be the case, i.e. my Winnow aero bike's seatpost is thicker at the front and back, but sides are quite a bit thinner).

In the very same video he also brings up the point about chassis for cars and roll cages – round tubes are used for making them because round tubes are probably the best choice for handling complex loads

Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 13