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Messages - Rallyfocus

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Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components / Re: Zen Carbon Wheels Xiamen
« on: July 26, 2026, 11:06:52 AM »
Thanks for the input as always Sander 2177. Everything you mentioned aligns with my less informed thoughts as well about Ti Spokes. Maybe I'll give them a try on a gravel wheelset down the road.

I'm leaning towards the Race Layup, Ultra Series ZC235RC hubs, laced with 3.2mm spokes and hidden nipples. Or maybe 3.1mm spokes and no holes in the rim bed. I'm about 75kg and don't mid a ride on the stiffer side. For the sake of 60g additional weight I don't think the ultra-light layup is for me given our rough roads.

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Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components / Re: Zen Carbon Wheels Xiamen
« on: July 26, 2026, 07:25:18 AM »
What's everyone's thoughts on Ti Spokes? I've been waiting for these 60mm Vaporlite 2's to come to market but never really considered Ti spokes on a road wheelset. I have read the XMCS posts by Peter about their Ti spoked options but has anyone been using them?

For a very minor weight penalty over carbon spokes, they seem like a good option. With so many options these days I'm having trouble making a decision. This wheelset will be used mostly on a Cervelo S5 in place of the stock Reserve 64/57 wheelset which is awesomely aero and stable but a bit heavy. Sander has been a huge help but we didn't talk about Ti spokes.

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Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components / Re: Xiamen Carbon Speed rims/wheels
« on: July 01, 2026, 05:33:53 AM »
Quote from: PeterXu on May 23, 2026, 07:30:42 PM
We have arranged 50/50, 58/58, 65/65mm 26mm IW T1100 version built with R506 hubs 20/20H and carbon spokes combo wheels UCI approved, I believe they will be listed on the UCI official website soon. And the 58/58mm combo wheels are wind tunnel tested with very good result, compared with some other brands wheels.

Do you have pricing for the 58/58 wheelset Peter?

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Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components / Re: Zen Carbon Wheels Xiamen
« on: June 28, 2026, 05:57:48 AM »
Quote from: ZenCarbonBike on June 27, 2026, 05:54:24 PM
Thank you for your interest in the VaporLite II wheelset.

As the VaporLite II rim was only officially released on 28 May, customer wheelsets are only just starting to be built and shipped. For that reason, there is currently very little independent real-world rider feedback available regarding crosswind performance.

From a design perspective, the VaporLite II uses a modern U-shaped rim profile with a 34mm external width and 25mm internal width. This profile has been developed to provide predictable handling and improved stability in crosswinds.

It’s also worth noting that crosswind stability is highly subjective and varies from rider to rider. Factors such as wind strength, local terrain, rider weight, bike geometry, tyre size, riding position and riding style all influence how a wheel feels in crosswinds.

Like any aerodynamic wheel, a 50mm depth rim will always be affected by crosswinds—you cannot overcome the laws of physics. Modern U-shaped rim profiles are designed to make these aerodynamic forces more predictable and manageable, but if maximum crosswind stability is your priority, a shallower 30–35mm wheel will naturally offer the most stable handling.

Regarding hub compatibility, our Ultra and Pro series use a DT Swiss-style ratchet system. While standard DT-style ratchets and freehub bodies may be compatible, manufacturing tolerances can vary slightly between different brands. Mixing components from different manufacturers may affect fit or performance.

For the best fit, reliability and long-term performance, we always recommend using replacement ratchets and freehub bodies supplied by the original hub manufacturer.

Thank you for the information, everything you said makes perfect sense. I was hoping that hub spare parts would be interchangeable and available locally but also understand that it can't be guaranteed that 3rd party party will work properly. I have all four of my current wheel sets built up with DT 240/180 hubs so it would be nice to have that flexibility. I'm going to look over the options a bit more. I'll reach out via WhatsApp with more specific questions if I plan to order. Thanks again!

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Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components / Re: Zen Carbon Wheels Xiamen
« on: June 27, 2026, 07:25:39 AM »
Can anyone comment on the crosswind stability of the new Vaporlite II wheels? I'm looking to build a lighter set of wheels for my new Cervelo S5. The Reserve 57/64 are very good in cross winds and fast but are pretty hefty. I'd like to build something with similar depths, widths, and carbon spokes but 300+g lighter. The Vaporlite II seems like a great option, but if they aren't good in crosswinds (I live in a windy area) I'll just stick with what I have.

I understand the physics of more rotational weight should inherently make a wheel more stable. But what are people finding with Vaporlite's? and what depths are you running?

One last question, standard DT ratchets and freehubs compatible with the hubs being used on the ultra and pro series?

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Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components / Re: Seraph Bikes Superlight 836g X68 - Alternative to SL8 Fakes?
« on: September 11, 2025, 06:14:20 PM »
@patliean1 what colour is that? It looks great!

I was just about to pull the trigger on an SL8 clone last week, but got sidetracked after my brand new car got wrecked by some idiot on a cell phone.

Now that my blood pressure is nearly back to "normal" I'll get back to bike shopping.

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Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components / Re: Elitewheels Drive II + Conti GP5000 28C
« on: August 20, 2025, 04:48:23 PM »
You should never have to use tire levers to mount tires IMO. I've mounted all sorts of tires that friends were struggling with and said were "impossible". 

Here's a couple of tips that can help:

-As mentioned above, leaving the tires in the sun or a warm environment will help a lot if they are cold.

-Be sure to start away from the valve stem and work towards the valve stem. Doing this will allow the already mounted section to get to the deepest part of the rim valley where the diameter is the smallest. This leaves the most "slack" available for the remaining unmounted section.

-As the tire starts to get tight, make sure the bead of the tire is in the deepest part of the valley in the rim. Keep doing this, and you'll get a little "slack" where you're trying to flip the bead over the rim. I will do this 4-5 times on really tight fits, every millimeter helps.

-When you get down to the last few inches and have exhausted getting all the "slack" you can use a tiny amount of soapy water on either the bead or the rim area of the last little bit. A small amount will help a lot for the most stubborn of tires.

Good Luck!


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Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components / Re: Road bike handelbars with attachable TT bars
« on: July 31, 2025, 02:31:23 PM »
I use a Trek Speed Concept setup on my Emonda occasionally when doing big endurance rides. Two bolts removes the whole aero setup, and four more bolts will change out the stem top cap leaving you with a decent looking cockpit. Not exactly a cheap option but it's pretty nice and sturdy.

https://road.cc/content/tech-news/262540-trek-launch-madone-slr-6-disc-speed-integrated-aerobars

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Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components / Re: Seraph Bikes Superlight 836g X68 - Alternative to SL8 Fakes?
« on: July 18, 2025, 05:14:14 PM »
@gbrnole can you confirm which model is the Romin Evo clone in the link please? I'd like to give one a try as well.

Thanks!

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Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components / Re: Seraph Bikes Superlight 836g X68 - Alternative to SL8 Fakes?
« on: December 25, 2024, 05:36:46 AM »
Quote from: LowPaceKingdom on December 25, 2024, 03:52:32 AM
As promised, I’m finally sharing the photos you’ve all been waiting for. I have permission to post them here, so no worries on that front. I did not receive the Bike yet (expected mid january)




Details: See at Page 8



Credits/Source:
Photos are from Tantan private Chat "Whatsapp"
Vivian@tantancycling.com
Sales01@tantancyling.com
Whatsapp:+86 13690938214

Do you mind if I ask what the total build price was? Great looking bike!

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Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components / Re: Seraph Bikes Superlight 836g X68 - Alternative to SL8 Fakes?
« on: December 22, 2024, 06:31:40 AM »
Seraph has a pretty nice portfolio of their frames on their Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tantanfactory_bike_frame/?hl=en

I'm impatiently waiting for a few more reviews of the X68.

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Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components / Re: Spcycle New Mold SP-R088 Carbon Road Frame
« on: December 20, 2024, 12:40:24 PM »
Very interested in this frame as well. Please update us when you get your hands on it @jonathanf2

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Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components / Re: Road carbon wheels/rims, 23mm inner width
« on: November 22, 2024, 01:43:55 PM »
I built a pair of Light Bicycle AR56's last year on DT240's with Sapim spokes. Not the lightest setup available but I've been very pleased putting about 8000km on them this Summer. I've had them on the roughest of roads and even some gravel. I find them more manageable in crosswinds than the 51mm deep Bontrager's I had on the same bike when rolling a 28mm Conti GP5000. The whole process with LB was smooth but they do take a while to ship when customized.

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Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components / Re: Hygge Aero Carbon Frame
« on: August 21, 2024, 04:32:12 AM »
Thanks for the info folks! It looks like I'll be going for a large.

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Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components / Re: Hygge Aero Carbon Frame
« on: August 20, 2024, 02:36:11 PM »
I'm planning to purchase my first direct from China frame to build up over the winter as a race bike. I'm leaning towards a Model S with EPS molding. I'm just a little unclear on the sizing an geometry of this frame. Some measurements look like they are taken from different points than Trek uses.

Is anyone able to comment on what size would be the closest to a Size 56 2023 Emonda SLR? I appreciate the help and info available on this site.

It looks like the Size 52M is 1.5mm shorter in reach and 7mm higher in stack. I'm currently riding with 10mm of spacers on my Emonda, it seems like this size would work well with less spacers. I'm 183cm tall with an inseam of about 31.

Anyone else roughly my size care to share what size Model S they are riding and what the fit is like?

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