Quote from: Merry on December 21, 2025, 04:29:48 PM
That's insane. Chinese brands are starting to give western brands a run for their money! We've got so many carbon / ti crank options now with varying lengths, Chinese frames are becoming just as good as WorldTour frames, and wheels are becoming more affordable at 1/4 the cost. I'm shocked to see how fast options have developed since I joined last year.

I first started buying bike parts / frames from China maybe... 10 years ago? It's wild how far things have come in that time - and in particular over the last probably 4 years the quality and range of products has improved substantially.

Another crankset using the ARCRAYO powermeter for those wanting a little color.
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256810291424383.html

Nice looking cranks.

Quote from: poyo on December 21, 2025, 11:37:06 AM
Thinkrider PP5 power meter carbon crank

I ordered one. It surely won't be worse than my Xcadey. Seems like a good deal, including a carbon crank, looks like a Lexon crank.

https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005010577608240.html

Dang not available in the US for me.

Am I wrong or did I miss these https://it.aliexpress.com/item/1005010444590441.html, never heard of KORE

Quote from: alfiomotrambo on December 22, 2025, 02:32:44 PM
never heard of KORE

There was a US(?) manufacturer (or distributor) with that name back in the heyday of boutique parts. No idea where their stuff actually came from, I would have assumed Taiwan, but that's just guessing. I perceived them as less bling and more budgety back then (but might have been wrong). Not much to tell, really, other than the name was a thing in the 90s.

Quote from: Wet Noodle on December 23, 2025, 12:53:36 PM
There was a US(?) manufacturer (or distributor) with that name back in the heyday of boutique parts. No idea where their stuff actually came from, I would have assumed Taiwan, but that's just guessing. I perceived them as less bling and more budgety back then (but might have been wrong). Not much to tell, really, other than the name was a thing in the 90s.

I have a few KORE stems from the 90s that I should dispose of. 
A mystery of ownership to be solved...
KORE Components had a website that says it is under construction at the top level, but they do have a products page:  https://korecomponents.com
- Kore was sold back in 1998 and then disappeared.  Kore came back in 2014 and was being spec'd on GT bicyles.  Then they disappeared again
- Then in 2020 Kore Components  was gaining traction again,  and parts under the name were being spec'd by  J&B, BTI, and KHS.

https://korecomponents.com/product-category/new/

So who owns Kore these days?   A chinese based company or a Holding company?

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256809462765813.html
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256809036715131.html
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806902628826.html
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256810258275689.html
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805860310422.html
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256809186750328.html

Whoah...

2026 Balugoe aero shock absorbing round seatposts?

Bit random lol

Double the fun if it breaks lol

Quote from: xzx_components on December 30, 2025, 08:43:27 AM
Whoah...

2026 Balugoe aero shock absorbing round seatposts?

Bit random lol

ah yes, the seatpostussy

At least you have lots of room to get in and tighten the two bolts 

Quote from: xzx_components on December 30, 2025, 08:43:27 AM
Whoah...

2026 Balugoe aero shock absorbing round seatposts?

Bit random lol

Balugoe makes good stuff. Their bars are solid. I'd be tempted to try this out on my gravel bike. 

Did anyone order these before they sold out?

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256810474741039.html

Quote from: Dan S. on December 31, 2025, 01:59:00 AM
ah yes, the seatpostussy

Funnel plus kazoo plus velocity for the lolz.

Quote from: jonathanf2 on January 05, 2026, 11:25:59 AM
Did anyone order these before they sold out?

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256810474741039.html

That's pretty neat, I'm guessing it doesn't work on Force? Seems to be pretty explicit about Red.

Quote from: Hualicopter on January 05, 2026, 11:10:57 PM
That's pretty neat, I'm guessing it doesn't work on Force? Seems to be pretty explicit about Red.

Not sure why, for the D1 SRAM specs the same jockey wheels for Force and Red. I don't know about the newer derailleurs though.