Quote from: FlorianS on October 10, 2026, 02:45:56 PM
Have them as well, and I gotta say I don't really like the look – they kinda look (and feel) flimsy, and they barely hold my Elite FlyTex bottles. They're fine on road, but if it get's even a little rough, I wouldn't trust them.

Interesting, I also use the Elite Fly Tex bottles, and they are rock solid.

After having tried several aftermarket chainrings, I think I've settled back on Shimano chainrings. They just shift easily without having to use 2-piece chainring bolts.

Shimano 105 12 speed chainrings are well priced:
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256809784088240.html

Quote from: jonathanf2 on October 14, 2026, 01:23:10 PM
After having tried several aftermarket chainrings, I think I've settled back on Shimano chainrings. They just shift easily without having to use 2-piece chainring bolts.

Shimano 105 12 speed chainrings are well priced:
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256809784088240.html

Yeah 105 stuff is killer value. I don't know about the economics of it but I've got no clue as to why Ultegra chainrings are substantially more expensive for what they are.

I think Shimano just builds way more 105 equipment compared to Ultegra and Dura Ace. The 105 big chainring is only a few grams heavier than Dura Ace. For the money, those extra grams can be cut elsewhere for much cheaper.

Also 105 Di2 groupsets are starting to appear on AliEx for really good prices. Ltwoo and Wheeltop aren't as compelling with higher pricing unless you really need 13 or 14 speed cassettes.

Shimano groupsets have been all over AliEx an Alibaba for a long time, but i don't really feel the price has differed that much, strictly speaking it has crept up slightly recently. 105 Di2 complete is around 7-800 USD and Ultegra around 2-300 more than that.

You guys do realize...

Shimano 105 components are manufactured in these countries:  Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, and China.
Shimano Ultegra components are manufactured in these countries: Japan and Singapore, with some small component piece parts being manufactured in Malaysia or China
Scumano Dura Ace components are manufactured only in Japan.

This is likely why 105 is so readily available in China.  Ultegra and Dura Ace groups have to be imported, and this would add cost to their sale prices.

   

Quote from: Tijoe on October 15, 2026, 09:31:38 AM
You guys do realize...

Shimano 105 components are manufactured in these countries:  Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, and China.
Shimano Ultegra components are manufactured in these countries: Japan and Singapore, with some small component piece parts being manufactured in Malaysia or China
Scumano Dura Ace components are manufactured only in Japan.

This is likely why 105 is so readily available in China.  Ultegra and Dura Ace groups have to be imported, and this would add cost to their sale prices.

Cool. 

I was shopping around last month for some low weight carbon wheels. I was considering sub-1kg wheelsets, but the cost difference seemed a bit ridiculous for a few extra grams. I found these Go4sporting wheels and thought they hit the cost-to-weight ratio decently. 50mm depth, 30mm wide, 23.9mm internal width wheels with 5.2mm carbon spokes. It took a month to ship and I weighed everything to 1140g total. Everything appeared true and well made. I already have some narrow depth climbing wheels, but I wanted something with more depth for those flatter sections.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256811982519396.html

Added photos fully mounted on my SPCycle R088.

Quote from: debaser on October 15, 2026, 06:39:40 AM
Shimano groupsets have been all over AliEx an Alibaba for a long time, but i don't really feel the price has differed that much, strictly speaking it has crept up slightly recently. 105 Di2 complete is around 7-800 USD and Ultegra around 2-300 more than that.

Merlin currently has (OEM diverted) 105 Di2 groupsets in the mid 800 USD range and they generally ship to the US within a week.

https://www.merlincycles.com/en-us/shimano-105-r7170-di2-disc-groupset-12-speed-271682.html

I don't see any 13-speed—or better yet, 14-speed—chainrings. Any recommendations for a 1x setup?

Quote from: pedalino on <strong>Today</strong> at 04:03:06 AMI don't see any 13-speed—or better yet, 14-speed—chainrings. Any recommendations for a 1x setup?

I recently upgraded a gravelbike to 1x 13speed with Ltwoo eGR and I testetpretty much every chainring in my arsenal. The only one that didn't work with the SUMC 13 speed chain was a Shimano Cues ring, all others (Passquest, Stone, Wuzei etc.) seemed to work ok.

Quote from: bremerradkurier on October 16, 2026, 04:29:28 PMMerlin currently has (OEM diverted) 105 Di2 groupsets in the mid 800 USD range and they generally ship to the US within a week.

https://www.merlincycles.com/en-us/shimano-105-r7170-di2-disc-groupset-12-speed-271682.html

Used to order from Merlin pretty regularly. Shipping has increased dramatically and unsure about tariff situation.