Orient Express - Cheap Chinese Rims / Wheels / Forks / Frames / Cranks / Etc

No, I posted "Light Bicycle" then saw neg beat me to it, so ninja edit.

Cool - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/U-Shape-R13-hub-1490g-only-60mm-Clincher-carbon-road-wheelset-20-5mm-23mm-25mm-/261916259044?var=&hash=item3cfb6cf2e4:m:mTm-ycewM2WIuGa-F7SygFQ

Purchased these in the end. Will let y'all know how I find them.

What width you go for in the end and which tire width you thinking?

I'm thinking the same wheels on my giant propel, but have had bad experience with the aero brakes fouling on wider 25mm clincher tires on the standard ~17mm width pa-2 rims. Currently running pave tubs with 25mm tyres and no fouling.

25mm and 25c, will let you know how GP4k size up when I get hold of them

My Chinese crabon 29er forks arrived, complete with an undersized steerer so my crown race is loose.

This has now been bodged with a coke can shim and installed on the bike. eBay seller refuses to believe my vernier calipers.

The through axles are different from the cam style through axles that came with my suspension forks. These are somewhat simpler and just seems to be a matter of tightening it into a nut the other side of the fork leg. If I tighten too much I fear damaging the carbon, seems I've already put a bit of a mark in it. How do I know how tight is tight enough with these?

Just ordered a pair of these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251972111848?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&var=550839208492&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Again, i'll take some pics when they arrive!

they updated the brakes on the newer ones with longer arms to solve this - you can buy them through a giant dealer

Just come across this if anyone fancies an SMP copy with no branding. Haven't tried it so by no means a recommendation.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222317552767

Being a size 48, I'm a bit wary of their 'one size fits all' claim. How do they size up?

That looks very similar to the chaunts branded one, if so it agrees with my bum.

My new 27mm wide road wheels arrived from Winow. Looks hella good, but skewers were not delivered with the package.

Put this in current projects as an 'I'd like to build this', but guess it's more appropriate here. I really want one of these. I've emailed Colossi. Hopefully they do it in a 64cm, and hopefully the dropouts can be swapped for ones with mudguards eyes...

I'd totally be willing to compromise for that frame

Thanks for the update. Looks like they now have their own alternative to the Fouriers BR-S005.

Looks like they use the same tube set as on my delight Road frame,which is spirit hss, maybe ask them to change to a more "functional" life tubing.

Cheers,

Dave

Just had a quick read-up on Spirit HSS. What's the main issue with it? Delicate?

Very thin walls. Down to 0.35mm, so liable to be dented. I'm not convinced that Life tubing, which goes down to 0.4mm, is any less likely to be dented in real life. Either way it's wafferthin.

Just realized this is not the functional thread haha!
But yes, spirit is supposedly thinner than life.
I can compare with my colossi rambler cx with zona tubing, the delight is lighter and sounds thin.

Yes, I can see how my mention of mudguards and rackmounts would confuse you though.

Thing is, I've got a kinesis 4s disc so that kinda does the all weather road stuff. I don't really need another bike but I like the idea of a steel roadie with discs (and another blue bike) and I've got pretty much everything I'd need except for shifters and calipers...

I don't really need another bike

Banned.

Haha, this is why I have a 'track bike' (never ridden on track, indeed almost never ridden), a road going fixed gear (sometimes ridden on track, in need of a disc fork) an old roadie (kinda gifted to my brother) and the kinesis (ridden everywhere for everything).

Aaah, just realised why Hong Fu aren't getting back to me at the moment. Ruddy Chinese New Year!

I just want to spend some damn money!

has anybody any experience with chinese 26" wheelsets , the non carbon kind ?

I'm building up a touring bike from a 90s mtb.
I kind of want wide rims and all the ebay deals are like 17 wide.

any insight on these ?

https://de.aliexpress.com/item/26-24H-Disc-Brake-Bike-Wheel-Mountain-Bicycle-MTB-Bike-Wheelset-Hubs-Rim-Front-Rear-Bicycle/32773576685.html?spm=2114.010208.3.34.KqggbK&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_2_10065_10068_10000074_10000032_119_10000025_10000029_10000028_10060_10000067_10062_10056_10055_10000062_10054_10059_10099_10000022_10000013_10103_10102_10000016_10101_10096_10000018_10000019_10000056_10000059_10052_10053_10107_10050_10106_10051_10000053_10000007_10000050_10084_10083_10000047_10080_10082_10081_10110_10111_10112_10113_10114_10115_10037_10000041_10000044_10078_10079_10077_10000038_10073_10000035_10122_10121,searchweb201603_10,afswitch_2,single_sort_3_price_asc&btsid=169e3213-0597-4b48-b949-6ecfa1466f06

You could probably buy some Hope/Stan's wheels 2nd hand for that price though

Colossi got back to me about the Transalp frame I posted upthread. They could apparently do me a 64cm version for $1110. Bit steep for me at the moment, I think. No geo chart, so I think I'll ask them about that.

I might ask if they can do me a 64cm rambler track with the same paint job 🤔