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

Are they really that good? Is it a noticeable improvement over a standard seatpost?

I've not actually fitted it yet, get my new frame at the end of the month. I've only heard good things about them.

I think @skinny and @hippy are running them but could be wrong.

They’re fine, mostly. They can slip which changes your saddle angle rather unexpectedly
No

(I’ve had 2)

Don't drag my name into this dirty trademark infringement thread. The one time I used cheap chinese carbon it was shit. :P

If you're talking about the Ergon CF3 seatpost. I've own one but I've never used it. Much like I own a USE suspension post and never used it.

For what its worth, If you need it then you probably should buy the real one they're very good. If you just like the look of it but don't need it then fire away

I have the real deal and it's good but I suspect the copy will do pretty much the same. Layup will probably be different which may result in less comfort but the paralellogram design seems to matter most

It’s the copies I’ve had. No noticeable difference from a standard post

If you need it then you probably should...

...have a rethink about #whatpressureyourunning

Ok, well I personally got it for racing transcontinental and it was at the stage where everything adds up to help and I felt the seat post made a significant improvement especially on rough roads.

Can I ask how you are getting on with these, 2 months down the line? I am very interested in buying some - the hole for what looks like a mudguard mount looks very useful.

They're still in one piece. The dropouts seemed a little small, so a bit of filing was done, but otherwise they've been fine. Have been ridden for a few commutes, a drunk xmas do, and a cross ride though, and no more.

Thanks! I went round in circles and in the end got some 2nd hand steel forks. I already have some carbon Exotic MTB forks for the bike, but am getting frustrated with the mudguard bodges. In the end, some steel forks with proper eyelets for mudguard mode felt an OK tradeoff against the extra weight.

Any recommendations for some crabon road forks that wont disintegrate

I think that's a fair choice. I'm experiencing some brake rub under load but I'm a noob with disc brakes so could be user error. I'll be getting some steel forks down the line at some point.

Fixed the brake rub last night, was just bad brake installation

Is there a Tarmac SL6 Disc copy on alibaba etc yet?

Or any other cheapo non aero carbon road disc frame reccomendations?

Never search for the actual name of the bike and look out for crop shots lol
And contact for geo and more pics

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Carbon-frame-road-disc-brakes-2019-New-Listing-700C-bike-Frameset-QR-thru-axle-race-bike/32964247492.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.15.2dd261c2HDh0mP&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_5_10065_10068_10130_10547_319_317_10548_10696_10192_10190_453_10084_454_10083_433_10618_431_10307_10820_10301_10821_10303_537_536_10059_10884_10887_100031_321_322_10103,searchweb201603_53,ppcSwitch_0&algo_expid=a8cd32e8-557b-4d07-bdd9-895a05a0e006-2&algo_pvid=a8cd32e8-557b-4d07-bdd9-895a05a0e006&transAbTest=ae803_4

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Hot-Sell-OEM-1-1-S-W-carbon-fiber-chameleon-color-road-bicycle-frame-PF30-30/32950299702.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.41.48c1384bUgUu3u&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_5_10065_10068_10130_10547_319_317_10548_10696_10192_10190_453_10084_454_10083_433_10618_431_10307_10820_10301_10821_10303_537_536_10059_10884_10887_100031_321_322_10103,searchweb201603_53,ppcSwitch_0&algo_expid=3086daf1-208a-4bf5-9cb7-dea3eaefb0db-6&algo_pvid=3086daf1-208a-4bf5-9cb7-dea3eaefb0db&transAbTest=ae803_4

Cheers.

Have created accoint and asked seller a few q's.

Never used Alibaba before - what is the payment process like? How do most of you guys make payment?

If you are buying just one it should be done on aliepxress, they have their own payment platform, just put your card details. The overall user experience is better than Amazon IMO.

I have never bought anything off Amazon!

And they hold the payment from the seller until you confirm that you have received the goods in good condition so protection is pretty good. Have bought plenty on there

DHGate has more 'replica' frames as they take them down less.

Any clip on aero bars I can trust without needing dental assurance?

3T, Zipp, Profile, Deda...

What exactly are you after? I got Lixada (also sold under other names) because none of the Western makes was quite what I wanted, and the ones I received look much nicer than the set here
The pads are shit, so I replaced them with some 10m thick EVA foam, also from China. I also considered that the combination of the tribar geometry and my position on the bike would make it unlikely that a failure would be a big deal. If your stability on the bike relies on putting large forces through the tribars, you might want to be a bit more selective about who you trust to make reliable components.

what is that first one, actually?
same factory as the spesh bikes, someone put a few aside off the production line?
or carbonda/hong fu/etc painted to look like a s-works?