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

Another Arup recommendation here. He’s built my last half dozen sets and every one has been flawless. Great communication and quick turnaround too.

The way we worked the 1st group buy I did was that we opted for the Tax Paid Delivery option. We got a quote for the order and the TPD. I then worked out everyone's percentage of the order value and then applied that to the TPD figure. Everyone then paid me their rim / wheel amount and their TPD contribution. I then paid LB. It was as a bit of admin on my part but meant everyone paid what was fair and people who only ordered cheap / small amounts weren't paying too much.

On the second group buy LB weren't offering TPD so we ordered standard delivery and luckily all shipments escaped customs duty.

That seems the most sensible way to do it.

I had the same on my individual order - no TPD but no duty charged on receipt. I believe HMRC was a bit busy at the time!

How do they work that one out on a group buy when the items are all sent to one person.

Thanks for confirming that, I was trying to be a dick but I felt like people were missing the mark on the question.

1. giofox 2xAR35 - (optional details: Hook, Disc, 32H, Matte UD With Access Holes, No decal)
   
2. leggy_blonde - 1x R65 (Hook, Disc, 24H, Matte UD, with holes, no decal). 2x R55T (Disc, Matte UD 24H, with holes, no decal)
   
3. atz - 2x AR45 disc rim. 1x R55 rear wheel
   
4. motoko - 2xAR35 (Hook, Disc, 28H, Matte UD With Access Holes, No decal)
   

Great, we made it to 10!

Thanks @Saffronspokes for the info, the quote they sent me for my two rims only is with TPD included and I'd agree the best way on a group order would be to simply prorate that based on the value of what one orders, the idea is that it will always be more convenient than ordering independently.

1 Attachment

2xAR35
Matte UD

LB advised against this as the "Pro" series looks good without paint, so if you specify Matte UD they will have to paint on top, I decided to trust their judgement, so here's my amended order:

1. giofox 2xAR35 - (optional details: Hook, Disc, 32H, Paintless UD With Access Holes, No decal)
   
2. leggy_blonde - 1x R65 (Hook, Disc, 24H, Matte UD, with holes, no decal). 2x R55T (Disc, Matte UD 24H, with holes, no decal)
   
3. atz - 2x AR45 disc rim. 1x R55 rear wheel
   
4. motoko - 2xAR35 (Hook, Disc, 28H, Matte UD With Access Holes, No decal)
   

Is that the "Unpainted" finish on the Pro series?

LB advised against this as the "Pro" series looks good without paint, so if you specify Matte UD they will have to paint on top, I decided to trust their judgement, so here's my amended

Also updated for LB recommended finish

1. giofox 2xAR35 - (optional details: Hook, Disc, 32H, Paintless UD With Access Holes, No decal)
   
2. leggy_blonde - 1x R65 (Hook, Disc, 24H, Matte UD, with holes, no decal). 2x R55T (Disc, Matte UD 24H, with holes, no decal)
   
3. atz - 2x AR45 disc rim. 1x R55 rear wheel
   
4. motoko - 2xAR35 (Hook, Disc, 28H, Paintless UD With Access Holes, No decal)
   

I've added mine in. Have discussed with Edwin and am having them beefed up for tandem use.

1. giofox 2xAR35 - (optional details: Hook, Disc, 32H, Paintless UD
   With Access Holes, No decal)
   
2. leggy_blonde - 1x R65 (Hook, Disc, 24H, Matte UD, with holes, no
   decal). 2x R55T (Disc, Matte UD 24H, with holes, no decal)
   
3. atz - 2x AR45 disc rim. 1x R55 rear wheel
   
4. motoko - 2xAR35 (Hook, Disc, 28H, Paintless UD With Access Holes, No
   decal)
   
5. Frank9755 - 2xAR56disc rim(36holes, 23mm internal/30mm external/56mm deep),clincher hook, UD matte, No decal, 3year warranty, 560gram+/-15 per rim
   

1. giofox 2xAR35 - (optional details: Hook, Disc, 32H, Paintless UD
   With Access Holes, No decal)
   
2. leggy_blonde - 1x R65 (Hook, Disc, 24H, Matte UD, with holes, no
   decal). 2x R55T (Disc, Matte UD 24H, with holes, no decal)
   
3. atz - 2x AR45 disc rim. 1x R55 rear wheel
   
4. motoko - 2xAR35 (Hook, Disc, 28H, Paintless UD With Access Holes, No
   decal)
   
5. Frank9755 - 2xAR56disc rim(36holes, 23mm internal/30mm external/56mm deep),clincher hook, UD matte, No decal, 3year warranty, 560gram+/-15 per rim
   
6. Andyfallsoff - 2 x AR465 disc, flyweight, 20/24, clincher hook, paintless UD, no access holes, no drain holes, no decal, no valves, lifetime warranty
   

1. giofox 2xAR35 - (optional details: Hook, Disc, 32H, Paintless UD
   With Access Holes, No decal)
   
2. leggy_blonde - 1x R65 (Hook, Disc, 24H, Matte UD, with holes, no
   decal). 2x R55T (Disc, Matte UD 24H, with holes, no decal)
   
3. atz - 2x AR45 disc rim. 1x R55 rear wheel
   
4. motoko - 2xAR35 (Hook, Disc, 28H, Paintless UD With Access Holes, No
   decal)
   
5. Frank9755 - 2xAR56disc rim(36holes, 23mm internal/30mm external/56mm deep),clincher hook, UD matte, No decal, 3year warranty, 560gram+/-15 per rim
   
6. Andyfallsoff - 2 x AR465 disc, flyweight, 20/24, clincher hook, paintless UD, no access holes, no drain holes, no decal, no valves, lifetime warranty
   
7. damitamit - 2 x XC925 rims (1 flyweight, 1 Standard), 28/28, paintless UD, with drain holes
   

Yeah, mine is unpainted pro finish.

Can you share a close up picture?

These are my pro rims in the standard paintless finish.

*only close up pic I have on me atm.

1 Attachment

Here we go. Pro paintless finish. It looks very premium. A video of the light catching it would probably do better justice.

2 Attachments

Thanks! They do look noice

hell yeah those look great

Has anyone on here got any experience with a road bike disc frameset bought direct?

I had a Sobato road bike until recently, which I think was bought through ebay, which I was happy with until it was damaged. Something seems to be up with their store.

What are the alternatives?

The new Workswell disc frames look good (wcb-r-316 and 306). Both are obviously meant to be very similar to the Tarmac sl7.

The brand seems to get a good rep and sells direct. Otherwise quite a few people on here seem to have good experiences with Carbonda

That's really helpful, thanks.

Get on the list people, 15 rims so far, halfway there.
I might email them this provisional list and see if they offer any discount based on this quantity. They emailed this morning saying the production time decreased to 3-4weeks from 7-8 of a couple weeks back.

1. giofox 2xAR35 - (optional details: Hook, Disc, 32H, Paintless UD With Access Holes, No decal)
   
2. leggy_blonde - 1x R65 (Hook, Disc, 24H, Matte UD, with holes, nodecal). 2x R55T (Disc, Matte UD 24H, with holes, no decal)
   
3. atz - 2x AR45 disc rim. 1x R55 rear wheel
   
4. motoko - 2xAR35 (Hook, Disc, 28H, Paintless UD With Access Holes, No decal)
   
5. Frank9755 - 2xAR56disc rim(36holes, 23mm internal/30mm external/56mm deep),clincher hook, UD matte, No decal, 3year warranty, 560gram+/-15 per rim
   
6. Andyfallsoff - 2 x AR465 disc, flyweight, 20/24, clincher hook, paintless UD, no access holes, no drain holes, no decal, no valves, lifetime warranty
   
7. damitamit - 2 x XC925 rims (1 flyweight, 1 Standard), 28/28, paintless UD, with drain holes
   

Removed the drain holes request from mine,

1. giofox 2xAR35 - (optional details: Hook, Disc, 32H, Paintless UD With Access Holes, No decal)
   
2. leggy_blonde - 1x R65 (Hook, Disc, 24H, Matte UD, with holes, nodecal). 2x R55T (Disc, Matte UD 24H, with holes, no decal)
   
3. atz - 2x AR45 disc rim. 1x R55 rear wheel
   
4. motoko - 2xAR35 (Hook, Disc, 28H, Paintless UD With Access Holes, No decal)
   
5. Frank9755 - 2xAR56disc rim(36holes, 23mm internal/30mm external/56mm deep),clincher hook, UD matte, No decal, 3year warranty, 560gram+/-15 per rim
   
6. Andyfallsoff - 2 x AR465 disc, flyweight, 20/24, clincher hook, paintless UD, no access holes, no drain holes, no decal, no valves, lifetime warranty
   
7. damitamit - 2 x XC925 rims (1 flyweight, 1 Standard), 28/28, paintless UD, no drain holes, with access holes
   

Get on the list people, 15 rims so far, halfway there.

Good progress, 30 is a huge rimjob. Do I understand it correctly that everybody is getting rims rather than complete wheels? What's the reasoning, are you merely purchasing carbon backups? Wheel lacing should be fine & cheap from the Orient...