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

I’ve just brought 3 - will report back my experiences. All the reviews online seem pretty solid so i thought I’d take the punt!

Where did you purchase from?

@Kanj & @BigDog are these latex or butyl tubes?

Neither they are like the tubilito I think..,

Neither, they're TPU like revoloop and tubolitos but half the price.

I’d be very tempted as spares: back up for tubeless. Do they take C02?

Use a pump you monster

About that…?

Some of us don’t lift bro…

Silca make a lovely expensive pump that you'd love. Very smooth and easy, very expensive.
No single use, landfill bound, greenhouse gas emitting canisters in sight

Edit: the thread for buying cheap shit from China is probably not the place to make an environmental stand lol

Also, tubeless sealant doesn't work very well with co2 so you probably need a pump anyway if this is your use case. Eg when a tyre loses pressure in the process of sealing itself.

Should I not be putting them in the recycling bin??

the 'correct' silca pump is tattico

but then you can buy this: https://www.cannondale.com/en-gb/gear/equipment/inflation/mini-pumps/road-mini-pump

which is the same and you dont get tainted as a Silca bro

You shouldn't be putting them in your tyres!

@Pifko I brought from a UK eBay seller. The price was £14.50 as opposed to £12 and delivery should be here tomorrow so it was a no brainier.

@HoKe as others have mentioned TPU.

@GoatandTricycle apparently CO2 is not the best as it can freeze the TPU or something more technical which I don’t know. I think it’s use a pump when using these as a spare.

Also, not recommended for rim brakes as they have a tendency to burst when the rim heats up with lots of descending/use. Not ideal!

i take it these dont "de-core" presta valves? might have to put that on my christmas list

I see CO2 canisters as quite an effective way of capturing carbon to offset my daily activities. 16g of CO2 for each canister that I don't use and is just sat in my saddle bag. Then when I do use it, it stays inside my tire for another few months. At least it buys us a bit of time on the ecological ticking time bomb.

So much this. The silca pump really is very nice to use and doesn't screw on so doesn't take valve cores out

@GoatandTricycle There's problems recycling them apparently, if they're still pressurised they would blow in the machines so centres will often filter them out. There's a guy in east london who picks up nos canisters and makes chefs knives from them.

I thought this was more an issue with Latex than TPU?

did I say Lezyne?!?!?!!!?? (they dont)

nice. thanks

I've only used on a disc bike but the packaging clearly says fine for rim brakes. Think latex tubes are the issue

With CO2? I think you’re correct but I read on weightweenies that it caused issues for some people. So I’ll avoid if I can!

Edit: I’ve re-read the thread regarding rim/disc. No issues from people there - I’m talking crap!

Oooowe. Thank you for this. They can be found reasonably online. Just picked up one in Dirt and one in Road model. I have a Tattico so can compare build.

Amazing, same pump head and everything. I might just get one.