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

Ok, three quick laps of the park this evening, so first impressions.

Accelerating from corners you can really feel the lack of weight, and my biggest concern (braking) was fine- nice and progressive, although the pads have left yellow lines around the braking track.

According to Farsports these rims should not see more than 130 PSI, so I put 120 in for this evening.

In terms of ride comfort there is really nothing in it (so far) with my EA90 SLX/Open Corsa's.

When you are up to speed the wheels make an awesome high pitched rumble which really spurs you into going faster and faster.

Sidewinds can make the bike shake it's head, but these are 50mm rims, and it was never worrying.

Climbing back up the hills to home the lightweight again contributed hugely to the feel of the bike- I went up a hill that I normally get out of the saddle at the top seated, thinking "this is easy".

That said, this bike is 3kg lighter than my current daily ride.

All in all, and based on a very brief test, no regrets.

And they look blinger than bling.

When you are up to speed the wheels make an awesome high pitched rumble which really spurs you into going faster and faster.

I'm suddenly really excited about taking mine out now, I want to make this niose (without the playing card I currently have peged to the seat stay).

Crankset status has gone from.

'no delivery date from supplier'
'no delivery confirmation from supplier'

I guess thats progress of sorts.

The wheels made all sorts of exciting "ping! ping! ping!" noises the first time I threw a leg over the saddle, but that was just the spokes finding their positions as that was the first time they'd had the weight of a rider on them.

Other than that, they were solid as- out of the saddle sprinting showed no flex- something that couldn't be said of my Ksyrium Elites, which would flex enough to rub on the brake blocks when giving it the beans.

Just been working out costs a bit more thoroughly, and the rims I've used work out to £120 each, when you factor in shipping and paypal charges- note that we did not get charged import duty, which would have pushed this up further.

So, around £400 for materials rather than the figure up-thread.

It might have been easier to buy some Planet-X wheels- wonder what they weigh?

About 100g more than mine do is the answer, going by the published weight on the Planet-X website- 1,296g per pair for their 50mm tubs.

About 100g more than mine do is the answer, going by the published weight on the Planet-X website- 1,296g per pair for their 50mm tubs.

Due to the law of ever decreasing returns. 100g represents a fair amount of retail price when your operating below 1.3Kg.

Fair point, wonder what the closeset comparison would be, in terms of the branded stuff available here?

50mm deep, 1,180g wheelset for tubs.

Well it depends if you're factoring warranty in as well - I guess PX wheels would have a 1 year warranty? But fuck it you've done a public service!
Now we just need to find someone to buy a frame......

The rims I bought have a years warranty- I checked before I bought them.

If they've been built by a qualified mechanic then Farports will replace them in the event of a failure.

I'm probably on my own with the hubs though.

Now we just need to find someone to buy a frame......

Might consider this as the base for my next project...will need to see how some imminent sales go though.

Might consider this as the base for my next project...will need to see how some imminent sales go though.

I'd browse this thread.
Road Bike, Cycling Forums

Worth its weight in gold that thread (and the 4 versions before it). You just need to keep in mind that half the forumongers will defend their purchase out of pride alone, and the other half will complain at the slightest imperfection.

This was loaded this very morning.
Road Bike, Cycling Forums

ISP, internal cablerouting, tapered headtube, matt finish.

(ED: Its a for-sale post. Which I am in no way connected too BTW)

fuck that thing looks amazing. Want.

Seriously considering some oriental crabbon or ti for a training ride.

Thats an FM028. If you put your bike measurements into the following calculator (under custom). You can compare it to the FM028 (and find size). I'm guessing you'd like something as close to your S-works as possible.
http://cheapcarbonframes.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/sizing.html

The 52 would be such a sweet fit for me. With angles very much like my commuter, just with a far shorter wheelbase.

Am I being thick, or are there no prices on their site?

Is it an email your specs kinda deal?

I'm guessing if that guy's selling for £400, it's around £600 new after shipping?

#tryingtoavoidreadingall1000000pagesoftheotherthread

Am I being thick, or are there no prices on their site?

Is it an email your specs kinda deal?

I'm guessing if that guy's selling for £400, it's around £600 new after shipping?

#tryingtoavoidreadingall1000000pagesoftheotherthread

I think its a price on enquiry deal. As the websites are seldom updated.

Your price guess sounds reasonable to me though. If ou bought some bling carbon rims at the same time to save postage. You could buid a serious race machine on a good budget.

#notopeningtheirsite,tooscared.

I have to admit I'm very tempted to buy some carbon rims and a frame. Fit some SRAM and I've got myself a decent training bike.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3k-Full-Carbon-Racing-Road-Bike-Frame-Front-Fork-60cm-/160576964668?pt=UK_sportsleisure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item256322083c

FM028 <£400, I reckon it might be cheaper still to buy from Hong fu/deng fu

carbon rims for a training bike? No thanks!

That's what I was thinking. Durability is king.

carbon rims for a training bike? No thanks!

What other lightweight wheels can I get for around £3-400 though?

for a training bike? just get formula's to open pro's or something.. Why do you want lightweight wheels for a training bike? Training bikes are supposed to be a bit heavier and more durable - that's what makes your 'good' bike feel 'good' right? Unless you're pro obviously.

Or get some Krysium Equipes/Elites or RS80's. Carbon rims aren't THAT much lighter a lot of the time (a lot are heavier than the higher specced mavic/DT wheels - just aero and stiff as fuck instead) and I really wouldn't want to be putting in 5000 miles per year on a wheel like that..

My training bike is steel and has Campy Omega box rims - makes my S-works feel like a rocket ship with an armchair

Also definitely NO tubs for a training bike.

What other lightweight wheels can I get for around £3-400 though?

Ultegra hubs, Open Pro rims (ceramic if in budget) and butted DT or Sapim spokes. Again, get CX Rays if you afford it as they do build into a stiffer wheel.

What other lightweight wheels can I get for around £3-400 though?

Something based on rebranded Klinin rims and Rebranded novatech etc hubs.
I'd go with 31mm deep, as I'm a little heavy. But Klinin do lighter shallower rims.

Rear:
http://cnc-bike.de/product_info.php?cPath=39_187_889&products_id=9277&osCsid=a78a4b2b0a97c4bf04939caf31546eb1
laced 28 2x with...
http://cnc-bike.de/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=164&products_id=3615&osCsid=a78a4b2b0a97c4bf04939caf31546eb1
to...
http://cnc-bike.de/product_info.php?products_id=9746&osCsid=a78a4b2b0a97c4bf04939caf31546eb1

Front:
http://cnc-bike.de/product_info.php?cPath=39_187_889&products_id=3641&osCsid=a78a4b2b0a97c4bf04939caf31546eb1
laced 24 radial with...
http://cnc-bike.de/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=164&products_id=3615&osCsid=a78a4b2b0a97c4bf04939caf31546eb1
to...
http://cnc-bike.de/product_info.php?cPath=25_105_780&products_id=9744&osCsid=a78a4b2b0a97c4bf04939caf31546eb1

Just under 1.5KG with nipples and rim tape.

Light(ish), durable, cheap(ish), Stiff as, and a little aero. If you're not a fat well built 87Kg like me. You could easily go lighter.

Not quite 3 out 3 for Tiswas TBH. But nearly.

I don't necessary mean a training bike. Something which I can use as a fair weather bike. Not for club rides during the winter.