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

1056 is probably closer to this than the 696. However I've previously asked if they can put guards mounts on a 1056 and they said no, so the 696 is your only option (if its a true winter frame you want).

thank for the advice, so there is no actual winter road bike ( aka n=1 ) at carbonda at the moment

Theres one called a lifeline bearing press kit which is great.

@Maxime

Ah Im sorry. I was hoping for something more like the FM066. (But with discs maybe)
I'm not after another winter bike as my cross bike does all that.

I think I'm after something like this
https://www.speedercycling.com/Carbon-Road-Disc-Frameset-SC-R48D-_p346.html

Fits 28s
Light
Carbon
Not too pricey

emailed speeder:
SC-R48D: US$698/set
Thru Axle: US$20/set

The shipping cost to the UK is US$110.

I'm looking at getting a Carbonda 696 (I've already messaged @M4xime about the joint order).

I've never mounted anything on the forks and I don't plan on it. Those 3 mount holes on the side look a bit ugly to me and surplus to requirements. Do Carbonda offer the fork without the mounts?
Can anyone recommend an alternative?

I'm not 100% set on the 696, anyone tried the 1056?

Any recommended bearing presses for DT Swiss hub maintenance?

There's specific drifts and a ratchet removal tool that would make your life easier. You'll probably need a vice to remove the ratchet, unless you have gorilla hands.

The front wheel of my small group buy turned up yesterday, finish seems excellent, box was pretty beaten up in transit it but the wheel was well protected, came in a 853.5g (vs 886g for the same wheel with a dt Swiss 350 hub so pretty close to the 30g weight saving expected) which I think is fine for an 88mm deep wheel, so far mounted tubeless tape and valve, the tyres I had in the parts bin are in worse condition than I thought so having a think about tyres before I go any further!

The rear wheels are due to complete production on Wednesday, then it’s a race against time for them to be here before the 12th June for my first proper tri of the season..

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first proper tri of the season

Speaking of which, how’re you finding the P Series? I’ve been offered a pretty much unused 105 version for £1700 and quite tempted to do that and move over some posher bits from another bike

Built up the 696 for my gf in a rush on Friday. She took it down the road for a test ride and then did it's first proper ride on Sunday on a 200k audax from Bristol (including a load of gravel on the fosse way). Tbh, I'm surprised my 11pm brake bleeding held together but it did and she gave the new frame/bike a thumbs up.

Needs some deeper carbon rims from the next group buy...

They'll probably do one without mount holes (I think i've seen it on the ridinggravel forum thread).

On the flip side, they added a front light hole and dynamo routing to my fork. It was $10 extra.

very nice! What is the sifter + front mech combo? *internet * says it all has to be GRX as they are a little outboard.

Shifter is a old RS685 + a GRX 810 front mech. Supposedly I could've got away with using the 105 front mech we had but didn't want the hassle.

I thought the crankset + front mech had to be grx, the rest didn't matter?

appearantly the chainrings are outboard by 2.5mm(? pls confirm @Alb )

Yep, so you need the grx front mech. Shifter doesn't matter.

yeah, I didnt think they'd have a diff cable pull esp for front, I read wrong and thought you had 105 front mech for some reason.

As with all things stated Shimano compatibility, take it with a pinch of salt. I’d imagine regular road FD’s have enough throw and adjustment to easily accommodate a +2.5mm chainline

I have 32mm tyres on mine (Michelin Power Tubeless) and they size up to a lovely 35mm.

Power Road? I have the same combo and mine measure exactly 32mm at ~55psi. I'd like to try the 33c strada bianca next.

Looks lovely!

they added a front light hole

That is really good - getting hard to get frames with that.

People with Light Bicycle rim brake wheels - they seem to reckon the braking is fine nowadays. But has anyone done something like a long, twisty alpine descent and not had toasted rims?

Yeah Power Road Tubeless, I'll try and find time for a pic with vernier calipers showing the size

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I have done Furka, Grimsel, Nufenen, Gothard, various smaller French cols and a lot or Ardennes with them , 1 Furka descent with wet roads. Grooved graphene surface and Swissstop black prince pads. I lived to tell the tale and have not noticed any delamination or any other issues on them. I did touch the rim once to get a sense of temperature and it was just warm, not hot to touch. I do pump rather than drag the brakes more on long descents.

I have to say that I am looking into a light shallow alu set for climbing alone. I just want an exta piece of mind running latex tubes that "some" have had issues with. I have been using a XR31t set, but want to go lighter.

edit: I just had a look, it does seem the graphene surface has run off them, think after about 8k km.

@Saffronspokes are you using a special from-the-back mount on that fork to hold the dynamo light? Or does that fork have a front hole? I remember you were looking for a mount a while back...

Anyone fancy getting more stuff from light bicycle order? Will be placing at the end of the month.

That was for my wife's bike and her forks. Luckily these are drilled all the way through for easy mounting.

Ahhh. Did you find anything suitable in the end?