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

I'm curious to read about people's experience with Chinese cycling goods on eBay as I've been avoiding them like SARS. Anything I've ever gotten has gone tits up in very short order, admittedly that's all been electronics items, but I've been afraid to rely on them for something carrying me at speed in traffic.

I ordered a pair of Novatec hubs via eBay from a Chinese vendor. After 30 days there were no sign of them so I emailed the seller asking if he had despatched them, had a tracking number etc. Instead he refunded me. Which was good but I wanted the hubs and he was the only person I've ever found who sold them! I emailed again asking if he had another pair but he never responded.

I have bought from China via ebay for small electronics and been pleasantly surprised at delivery times.

I have never ordered bike parts though.

that niner is just a glorified towpath bike for bennies.

What makes you say that?

It would be nice if people who are brave enough to take the risk (such as Yogi) report back- if we can ascertain that these parts are safe then happy days.

I am happy to be a guinea pig for riding cheap chinese carbon good around, however I cannot supply my own parts.

I ordered a pair of Novatec hubs via eBay from a Chinese vendor. After 30 days there were no sign of them so I emailed the seller asking if he had despatched them, had a tracking number etc. Instead he refunded me. Which was good but I wanted the hubs and he was the only person I've ever found who sold them! I emailed again asking if he had another pair but he never responded.

PM/email briankwan, he could get you some, i think

Very tempted to get a set of those Carbonzone wheels for my Koga-Miyata, seems like a great way to drop a shit-tonne of weight from an otherwise cheap hefty 70s racer without going overboard on dorrah... Will keep posted if and when it happens.

What makes you say that?

because looking at that and how much it costs i would rather
A. get a proper mountainbike.
B. get a cyclocross bike.
C. not ride towpaths and boring doublertrack.

£313, has BB30 bottom bracket which is a nice modern touch.

forgive me if I am stating the obvious, but that frame is this de rosa

can there be a quality difference or is it just paint job?

What do you think?

I'd be wary about buying unless I knew that the frame actually made them for de rosa or another company too... even then, for all you know you're getting the ones that didn't pass quality control or something. £300 might not be much but if it turns out to be shit it's £300 that could have gone towards something with a manufacturers warranty and customer support that isn't in Hong Kong (plus there's the very real possibility of paying another hundred odd in import tax and postage fees).

Still, Taiwanese fabrication standards are meant to be very high and a lot of the big brands have their frames made there so might be a happy medium buying from a company based there?

forgive me if I am stating the obvious, but that frame is this de rosa
(...)

can there be a quality difference or is it just paint job?

Not sure, really. It depends what manufacturer it came from.
Some of them have cheaper knock-offs and other ones actually make those frames for the european big brands.

Answering those questions is what this thread will hopefully go some small way toward.

I've ordered some of the rims, maybe someone else will order a Chinarello Dogma frame and report back.

Maybe.
I just need an eBay account my wife doesn't know about it and a place to deliver the frame to.

i assume no, but they may be 'laying carbon' with different techniques or fibers? I have no idea about carbon technology.

Someone on here actually works with carbon fibre in an industrial environment. I just can't recall who :-/

Also, I have read somewhere that the ribble and De Rosa are both purchased by the brands and painted in their livery. You can buy the frames from the manufacturer direct for about $500/600. Can't find the manufacturers website now. annoying

Could you send the frame to De Rosa to be painted? That would be interesting.

There is certainly some well known carbon frames made in China. See how many you recognise.

http://www.xds-carbon.com/products.asp?action=class&class_id=13#

Definite Planet X bikes here.

X-B24. At least it doesn't have those ghastly stickers.
I've ordered a drilled TT fork from China to replace the stock track one.
It's the same thing, only drilled and not stickered up.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Triathlon-Time-Trial-Road-Bike-Full-Carbon-Fork-700c-TT-/250786987182?pt=UK_sportsleisure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item3a6411bcae#ht_1352wt_1141

Here's ma boy

http://www.xds-carbon.com/cp_pic/2007122016432F33格式.jpg

My aim for the wheelset is to get 90% of the utility of a pair of Zipp 404's for 10% of the price.

Obviously that'll never happen, but it'll be fun seeing how close we get.

I was very tempted to start a full carbon chinese build, but the frames on ebay all stop at 58cm.
However, I clearly need a full carbon tandem
http://www.xds-carbon.com/cp_pic/200832016220B30.jpg

My aim for the wheelset is to get 90% of the utility of a pair of Zipp 404's for 10% of the price.

Obviously that'll never happen, but it'll be fun seeing how close we get.

You should be alright - as long as you don't abuse it too much.
Are you planning to use it for touring in Italy?

X-B24. At least it doesn't have those ghastly stickers.
I've ordered a drilled TT fork from China to replace the stock track one.
It's the same thing, only drilled and not stickered up.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Triathlon-Time-Trial-Road-Bike-Full-Carbon-Fork-700c-TT-/250786987182?pt=UK_sportsleisure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item3a6411bcae#ht_1352wt_1141

Let me know how you get on with this as I'll probably be doing the same soon. It will certainly save me sticker-bombing perfectly good carbon just to cover some awful branding.