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

Bianchi? Hahahaha.

Right, we have a pair of these rims (56mm 20/24)coming:

For $215 shipped, so £134

And also one of the above in 20H plus one of the 88mm rims below in 24H for $265/£165 all in:

The 56mm rims are going to be built onto these:

Which were £99 shipped for both hubs and skewers.

The rims are coming from China, the hubs and skewers are coming from Taiwan.

If you're using tubs in the high mountains (and you should) then glue them. Tape isn't up to the job of high speed Alpine descents.

Don't by cheap tubs either, as EEI says, they are a false economy.

Are you sure, Andy? Serious question.
I used to have tubs glued on, but since I've discovered that Tufo tape I can't be bothered. Is there a proof that that tape isn't up to scratch in the mountains? Do you think the tub would roll off when cornering on a descent?

A mixture of carbon rims, temperature build up due to braking and fast corners tests tape to the absolute limit and rolled tubs are pretty common (I've seen them in every mountain sportive I've done in the past 10 years).

For peace of mind, I'd use glue.

I thought the tape was just mean to be for roadside repairs. I would glue them if you have the opportunity.

A mixture of carbon rims, temperature build up due to braking and fast corners tests tape to the absolute limit and rolled tubs are pretty common (I've seen them in every mountain sportive I've done in the past 10 years).

For peace of mind, I'd use glue.

Ok. That's me converted back.

If you're just riding around London then tape is fine.

Bianchi? Hahahaha.

yep, lol'd at that too :)

Right, we have a pair of these rims (56mm 20/24)coming:

For $215 shipped, so £134

And also one of the above in 20H plus one of the 88mm rims below in 24H for $265/£165 all in:

The 56mm rims are going to be built onto these:

Which were £99 shipped for both hubs and skewers.

The rims are coming from China, the hubs and skewers are coming from Taiwan.

big spending from a man who hasn't even ridden his new set up in anger yet :)

Really interested to see how you get on with these - might be tempted to do the same

Another source for a variety of Taiwan hubs http://www.bikehubstore.com/default.asp

big spending from a man who hasn't even ridden his new set up in anger yet :)

Really interested to see how you get on with these - might be tempted to do the same

Rode it last Saturday, although not in anger, in shakedown it is true.

And the point is that it's not big spending- aiming for ~£250 and done, for brand new wheels that weight ~1,400g.

Did you not just order 2 sets of rims, or did I miss-read that part?

He's experimenting.

With his overdraft.

What brands do this? Is the Condor Leggero a bought in frame?

Which brands don't? Parlee, IF, Cipollini, Storck, Bianchi...any more?

Couple of years ago Condor had the Barracchi as a rebadged Deda Nero Corsa F+F at huge markup identical to the Ribble Deda Nero Corsa and a shitload of other brands all of which were Taiwan made and Italian 'finished' frames. Which is what Pinarello etc do.

Parlee do lugged carbon built in US but also have a monococque Taiwan frames as do Colnago.

IF are all US made lugged carbon.

Cipollini actually make monococque frames in Italy and have video so you can see they actually are homegrown. Saw an article opining the geo is so aggressive no-one wants to stock them.

Storck dunno but looks like AN Other Taiwan made monococque frame.

Time do all their frames in house. A rarity these days.

LOOK too?

Did you not just order 2 sets of rims, or did I miss-read that part?

Pair for Tiswas, also.

Saves postage innit.

LOOK 464 track is Taiwan made, carbon in house but Look/Time use French dependencies and or North Africa too?

Theres loads of stuff about this here
[ame="http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=234445"]Road Bike, Cycling Forums[/ame]

yeah most of this was already discussed in the 'road bike recommendations' thread.

Do Condor still just re-badge? That is shocking, I've always thought they were a rip off, but now..

Has anyone had any experience with this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Full-Carbon-Road-Bike-Handlebar-42cm-stem-100mm-/250793773226?pt=UK_sportsleisure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item3a647948aa

Are the bars with stem attached a new thing? Or been around for a while? Are they popular? Excuse my ignorance.

it's been around. Cinelli Ram bars for example. I'd recommend getting separate ones though so you can adjust length/angle as you need.

ahhh totally forgot about the angle. Maybe if my bike was custom fit...

Do Condor still just re-badge? That is shocking, I've always thought they were a rip off, but now..

my understanding ( and i'm prepared to be corrected/ have condor comment on this) is that Condor have a good, long standing relationship with Dedaccai, and that Condor spec frames which Deda then manufacture for them.

i certainly hope this is the case. it seems to me ( and i could be wrong), that Condor have been selling Deda built frames longer than deda have, but maybe that's just in the UK.