Elitaone 245x139mm MTB Road Bike Saddle Carbon Rails Short Nose Hollow Bicycle Seat for Comfortable Riding
SaddleI picked up one of these saddles a couple weeks back and have a few good rides on it. I'm extremely happy with it so far. The nylon shell flexes more than my other saddles and adds a significant amount of comfort. Maybe not for everyone but if you're in the 135 to 140 saddle width range, it's worth the $15 trial.
Magicshine SEEMEE 300
Lights^^ On the subject of lights, I'm running these and have been very happy with them. They've survived rain and snow, commuting, gravel rides and races and all the general abuse of being on the bike 24/7 for close to a year.
It was $37 on a sale. OK size and weight, really good battery life. EXTREMELY bright on high and adds a nice aroura around you on the ground at night. Like, its REALLY bright on daytime high, you'll get comments about it on group rides. I just leave it on high daytime mode to use the lights obnoxiousness as an excuse to sit on the back of pace line during group rides that are going a bit fast for my fitness. If you don't want to pony up for radar, this is probably the next best thing. It has an internal accelerometer so it senses braking and big bounces and lights up very bright and steady.
Magicshine SEEMEE 300
LightsIt was $37 on a sale. OK size and weight, really good battery life. EXTREMELY bright on high and adds a nice aroura around you on the ground at night. Like, its REALLY bright on daytime high, you'll get comments about it on group rides. I just leave it on high daytime mode to use the lights obnoxiousness as an excuse to sit on the back of pace line during group rides that are going a bit fast for my fitness. If you don't want to pony up for radar, this is probably the next best thing. It has an internal accelerometer so it senses braking and big bounces and lights up very bright and steady.
Trustfire D2R
Lights^^ On the subject of lights, I'm running these and have been very happy with them. They've survived rain and snow, commuting, gravel rides and races and all the general abuse of being on the bike 24/7 for close to a year.
Rear;
Small, bright. 3 modes; low, high, and flash. My first one I ordered nearly a year ago for $14, the second ordered a couple months back was $20. They run about 2+ hours on high and 4+ish? on low. I liked the first one so much I grabbed a second one and I just toss it in a pocket during long night rides and swap them out on the fly while i'm rolling along. The mount isn't an exact GoPro mount, it takes some fiddling, I spent a little time with a file making one of my mounts fit "just right".
Trustfire D2R
LightsSmall, bright. 3 modes; low, high, and flash. My first one I ordered nearly a year ago for $14, the second ordered a couple months back was $20. They run about 2+ hours on high and 4+ish? on low. I liked the first one so much I grabbed a second one and I just toss it in a pocket during long night rides and swap them out on the fly while i'm rolling along. The mount isn't an exact GoPro mount, it takes some fiddling, I spent a little time with a file making one of my mounts fit just right.
8Lien L4 Disc Carbon Wheelset
Wheels
The reviewer discusses the 8Lien L4 Disc Carbon Wheelset as a high-quality, versatile wheelset with a differentiated profile (40mm front, 45mm rear) and carbon spokes. He notes that it has been used for six months on his SL8 and by professional cyclist Francesco Parravano, who won an important race with them. The reviewer praises its performance, stiffness, comfort, and resistance to crosswinds, and highlights the brand's focus solely on wheels and use of top carbon fibers. He considers it a top-tier wheelset that competes with more famous European brands, offering excellent value for money.
AI Summary
Pros
- Immediately convincing with top-of-the-range characteristics
- Differentiated profile (40mm front, 45mm rear) provides versatility for mixed routes and climbs
- Carbon fiber inserts and flat carbon spokes offer a good balance of stiffness and comfort
more pros in the video
Cons
- Some initial skepticism from the public due to it being a Chinese brand
- Average Italian cyclists may have difficulty accepting new, less-known brands
- Carbon spokes are sometimes perceived as more delicate, though reviewer disagrees
Key Points
- Model: 8Lien L4 Disc Carbon Wheelset
- Differentiated profile: 40mm front, 45mm rear
- 4mm carbon fiber inserts
more key points in the video
Colourful Safety Light
LightsI also had a few of these really cheap led lights you see everywhere on Ali. They actually work well and are bright enough to be functional
Seatpost Tail Light
LightsI used one of these for years. Good light. Not as bright as the new cob designs but enough.
BIKEONO Front and Rear Light Set
LightsI bought an older version of this in 2019 and have been using it ever since. Battery is only 2000mah and mine doesn't last as long as it did but it's been a solid light that is just bright enough to use as illumination, though it's borderline imo and doesn't keep up with lights that are actually designed as headlights such as what you'd see for mtb night riding. Supposed to be 1000 lumens. It is bright enough to illicit complaints from approaching riders and pedestrians so needs to be aimed downwards a few meters in front of you or you'll get yelled at. I run it during the day on commutes.
Clip-On Tail Light
LightsThese are good imo. Ok build quality, good brightness and a slightly longer battery life than the other similar shape i tried.
IIIPRO Vertical Cylinder MTB Brake 4 Piston Hydraulic Disc Brake Bicycle for Full Internal Cable Layout AM DH Mountain Bike NEW
Disc-BrakesLet me confirm that my brakes (upgraded version with 2 bleed port) are running very good in my gravel bike with GRX shifters
I just installed few days ago the XG4 / IIIPRO flat mount kit with GRX shifters in my gravel bike. Quite annoing bleeding but now it works. Need to brake in the pads but "i got the power" now comprared to Apex
Easedon Gravel 26/28mm
WheelsMy easedon wheelset just arrived. Ordered on 10th July so took about 21 days to arrive.
Ordered these in configuration "40mm Deep, UD Matte, 28mm Wide, Fly Weight, HG" and i requested no logos and external nipples.
Stupidly I didn't notice the spoke holes on the product page, so I need to wait for some rim tape to arrive before I can fit them.
They weigh in at 1285g without rim tape, which is only ~100g lighter than my 50mm, 28mm wide Farsports with DT240 hubs that I got back in 2021 (although they were double the price!), that don't need rim tape.
I can't see any visible thread on the spokes, and I just about see that the spoke fills the nipple, when looking through the spoke hole.
But anyway, they look really nice and I'm looking forward to getting them on my new RO88 build, where they'll be using RideNow 36g TPU tubes and Conti GP5000 (non-TR)
SHIMANO RC7 SH-RC703 Road Bicycle Cycling Shoes SPD-SL
ShoesI just received a pair of shimano rc703s from 'chaser store' Tried on a bunch of shoes at a store in person to find the right fit, but the prices are crazy. Not sure how 'real' these ones are, but they seem identical. Came with a shimano box, manual, and tags that were not attached. The size I ordered also fits exactly the same as the size I tried on so they seem legit. With coupons the 703s were the same price as the 302s in store.
SENICX Bicycle Bottom Bracket BSA BB30 BB386 T47 PF30 BB92 BB86 Thread Kit Road MTB Bike CRANK 68/73 for Axis 24 and 29mm DUB
Bottom-BracketI bought this one (I think someone else mentioned it in this thread):
Also just got the shipping notification yesterday. Pearl white frame in size M for me. I plan to do some decals in the style as the Scott Addict Gravel RC. I also purchased the new Elitewheels Aero+ Gravel wheels - excited to test these coming from the 303 XPLR S.
SEABOARD GR02 Gravel Bike Frameset Carbon Fiber Fork Off-road Long Distance Bicycle Framework 700C 142mm Thru Axle Wheelet
FrameThe Tsunami / Seaboard GR02 is another option, although it's a bit more of an all-road bike than gravel (42mm official max tire clearance, although may have been increased?). I have one for my commuter and it's been great - no issues building it up, and the paint and welds look good.
I only found one link for it, but I didn't search very hard:
You can get it direct from Tsunami as well, with more color and size options:
https://tsunamibicycle.com/product-category/products/tsunami-fixie-frameset-road-bike-frameset-gravel-frameset/multiple-speed-frameset/gravel-frameset/aluminum-alloy-gravel-bike-disc-brake-700c-internal-cabling/