Astana to Ride Chinese Carbon in 2025? | GCN Tech Show Ep. 361

[@gcntech]

What are your thoughts on Chinese brands? 🚴‍♂What do you think this will mean for 2025? 👀 Let us know what you're thinking! 👇

[@2001MBKBooster]

I'm surprised it has taken this long before a brand from China has sponsored a top tier team.

[@proh26]

Without hardworking Chinese you Westerner can't even afford a bike.

[@abhimawa1]

17:14 → way to go, Ollie 💪 Lancia Delta Integrale 🇮🇹

[@ChrisSpriggs-rj2ys]

Great if they don’t vanish along with any warranty

[@DDai-qd8uk]

Why are the bikes pixelated? Is xds Japanese or something?

[@andrewmcalister3462]

Alex, just wanted to say that your Colnago video was stunning. Awesome effort by you AND the camera crew.

[@lsantilli]

The same Chinese carbon 99.99999999% of the world rides on!

[@Maksim_Ponomarchuk]

The guys from Astana have already stated that these bikes are tougher than their former Wilier

[@Millicente]

Well it’s often Japanese carbon that’s been laid up in China or Taiwan with designs created in the west

[@simondavis697]

Correct

[@jonathanzappala]

Often I ride on Chinese aluminum though 😂

[@bingbing3464]

@@Millicentethat combination of japanese toray carbon, republic/people's republic chinese moulds and ovens and a design from somewhere else is 99.99% of the carbon bikes in the world lol.

[@patrickcunningham4197]

The Pinarello F1 apparently "sits towards the more affordable end of the price scale". £3,700 for a bike with mechanical 105 and cheap alloy wheels is not good value for money, whatever brand is emblazoned upon the frameset.

[@dansimon4536]

lol still paying for the name I guess. You obviously can get a different brand for half the price

[@gudrune]

Tbh, if it were cheaper, it would make sense to buy that, keep the frame, throw everything and upgrade. You'd save thousands. And it would kill their business. The differences in frames are unnoticeable and irrelevant for the vast, vast majority of riders, within a given model in a given brand.

[@권용대-b5v]

So many riders in my country (South Korea) despise Chinese bike brands, but in reality, no Korean brand can be seen in World Tours, while Chinese brands are taking steps forward every now and then. Such a shame for us.

[@Maksim_Ponomarchuk]

In South Korea, many people need to show their success to others. That's why they try to buy expensive branded items.

[@yoyo510]

Korea doesn't have the ability to scale like China, nor is it able to beat the prices. If you want a comparison, SK is having as hard of a time to sell globally as any other local-made companies everywhere else in the world.

[@jiahuacai8278]

Consumerism it is.

[@shunzhang838]

It's really normal, just like the sport car industry- need sponsorship + grand tours success to show case+ proof of performance of brand name products, its pricy and also one of the most effective way of marketing.

[@pinkyfull]

I don't fault people for not liking chinese brands, or chinese market dominance in so many fields, but the reality is that the vast majority of western brands have their frames built in China. They buy from china, then dress it up as not being from china.

[@pacfan1165]

In the early 1970s motocross was ruled by European bikes, along came the Japanese bikes, lighter, cheaper faster, better handling. The Japanese manufacturers took over the dirt bike industry and still rule today. It does not surprise me Chinese bike manufacturers will dominate the cycling industry soon, maybe they will get the industry to lower prices!✌🏼👍

[@dinodaniel2237]

Who’s kidding who? A large percentage of bikes used in the World Tour are made in China. Only name brands are different

[@gudrune]

Large percentage? Try all of them. Enve might be the exception, I think they make some of their frames in the US, but they do produce stuff both in the US and China so it's confusing. Time makes frames in Czech Republic and going forward in the US as well, but they don't sponsor a world team. I do include Taiwan in China because Xiamen is at the border with Taiwan and absorbed a lot of Taiwan business, the relationship between the two is symbiotic.

[@stephanematter8148]

@@gudrune Give us Famous Brand (we are not talking about small and great and exclusive producers bike.

[@mountainheart4244]

Feeling proud that our country’s brands are making big steps forward in the world stage :) 🎉 I also feel XDS got super lucky that they signed the sponsorship with Astana right before Cav got his 35th tdf win… would probably be much more expensive afterwards

[@kaltonian]

Guys the colnago video was awesome but even more awesome was the bike itself, colnago have really surpassed themselfs, the welding & design is just lovely

[@dacupacruz]

on womens pro peloton, I think there is a team sponsored by Winspace.

[@reidanderson2646]

I am 75 years old. When I was little a new motor bike from Japan turned up at the Isle of Man races. Everyone in Europe laughed. Bike wiped floor with competition. Think it was called a Honda or something. Last week I went to a talk by Alex Dowsett (Astana, remember ?) who told us all about these mega factories. Building bikes for brands we all know about and who strangely are trying to flog them at twice the price of, er, motor bikes. Existential, or what ?

[@brianrichards350]

Remember Shimano trying for acceptance on pro teams...displacing Campagnolo was so difficult.

[@rg807]

A 6 cylinder 250 CC bike with a 20K RPM ceiling. Incredible.

[@davemoss6976]

And it had an amazing sound. The point is, at the time UK motor bike industry where not inovating and had given up on the road race scene. Honda dominated the grand Prix circuit first then then took over the mass market on the back of the reputation. Supplying bikes to a pro tour team is a smart move for an unknown brand.

[@kidShibuya]

Yo editor guy, SHOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT.

[@acyclistwithglasses]

YES, more than once every 4 minutes, if possible

[@axum.gebreyohanes]

Yes - the Racemax Integrale bit… why no photos??

[@jan-erikbaars7413]

It will be really a breakthrough if a World Tour team rides an all-Chinese group set. Frames are „Chinese“ for almost 20 years...

[@pinkyfull]

Chinese groupsets really aren't there yet.

[@pastelink6767]

@@pinkyfull Wheeltop EDS is functionally flawless once it is set up. It's just that setup can be a pain.

[@TESTA-CC]

it's time for DT swiss to release there own Groupsets for road bikes, they have the knowledge and machinery. DT Swiss Groupsets would sell like hot cakes.

[@Shadowboost]

They would?

[@gudrune]

I doubt you have much manufacturing experience. How does making hubs mean you can start making derailleurs ?

[@hojetsala5178]

The Decathlon bike story is funny. "and then suddenly, when they where contractually obligated to like their bikes, they bloody loved them" hahaha.

[@gudrune]

Not quite. They actually like the van rysel bikes. Nobody has had anything bad to say about their latest frames, and their wheels are dope. Lapierre, for example, different story. Many OEMs make better frames than them.

[@manueldias1301]

I own a Van Rysel bike and a BH bike and Van Rysel beats the BH. I'm not obligated by any brand to like them.

[@ghettoshampoo]

They're all Chinese carbon to begin with.

[@savagepro9060]

Nope, the actual carbon is from Japan!

[@scorpionbikewheels1308]

If you look at bikes from the 80's they all look the same with Columbus steel, lugged just a different paint job. Some these days and nothing wrong with that. I ride my 18lbs steel bike at 20mph avg. 230watts and my Branco carbon bike 14lbs 20 mph 225watts. I'm happy either way

[@wspmjw]

Touring Bike. The last one I came across was the Specialized AWOL. A good friend of mine road this bike on a $ 12,608-mile trek around the USA in 14 months.

[@EricWohnig]

I'm excited for the eastern DTC bike frames to be more popular in the states. I'm planning my next build from the brand Elves and I'm stoked for it! You can't really beat the price for what you get and get a custom paint job.

[@miketheanimal]

Ah! That beautiful red 3T bike in bike vault made me shed a tear. And Alex's' poker face too 😆

[@kpizzle1985]

I'm thinking of respraying it black, that'll help out Ollie 🤣

[@julianallen515]

This video confirms what I thought after watching the Rouleur tech shows. Send Alex to the shows, he's able to resist the "mineral waters" and produce better videos for the channel.

[@brannmacfinnchad9056]

What I'm hearing is that Ollie doesn't know what a touring bike is. Comfort, and being able to carry stuff via panniers. Nothing to do with the brakes, or tire clearance...which was often wider than the normal for road bikes. But I agree that the concept bike you guys showed is not a touring bike.

[@dunkcr105]

I have been using some magene products including a fantastic set of wheels without issues, not just my opinion but a lot of research done before buying and people such as GP Lama have given them great reviews.

[@ex3qtor]

Just wanted to thank you for talking about new 3T paint schemes and not showing a single one. Outstanding job there!

[@kpizzle1985]

They showed my 3T 😅

[@pinkyfull]

23:30 so a touring bike with gravel tyres, gotcha. So a touring bike. I'm building a bike right now to do touring around the world, and its based on a gravel frame with an ultegra groupset, gravel tyres, and a mountainbike cassette. And i refer to it to everyone I talk to as a touring/bikepacking bike.

[@NoahFroio]

The incredulous look on Ollie's face when Alex says 'or, at least, Italian owned companies' for the 'Italian made' Colnago was priceless!!

[@pinkyfull]

Pinarello frames are famously made on license in China, and only painted in Italy.

[@acyclistwithglasses]

and Colnago is owned by the UAE royal family...

[@hellomynameistim]

If you want an idea of how Chinese bike manufacturers may influence the European market, it’s worth taking a look at the situation in the automotive industry. I’ve worked in various PR and communications roles in the European automotive industry for the past decade, and the “rise of Chinese car manufacturers” is a topic that I see virtually every other day. Despite all the hype and stories about these manufacturers’ plans to take the European market by storm, the fact is that it still hasn’t happened and isn’t even close. It’s already been a discussion point for several years and, despite some developments, even the more prominent Chinese manufacturers are still struggling to achieve anything higher than a 1 or 2% market share - and that’s if they’ve managed to avoid bankruptcy first. Why haven’t these manufacturers seen any real success yet? One of the biggest reasons is that the support and adequate “infrastructure” simply aren’t there. Whether it’s a car or a bike, it’s not all about the end product. It’s also about the customer and technical service that you receive from the brand and its representatives. A lack of support for consumers leads to a lack of trust from consumers. If you own a car from a well-established brand like Volkswagen and something breaks, you can guarantee that there will be several dealers near you that are familiar with your exact model and model year, can source replacement parts and handle any necessary contact with Volkswagen on your behalf. If, on the other hand, you run into a problem with a car from a lesser-known Chinese brand that has only a handful of dealers in the entire country, you’re clearly going to have much more trouble finding a solution. Yes, bikes aren’t as complicated as cars, but the principle still stands. If you ever had a severe issue like a cracked carbon frame or wheel rim, of course it’d be easier to resolve it with your local Specialized dealer, for example, than file a warranty claim with a Chinese brand that only has a minor presence in Europe. Perhaps this is, to some extent, personal preference. I live in Germany and own a BMC, and enjoy the assurance that I have local support as well as familiarity with European consumer rights to protect me if I need it. Others, however, may be happier to spend less on a cheaper Chinese bike or frame at the point of purchase, even if that means missing out on that assurance later down the line and therefore taking a bigger risk. So, will Chinese brands become mainstream in 2025? No, and not any time soon. While they shouldn’t become complacent in their position, European and US brands will continue to lead the market until Chinese brands can establish the necessary support and infrastructure. And while sponsorship of a World Tour team will certainly generate brand awareness, it's not at all a direct indication or guarantee of any future commercial success. It's not enough on its own and doesn’t do anything to change the real issues that consumers - as opposed to pro cyclists - will face.

[@pinkyfull]

While you are absolutely right about service, and the ability to take a bike back to a store. The vast majority of carbon bike frames are made in china. Sent to the west where they are either slapped with a sticker of a western brand, or painted from raw carbon. So the source, good and bad, of every frame made, is the same give or take.

[@bens.6458]

The reality is the ppl in China aspire to have a specialized, colnago, etc. pro teams using lesser known brands, might make the market more competitive, but at the end of the day ppl still want exclusive brand bikes, it’s more about the prestige - less about the performance

[@hellomynameistim]

@pinkyfull You're right that most frames are made in China. The point is that, by slapping on the sticker of a Western brand, more is changed than just the physical appearance of the bike. Regardless of the origin of the frame, that branding is exactly what gives consumers access to the greater support of a well-known Western brand.

[@503tc]

@@bens.6458For real. Come to China. People with money won’t be caught dead on a Chinese brand. Everyone wants a Pinarello, Specialized, Trek, etc.

[@bens.6458]

@ that’s what I said

[@dylantodd9574]

The tarrifs against China are in relation to US companies who elect to send their production overseas in order to not pay american workers. It doesn't apply to everything that is made there.

[@roberttell1587]

As a fellow colorblind person I'm not sure about Alex doubting Ollie because of his accommodation ability. I'm sure there is plenty of difficulty with those accursed red/ green LED's or matching clothes. Personally, I go for contrast to avoid clashing colors.

[@ajrh82]

GCN tech show is my new go to source of geopolitical analysis and international trade loopholes

[@JoeyCarbone_1]

Wahoo's new head unit is gonna be cool. Finally getting a big o touchscreen

[@user-el3rp6nh5m]

Specialized : "Made in China" Another brand : "Made in China" GCN: OMG pros are gonna ride Chinese bikes.

[@johngreen761]

Although I have not yet completed this video, I would like to make a guess that it is XDS.

[@雪鸢清歌忆蔓柳]

Yes,it will be the high end series X-LAB

[@spardamustdie47]

I'm with you Ollie, I actually found out I was colour blind quite late in the late 20's, if people are wondering, NO we don't only see black and white 😑, we actually see colours differently than most people

[@nigelw8575]

As per the website, the Colnago is priced at € 17.500. It is a ton of money. However considering the price of other super bikes from Trek, Pinarello etc and the craftmanship in the limited Colnago it seems like a fair price - not that I'll be buying one soon :o(

[@mommamooney]

The band is back together again!

[@timtaylor9590]

Love the tariffs keep em coming

[@lalithjalakam3188]

For big brands to stay competitive, they will have to drop prices. Mabey also the start of cycling becoming more accessible 🙏🏽

[@zhuyufan1186]

The amount of AD350 road bikes XDS sold during the cycling craze in China ( They are everywhere) allows it to fund its X-LAB project and start sponsor Astana. The team is in good hands in terms of frame quality, but Astana will need to help XDS develop something more distinctive and original. I also apperciate your "ambiguity" when you were talking about Giant and Merida's place of origin.

[@nickporter3531]

I have just ordered a pair of wheels from Elite in the Black Friday Sale. So it will be interesting to see what they are like. Other carbon parts I have purchased from China seem have been fine. But I would do the research first.

[@robbchastain3036]

Truly, Ollie and Alex, I enjoy the chatter about high-dollar frames in carbon and steel and custom paint, tho' I hope their owners extract richly rewarding rides from their superior steeds. My alloy 26" MTB commuter got me through an evening commute in rain and temps around 40. It was another great ride and I poured on the coals like a Euro pro, I think. 😀

[@cantonas11]

Does Bike Vault only feature Road Bikes? Mini Velo and Foldies not eligible?

[@PhilR-b8]

I believe a brand represents a product service or concept. The consumer makes the decision based on the value proposition of the brand. Broadly if you like/dont like the brand you buy it/dont buy regardless of where the actual product is made. Most of us choose iPhones over Huawei. Both made in China......

[@TESTA-CC]

Cervelo is also made in the same factory as Giant Bikes.

[@kaiwren2604]

In Shandong province of China.

[@TESTA-CC]

@@kaiwren2604 No in Taiwan, Frames Made in China are made at the Carbotech Factory.

[@Ronald-qj5nx]

It should be noted that Taiwan and China are 2 separate countries, their manufacturing history is also very different. Taiwan companies have been involved in bicycle manufacturing for a long time, Taiwanese brands like Giant and Merida started manufacturing components and bikes in the 1970s, unlike Chinese companies, which have only gotten into bike manufacturing much more recently. Giant and Merida are considered to be the largest and 2nd largest manufacturers in the world as they manufacture for other brands as well as their own. They also both have a number of factories in China hence the reason why so many bikes are made in China.

[@jstogdill]

Thanks for this. Many people are confused on this point.

[@abbygammon]

Completely agree. I just bought a Polygon Strattos, and I believe they use the same manufacturer as Giant and Merida. The price for what you get is simply unbeatable nowadays and every review I’ve read is positive. And they’ve been a brand since 89, so that adds a level of trust.

[@space.youtube]

"It should be noted that Taiwan and China are 2 separate countries," Yeah nah, it's a lot more complicated than your simplistic characterisation. I suggest you do some reading on the topic.

[@torbenfrlund5964]

@@space.youtube I suggest you talk with someone from Taiwan, then it's pretty black and white ;)

[@howardz5746]

⁠@@torbenfrlund5964I suggest you talk to someone in China mainland, then it is pretty obvious. :D it is one county two party man

[@LFMC1]

OMG chinese carbon!!! Really?! All other teams use carbon from Mars. Right?

[@peterho3299]

8:15 - Love Ollie’s face when he says “Trump” and his mimicry of Trump a few seconds later. He should guest star on “Saturday Night Live”.

[@stevesmith866]

Snowflake

[@harrywang2566]

XDS might be the best selling road brand in China for the past two years thanks to its AD350 model.

[@cb6866]

Thanks Alex , Dr O , and crew . Be well , eh ?

[@julianallen515]

@garethaled are those exposure light mounts available online or did you 3D print them yourself?

[@howardwells9002]

Lancia integrale….another work of art for movement!

[@malmsey1541]

I was just looking at the website and they don't even hide the fact they produce frames for Orbea, so their frames are already in the peloton

[@99EMERSONIC99]

XDS is super popular here in Costa Rics, we got distribution and all 😂

[@suhdud4646]

"For charity" that's a nice way of putting it. In the 1920's, the mafia used terms like "extortion"

[@stanroberts229]

Watch out for media reports, just look at how Trump actually used tariffs. Specific markets where there are manufacturers in the US capable of producing the required goods.

[@NickBonne]

I bought Chinese carbon wheels this year. They're pretty great. Of course, I read plenty of reviews prior to purchasing. However, I had seen GCN using them before so it was really just going through the same motions as any large purchase. The Elite gravel wheels are dope. It's really too bad the sweet purple anodized freehub body gets covered by the cassette.

[@Dan-D-816]

Would you discuss the Strava API debacle next week? What are you thoughts? I am personally a bit annoyed due to Strava getting my data from another provider (ie Wahoo) yet you're not allowed it back out of the back end of Strava. Seems hypocritical? What do you think?

[@screaming_quagga]

I would love to see Cannondales made in the USA again, and would pay more for it!!

[@user-lx6pk9os2d]

Bikes will be under X-Lab brand which is basically a Chinese SWorks. These bikes are on the same level, they're seriously good...

[@neilgj6305]

It does not matter how much money a sponsor puts into a team, you stlll need the riders and the talent. Who could Astana buy to compete with UAE or Jumbo or Bora?

[@lux-wattage]

Video suggestion: How to take your bike photo from a "Nice" to a "Super nice"

[@n22pdf]

Colnago vid was brilliant Alex :). Pete

[@MrMarkyone]

I have Colnago and pinarello and now have just ordered my 1st Chinese frame elilee blize xxe and it’s so say lighter than the sl8 for half the price.

[@pigupigu]

the Blize XXE will blow your colnago and pinarello out of the water.

[@shamendra.sakthivel]

Ollie is like Harry and Marv 😂 trying to steal from a kids' charity in the holiday season.

[@DipBuyer83]

Yeah here in America, it Was really cheap to buy China, now it's prices have climbed since I bought a frame and wheels and built a full carbon hardtail mountain bike custom painted from China in 2017. Still rides like new, and 9.1kg

[@tobiasbogner9693]

are you moving to hanks barn?

[@deadcandisco5974]

I'm surprised the limited edition steel Colnago bike didn't have a Selle Italia saddle.

[@Outsideville]

Chimneys are acceptable for older folks, too. We're not all as flexible as we once were. 😅

[@glennrodin-ql9qp]

$28,000 AUD, for a Colnago with a 2 year warranty? Having owned a beautiful C59 Italia, which failed prematurely from galvanic corrosion of the bottom bracket, never again, no matter how much the temptation😢

[@adshdhhhd7783]

Taiwan is not China guys.

[@newttella1043]

GCN has to follow the Chinese government's "understanding" of Taiwan as a province now that Elite Wheels is a sponsor.

[@jiahuacai8278]

Bruh ROC is also China. Check your passport, it doesn’t say Taiwan 😅

[@sofronio.]

You're right. Because Taiwan is a part of China. The same thing like New York is not USA.

[@kaiwren2604]

There is no such country as "Taiwan". There are Republic of China ROC and Peoples Republic of China PRC. Both China.

[@pastelink6767]

@@kaiwren2604 and only one of which is the internationally recognized legitimate government of China (the PRC)

[@GregLanz]

It was a great video, great job Alex. I really like my Colnago's and would love to get one of those new ones, I have a spare kidney

[@darktimus]

Although some of the China brand have a high quality finishing but I will still choose a European or US brand bike. Just like their China phone. Still a question quality till now.

[@not-a-raccoon]

The majority of frames are manufactured in china anyway? I don't get what the huge kerfuffle is 🤔

[@mjock392]

Most of them are designed, QA tested and warranty approved by "western" companies. This would be the first UCI World Tour team using a frame where all of this is done in China. It's a huge leap for Chinese brands, to appear on the world tour stages. Heck, not all western brands (some very good ones) don't get their bikes on the World Tour. Next big step would be a Chinese brand group set, imagine having Sensah or Wheeltop on World Tour, but no Campagnolo?

[@DicconHill]

Were Saint Piran testing the xts bikes this season?

[@owenchase4017]

Does anyone make a dynamo hub that can be turned off during climbs, and turned on during downhill runs? Seems like that would be ideal for touring bikes.

[@brockjennings]

Can the Team Temu professional cycling team be far behind? 🤔

[@carlstatham594]

Are they riding Chinese bikes or Chinese frames and maybe wheels? Are they moving to a Chinese groupset.

[@IanButterworthyyc]

Supposedly a name brand implies trust that the quality of the frame is such that it won’t randomly break and kill you. And name brand’s being based in western countries have more legal liabilities.

[@jonathancost4927]

Balls if the £50k is going to charity, I’m with Ollie all the way!

[@martyhalper8365]

And you could even contribute to charity.

[@adyjclarke]

I love my OG-Evkin bars

[@tonylo6013]

sDX shops are popping up everywhere in Shanghai!

[@thomasmitchell6609]

Thing 1. Back in the days before yooz gize new how to spell "touring", for a road bike to be sold as a touring bike all it needed were sockets to accomodate racks and fenders and a longer wheel base to make it more comfortable. (Handling was of secondary importance.) Thing 2. Yooz gize have along history of moaning about too many accessories on the bikes submitted for the Vault. It seems as if you have fallen for the current marketing gimmick of creating different narrow and ever more sophisticated cycling classifications, in order to sell more bikes and accessories at ever higher prices. Duly noted.

[@matthewbaynham6286]

Why wouldn't a touring bike be any good for the transcontinental? Ollie is making a rather big claim, I would think a touring bike would be perfect for the transcontinental. Or perhaps something is only good if it's new and fashionable, even if it's just as good as what already exists.

[@newttella1043]

Ollie gets paid to push the pricey bikes. Checkout Cade Media, who bought with their own money, a budget Cube bike for a bikepack trip through India. An honest assessment .

[@nannenon]

When Ollie explain things he doesn't have to talk really because his hands does it for him.

[@michaelnewman4302]

What the heck? You didn't show the 3T bikes or the Wahoo table? Is this a video or a podcast?

[@kobakakhidze-x4g]

Why we never heard of the XDS? Its a very big Shenznen based factory, with annual producing of about 9-10 million bikes. Everybody knows it in China and in Asia countries... Another big factory if BAttle (also about 5-6 milloion bikes annually, including the OEM production of many western brands, such a Scott, Cannondale, Bianchi, Cube, GT, etc)...

[@10ktube]

I'm mildly worried that the Chinese framesets/components are going to go up in price, so they won't be such a great deal, and then there are going to be a new breed of low cost Chinese framesets, and the QA/durability issues will start all over again (risk goes back up). I hope not, but companies have to make money, demand is there, they are cheaper than "name brand" stuff, etc.

[@lovemesomedetail]

im quite surprised its only 27% of all bikes made in china... i assume thats including all-bikes or just carbon road bikes?? cause i feel like the % is really dropped by standard steel city or commuter bikes that are made somewhere in eastern europe?

[@indiebikes]

I’m finding it increasingly necessary to zoom in on the bike vault pics in order to make out any detail. Why are not cropping the picture so we can get a decent 16:9 filled screen view? I couldn’t Super Nice a black saddle/white tape combo personally!! Surely that breaks some of the unwritten rules we all have to follow? Right, off to google to see what all the new hot and spicy tech actually looks like. Ta.

[@dansimon4536]

The Bicycle industry has been suffering loses the last 2 years. No need to bring your politics into a cycling show. Us Americans are having trouble buying food and heating our homes. So if that doesn’t change. None of us are buying new bicycles. I also really try not to buy Chinese. They have stole so much technology from other companies. I know it unavoidable. Also. I do look forward to your shows. Always have the right stuff, that I am interested in.

[@fresh_tarmac]

It's preposterous to say a bike ISN'T a touring bike just because "that's old tech" -- to wit, the concept of the automotive Grand Tourer has been around for 70 years and I'm pretty sure tech has evolved since the Aston Martin DB5. Tires, brakes, onboard tech, comfort and performance of the new Vanquish make it an alien spaceship in comparison but guess what, it's still a GT! It's defined by the formula and purpose. A road bike that carries stuff comfortably over distance is a touring bike. Otherwise, what would you call it? That logic is how we end up with the insane number of bike types today, most of which overlap and just confuse the poor consumer 😉

[@scorpionbikewheels1308]

Nice, and Giant makes Specialize and Merida makes Trek. Merida are very nice quality bikes not sold in USA because Trek blocked them from doing so. If you want a real bike not involved in this maylay look up Guerciotti and Van Rysel

[@davidhoppes118]

I need a less expensive bicycle. I can’t afford even a mid level with cable shifting. I’m keeping my 2011 Fuji alive. I only upgraded to 11 speed 6 years ago when it was already about 9 years old at the time. 13 speed coming out or already out. Recently was shown an ad on FB for a Chinese company brand electronic shifter with derailleurs. Something called Winstop. It is very similar to SRAM but way less expensive. Does not ship to the United States.

[@Noddingdog63]

I have Bitex hubs with H Plus Son rims with Sapim spokes and by all accounts wheel builders love them. I have had them for just over a year and they are brilliant. Chinese brands are just not good at marketing themselves as a stand alone product...almost as if they have to sell themselves under some other brand.

[@lwittrock1]

My Chinese bike, TriFox, has been great and unless you look at the name it looks as good as the big names and in many cases has out performed .

[@newttella1043]

I've seen a few of these and guys love them. A price that helps guys keep racing while on a tight budget.

[@1afterthep]

And we all know the pros might ride completely different carbon quality and different carbon layups

[@sekc-chua]

Hi Alex and Dr. Ollie, I have seen Si's video of his Wahoo visit. Alex is running around in circles isn't he? Trying to figure out the new product. It isn't run of the mill. Or maybe it is.

[@Millicente]

I have no particular bias about china except that all the copies come from there and the quality of many of their bikes can be suspect because it’s only “trust us it’s safe.” That being said, I’m all for brands that will target lower price ranges and force the established brands to either come down in price or be priced out in the future. When the choice becomes Chinese brand A whose bike is at worst often only single digit watts slower but at half or less the price of western brand B, the power will shift. They just need to market like the western brands do and sponsoring a world tour team is a big step.

[@exigency2231]

yeah with you on this. Aliexpress is great but when you're dropping so much money on bike frames, its a bit scary when the returns process is much more complicated shipping back to China. really looking forward to when they sell on Western vendors, even with a surcharge, so there's someone I could ring up and speak to in a language I understand, and show up at their door myself

[@johnnyboy4711]

I would happily ride that throughout the night

[@BarryBaker-ox2fg]

You said gravel bikes are not just touring bikes because they are modern? Well then what type of bikes were used in the Tour de France 40 years ago? They couldn't have been road bikes because road bikes today are modern as well. Years ago I rode my bike on gravel, carried gear, and got it dirty. Gravel bikes ARE touring bikes. They have just evolved like all modern bikes.