I love a bargain and am something of a veteran when it comes to buying bike parts on AliExpress.
Anyone who read my piece on AliExpress bike parts last week will know that I've generally had positive experiences buying bike-related parts and accessories from the Chinese retail platform.
Though it may simply be good luck, I believe it’s also partly because I’ve stuck to a few rules. So here are my top three tips for shopping for bike parts on the platform.
1. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is
It’s an old adage, but still a good one. Practically any cycling-related thing you can think of is available on AliExpress, but if something seems too cheap for what’s on offer, there might be compromises you’re not being told about.
Power meters, for example, are a product category I’d steer well clear of. Although the options on AliExpress claim to be just as accurate and reliable as those from the likes of established brands such as 4iiii, SRAM, Favero and Garmin, many are completely unproven.
A random number generator isn’t a bargain just because it’s a third of the price of the real deal.
Even if you manage to get one that does work as advertised, warranty support is likely to be lacking or even non-existent – which becomes increasingly important once you're spending a significant amount of money.
2. Avoid things that are critical to your safety on the bike
Perhaps my most important tip would be to avoid anything that could impact your safety on the bike. That includes frames, wheels, forks, stem bolts and helmets.
If failing mid-ride could cause you to crash and injure yourself, it’s not worth any amount of money saved.
Likewise, you don’t want a dodgy ebike conversion kit anywhere near your house.
I don’t want to tar all Chinese cycling brands with the same brush. There are, of course, plenty of reputable Chinese brands making products that are just as good as those from Western ones. But finding those on AliExpress is difficult, because it’s not always clear exactly who you’re buying from and whether what you’ll receive is the genuine article.
If you want to buy a Chinese bike or any other safety critical parts, head to a seller such as Panda Podium instead.
3. Don’t buy counterfeits
So-called ‘Chinarellos’ were infamous in the early days of Chinese cycling kit, but aside from the fact that the producers of counterfeit items are involved in illegal activity, they can also represent a massive risk to you.
If a seller is unscrupulous enough to deal in counterfeit goods, I wouldn’t trust them with my safety on the bike.
Got any tips of your own? Share them in the comments below.
