Buying Cheap Chinese from AliExpress

alansmurphy wrote:

Peow

 

I’ve got those massive chinese lights that burn down houses but thus far mine have only got so far as drinking cider in the park!

 

As with Wellsprop, I just use some common sense and only plug them in when attended to. I’ve also heard that Samsung had issues with exploding phones and many other electrical manufacturers can have issues.

 

I’d say on a daily basis we all make cost/benefit/risk decisions. I’m pretty hopeful that next time I fly over the handlebars (once every 5 years) that the glasses will once again fly clear and or not shatter towards my eyes. I also wonder if the extra £127 for the pair of Oakley’s is all spent on this extensive safety measure you’re imagining – do your glasses have hi-vis and a helmet?

+1

I would also suggest that my decision to pursue road cycling, and getting massive enjoyment from descending hills at 45+ mph (where it’s reasonable to do so), far outweighs the risk I would be presented if I were to wear a pair of sub-standard glasses.

But I feel like if I didn’t take a few considered risks i.e. road cycling (and push myself to the edges of my comfort zone) I’d become fairly unhappy and bored – after all, all I would do otherwise is sit at a computer running CAD/CFD and stare at spreadsheets. That and fly aeroplanes and do aerobatics and stuff – that’s fun too.

Peowpeowpeowlasers wrote:

wellsprop wrote:

I certainly wouldn’t buy any carbon fibre components that weren’t from a reputable manufacturer! As for non vital stuff, lights, mounts, helmets, glasses etc, I’ll give it a go :p

Brilliant, so you’ll buy cheapo lights with batteries and electronics designed by heaven knows who.  Electronics that could easily burn your house down.  And you’ll buy cheap glasses that may fracture on impact and blind you (good glasses don’t do this).

But you won’t buy cheap carbon components because that’s dodgy.

Comments like yours are why we need regulations and standards.  And laws to protect the stupid from themselves.

I think there’s an important distinction to be made between safety critical components (such as wheels and frames and accessories (glasses and lights).

I also forgot to mention I don’t actually wear my fake Oakleys on my bike (I wear my Dhb glasses) :p Nor have I bought any cheap lights from China – not saying I wouldn’t though (if I wanted a super bright light for mountain biking for example).

Suppose both were sub-standard; the bike wheel failed when hitting a pothole and the bike glasses shattered on impact – both have fairly nasty results. The main difference is, the chance of crashing face first and the glasses breaking is vastly lower than the chance of hitting a pothole causing a wheel failure. So it’s understandable a lot of people would take that risk with a pair of glasses (again, I never said I wear fake glasses cycling!).

I must admit, I tend to be ridiculously OTT with charging Lion batteries – I won’t leave them (or their chargers) plugged in unattended.

matthewn5 wrote:

I wouldn’t compromise on glasses. Dark lenses that have zero UV protection will fry your eyes. And you only get one pair of eyes. Seriously. I have enough problems already with my eyes.

It’s a bit hit or miss with sunglasses, Panorama looked into it and found a lot of fake sunglasses provided 100% UV A B and C protection. I tested my fake Oakleys (bought them for 3 quid in Turkey because mine broke on holiday) on a UV machine at work and the blocked all UV light. Obviously some provide little to no protection.

As I’m only going to be using the helmet occasionally, for short TT’s, I can’t say I’m overly worried…

I certainly wouldn’t buy a

I certainly wouldn’t buy a carbon frame or carbon wheels not from a reputable manufacturer!

As for the helmet, well too many people seem o be assuming a helmet is actually going to be of any significant help… (I do always wear a helmet, much for the same reason I wear gloves, if I fall off it’ll prevent too much scarring and probably a bit of bruising – at the same time I realise, if I get run over, a helmet isn’t going to “save my life”).