Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
AliExpress has always been a great place to find cheap bike parts, but lately things have been going up a gear…
Links (see shop tab - Exotic Lightweight Bike Parts):
Bear in mind these are affiliate links. They won't cost you anything extra, but I get a small kickback from AliExpress if you buy something, which always helps!
https://linktr.ee/tracevelo
Over the last year I've been slowly chipping away at the weight of this bike, testing lightweight AliExpress bike upgrades ranging from simple parts costing less than £10, all the way through to some genuinely exotic carbon fibre components.
In this video I'll take you through some of my favourites, including some lightweight bar tape, skeletonised brake adaptors, lightweight Centre Lock to 6-bolt rotor adaptors, Vook RS600 330 TPI road tyres, carbon disc brake rotors, and two ridiculously lightweight full-carbon saddles.
The lightest saddle comes in at just 53 grams, with a full carbon shell and carbon rails. I've ridden it over 500km, alongside a similar 60g PLSELIS carbon saddle that costs just £44. For comparison, even some of the lightest premium saddles from brands like Specialized and Fizik weigh CONSIDERABLY more.
And then there are probably the most ridiculous upgrades in this episode, carbon fibre thru axles. At just 25g for the pair, they're around 40g lighter than the already-light aluminium axles they replaced. They also use interchangeable threaded inserts, allowing the same axles to work with a range of different road bikes and thru-axle standards. I've put around 500–600km on them so far with no issues.
Some of these upgrades save just 10 or 20 grams. Others can knock well over 100g off the bike in one go. But together, they show just how far lightweight Chinese bike components have come — and how technology that was once reserved for expensive boutique cycling brands is increasingly finding its way onto AliExpress.
Everything featured in this video was bought with my own money. I'll share my experience with each component, the weight savings, what they cost, and importantly any drawbacks I've found along the way.
Timestamps:
00:00 – AliExpress is changing
00:51 – Thinvik lightweight bar tape
02:11 – Lightweight disc brake adaptor
03:17 – Lightweight 6 bolt adaptor
04:29 – Vook RS600 bike tyres
06:13 – Carbon disc rotors
07:49 – Extreme carbon saddle
10:37 – DFS carbon thru axles
14:44 – Other lightweight upgrades
16:43 – Bike weight & total cost
17:42 – Bonus clip
Intro roll:
Created by Dev Joshi - go2dev.co.uk
Instagram:
instagram.com/tracevelo
Email:
tracevelouk@gmail.com
Please note:
I am not a professionally trained bike mechanic. There can be risks associated with using products that are unbranded, untested, or come from sources where the provenance is unknown. Please talk to a qualified bike mechanic if you are in any doubt.
In essence, be careful, do your research, and cycle safe!!!
AliExpress has always been a great place to find cheap bike parts, but lately things have been going up a gear…
Links (see shop tab - Exotic Lightweight Bike Parts):
Bear in mind these are affiliate links. They won't cost you anything extra, but I get a small kickback from AliExpress if you buy something, which always helps!
https://linktr.ee/tracevelo
Over the last year I've been slowly chipping away at the weight of this bike, testing lightweight AliExpress bike upgrades ranging from simple parts costing less than £10, all the way through to some genuinely exotic carbon fibre components.
In this video I'll take you through some of my favourites, including some lightweight bar tape, skeletonised brake adaptors, lightweight Centre Lock to 6-bolt rotor adaptors, Vook RS600 330 TPI road tyres, carbon disc brake rotors, and two ridiculously lightweight full-carbon saddles.
The lightest saddle comes in at just 53 grams, with a full carbon shell and carbon rails. I've ridden it over 500km, alongside a similar 60g PLSELIS carbon saddle that costs just £44. For comparison, even some of the lightest premium saddles from brands like Specialized and Fizik weigh CONSIDERABLY more.
And then there are probably the most ridiculous upgrades in this episode, carbon fibre thru axles. At just 25g for the pair, they're around 40g lighter than the already-light aluminium axles they replaced. They also use interchangeable threaded inserts, allowing the same axles to work with a range of different road bikes and thru-axle standards. I've put around 500–600km on them so far with no issues.
Some of these upgrades save just 10 or 20 grams. Others can knock well over 100g off the bike in one go. But together, they show just how far lightweight Chinese bike components have come — and how technology that was once reserved for expensive boutique cycling brands is increasingly finding its way onto AliExpress.
Everything featured in this video was bought with my own money. I'll share my experience with each component, the weight savings, what they cost, and importantly any drawbacks I've found along the way.
Timestamps:
00:00 – AliExpress is changing
00:51 – Thinvik lightweight bar tape
02:11 – Lightweight disc brake adaptor
03:17 – Lightweight 6 bolt adaptor
04:29 – Vook RS600 bike tyres
06:13 – Carbon disc rotors
07:49 – Extreme carbon saddle
10:37 – DFS carbon thru axles
14:44 – Other lightweight upgrades
16:43 – Bike weight & total cost
17:42 – Bonus clip
Intro roll:
Created by Dev Joshi - go2dev.co.uk
Instagram:
instagram.com/tracevelo
Email:
tracevelouk@gmail.com
Please note:
I am not a professionally trained bike mechanic. There can be risks associated with using products that are unbranded, untested, or come from sources where the provenance is unknown. Please talk to a qualified bike mechanic if you are in any doubt.
In essence, be careful, do your research, and cycle safe!!!
