Buying MTB products online can be a risky business, with some components being knockoffs, or just not up to scratch, but what about the products that are good? Blake Samson takes a look at some cheap MTB products that just might be worth your hard-earned cash!
Useful Links:
Watch Shorts on GMBN 👉 gmbn.eu/GMBNshorts
Keep things fresh for spring with GMBN Casuals! 👉 gmbn.eu/FreshSpringEssentials
Ride with us at the Global Bike Festival 👉 gmbn.eu/GBF2023
Submit your Photo and Video to us 👉 upload.gmbn.com/
Sign-up to our newsletter 👉 gmbn.eu/newsletter
Have you found any cheap MTB items online? Let us know what you bought down below!👇
Watch more on GMBN...
📹 What Do Mountain Bikers Want? 👉 gmbn.eu/NewVsUsed
📹 Watch our Editor’s Choice Playlist 👉 gmbn.eu/EditorsChoice
📹 Watch our weekly show, The Dirt Shed Show 👉 gmbn.eu/dirtshedplaylist
🎵 Music - licensed by Epidemic Sound 🎵
Special Report - El Flaco Collective
Studio 75 - Margareta
Funk Face - OTE
Outlaw Funk - OTE
Mambo Flaco - El Flaco Collective
Curtains Down - El Flaco Collective
Comida Soul - El Flaco Collective
#GMBN #GlobalMountainBikeNetwork #MTB #MountainBiking
The Global Mountain Bike Network (GMBN) is the world’s largest and fastest-growing online mountain bike channel and community - and your destination for the best mountain bike content in the world.
GMBN is dedicated to inspiring and unlocking your riding potential. Our videos cater to fans of every mountain bike discipline: from mile-munching cross-country (XC) riders, through adrenaline-fuelled dirt jumpers, gravity-hungry downhillers or aspiring enduro racers, and beyond.
Every day of every month, our ex-pro presenting team are on hand to entertain and inspire you while also providing a uniquely qualified insight into the world of mountain biking. Every week we deliver original daily videos that include:
Adventurous and entertaining features
Mountain bike skills coaching
Technical advice and guidance
Mechanical know-how to keep you rolling
A place for the riding community with our weekly Dirt Shed Show
Thanks to our sponsors:
Canyon Bikes: gmbn.eu/Canyon
Nukeproof Bikes: gmbn.eu/nukeproof
Orbea Bikes: gmbn.eu/Orbea
Park Tool: gmbn.eu/ParkTool
Smith Helmets & Eyewear: gmbn.eu/Smith
Crankbrothers Pedals: gmbn.eu/crankbros
Shimano Footwear: gmbn.eu/ShimanoShoes
Ergon: gmbn.eu/ergon
Vittoria Tires: gmbn.eu/Vittoria
FSA: gmbn.eu/fsa
Spank: gmbn.eu/Spank
Topeak: gmbn.eu/topeak
Garmin: gmbn.eu/Garmin
Peaty's Products: gmbn.eu/Peatys
Wahoo: gmbn.eu/WahooTraining
Komoot: gmbn.eu/Komoot
Worx Power Tools: gmbn.eu/Worx
CamelBak: gmbn.eu/CamelBak
Watch our sister channels:
GMBN Tech - / gmbntech
Electric Mountain Bike Network - / embn
GMBN auf Deutsch - / gmbnaufdeutsch
Global Cycling Network - / gcn
GCN Tech - / gcntech
GCN Racing - / gcnracing
Global Triathlon Network - / gtn
GCN Italia - / gcnitalia
GCN en Espanol - / gcnenespanol
GCN auf Deutsch - / gcnaufdeutsch
GCN en Francais - / gcnenfrancais
GCN Japan - / gcnjapan
GCN Training - / gcntraining
Great segment. You guys should do more of these. A lot of us can't do $3k-6K bikes and $80 pedels/bars/stems. I like to call it being "budget minded" (also known as "cheap") when looking for expensive part alternatives. 🤣
Totally agree. There are a lot of crap products out there with high review ratings (either faked, or because the older version of the product was great, but not anymore). Would be nice to get actual tested reviews that showcase budget items which actually work well. For example, I bought similar glasses as Blake, just not so, ahem "stylish", with the brande Rock Bros and they've been great! I don't need $120 glasses that will likely get lost/scratched/eaten, but for $30 I can handle that :)
@@uhntss Ive got a few things from Rock Bros, seat packs, top tube packs, all have worked great in the long and short run. 12.00 for top tube pack, instead of 50.00 for an ever so trendy one. Good tip on the glasses, I might try some. I tend to destroy expensive glasses so ...................
I got a pair of Rock Bro aluminum flats that I’m happy with. I just wish they had replaceable studs. But all in all they were cheap enough to just replace if needed.
Always enjoy Blakes energy 😁
Caution: cheap sunglasses aren't always a bargain. When your eyes are shaded, the pupils will open wider. If you're in bright sunlight and the sunglasses aren't specifically made to block ultraviolet light, your wide-open pupils can bring harmful rays to your retinas. Since this can cause permanent damage to your vision, make sure the sunglasses you buy are made to block UV rays - and that you trust the vendor who tells you so.
Any poly carbonate lense will block uv light, it's an attribute of the plastic resin.
🤣🤣🤣🙄🙄🙄
@@Crazysnowboarder1988 again, it depends if you trust the person who tells you they are polycarbonate.
@@chrishowell5718 you'd be paying a lot more for a factory in China to produce specific UV transparent photchromic than it would cost to just sell a white label product. Polycarbonate glasses are a dime a dozen, there's no extra profit in specifically engineering them to be worse.
They aren’t sunglasses
I have two pair of those glasses. The shown ones in black (photochromic) and half framed ones with ventilation holes. Both work fine and fit perfect on my nose. No uncomfortable pressure points like from other brands. And they block uv rays to 100%...i testet it with a uv lamp...they also darken because of uv light, not because of "sunlight". Only con, not an issue, is the fact you're always looking through two glasses when using the myopic frame with correction lenses. That's kind of...you need to get used to. From my sight of view -> i recommend them.
Just ordered the kapvoe glasses because most glasses aren't suited for ppl that already need glasses, and it just looks magical. Can't wait to try em out
I bought the Granite Stash RT. The RT stands for Ratchet. It has a mini Ratchet and all the bits you need to work on your bike trail side. It's light enough. Easy to install. Just knock out the star nut in your fork steer tube and replace with the Granite stash rt. It is threadless and acts as the compression bolt for your head set. Better quality then I thought it would be. Quite impressed over all. Good on board storage.
I also have the granite on my trail bike and i love it. One less tool to forget to bring bcoz its always on the bike already...and the actual tool bits are pretty good quality...have some mates that have bought them as well after they saw it on my bike
have you guys used it? is that one of the tools that GMBN talked about in videos leading up to Christmas? it sounds familiar.
I had the original granite stash tool which was a bit naff as the tool broke and had little leverage. Got the ratchet now and it is in a different league, better ergonomics, good leverage and is a pleasure to use. A bonus is the tool can be bought separately from the housing if it is damaged or bits lost
I've had those glasses (or a similar cheapo version) for a couple years and I really like them for the PNW. Because i'm in and out of clearcuts and forest so much, having the mostly clear lens is perfect for visibility going back into the shade. They don't darken much, but they darken enough that you don't really need another pair of shades if the ride is mixed sun/shade. I wouldn't wear them on a sunny ride or a road/gravel ride, but for mtb through the trees they're perfect. And they're cheap enough that I don't need to feel bad if I leave them on the roof when i'm driving off, break them against a tree, sit on them, scratch them up, etc.
Yes, i have a similar "Rockbros" Model and it is really great for this price. Does its Job fine, best buy.
This is a great idea for a video. Well done Blake and the team. More like this please :)
This was actually interesting as always presented in Blake’s unique bants love it
Always! 😏
@@gmbn goes with out saying……love to see more like this with Blake’s unique take on it.
bought a similar bag for the top frame bar. works a charm and super cheap compared to many other brands. there was some bontragger bag for 80$ which was almost identical to the 32$ one i found from Rockbros.
Hey Blake nicely done!! I would love to see you do the same sort of thing with some bike packing bags in particular front fork cage / bags!!
I’ve used Crank Bros cleat/flat pedals for years now. Easy to just catch the pedal below with your toe and flip it if needed. Not an issue, pedals sound good!
me too
I had the same kind of flat/cleat pedals, and I had to switch to full flats because anytime I would remove a foot I'd have to pay attention to flipping the pedal. That tiny distraction was an annoyance, but I almost crashed once on a trail, trying to flip the darn pedal in a turn! Not to mention the times I had to go through a rough session with a pedal upside down, those were sketchy, slippery moments!
crankbrothers is expensive btw
One thing that blew me away is that Zoom (I think distributed as ZTTO) have a pair of 4-piston brakes for $80. And they work. I'm not kidding. I actually like them a bit more than the $275 Tektro Orion 4Ps. Modulation good. Pre bled. Check them out.
ZTTO has some time on the market in conparison to other Chinese brands that disappear after a couple of months. They make everything now. Makes sense if they used to be ZOOM.
I recently did a 1x12 conversion to an older trek fuel for under 200 not including tools bought. Ebay and Amazon came to the rescue and I can say this bike feels absolutely mint
You know what - I like it! More cheap trash unboxing and testing!
Haha! More to come! 😂
thanx for this vid , with crazy bike prices at the min i like cheap n cheerful options that last
I've had bike stuff from Aldi (bottle, pump, bottle cage, lock, lights, glasses, riding tops, gloves, tool set) , Lidl (multitools, seat pouch - didn't get a repair stand but I hear they are excellent) and Poundland (inner tubes, puncture repair kits, simple lock, lights). No issues at all. Still use most of them or keep things like the inner tubes as spares. There's a video idea. Buy from Aldi, Lidl and Poundland.
Let me know if you want Poundland stuff sure I can sort for review and or test
The irony is the Aldi bicycle repair tool set is £25 & Halfords sell the exact same set with their name on the box for about £40
LMFAO “Everyday I’m shuffling” Love the shades Blake 🤣
I have that exact Renology boot dryer and it's a game changer. May have a look at the specs for commuting
I was actually using this glasses for year, or little bit more. The darkening of lenses worked, suprisingly, pretty well and I pay for them.. I guess even less then 30 bucks back then. But in the end I was finding them... not really comfortable. But for this price they are quite good.
Love the video and think you make the best videos on GMBN🎉 awesome humor
I started using a hairdrier to heat up my boots in one of the colder winters, when I used to live in Southport. It got rid of the cold and the humidity and it made going to work in the morning a little less sucky.
Excellent video, I have bought a pair of MTB shoes that did the job even though it felt like I was riding with bricks on my feet. I also bought a pair of flat pedals that I still use today. However I am looking for glasses to wear, I don't use safety glasses because I have double vision. The pair of riding glasses you shown that has an attachment for prescription glasses seem like a perfect fit.
With all dual pedals, there's a motion / flick you have to perfect to get the clip side back up, but it just becomes a habit tbh, I've got a Shimano set on my gravel / everything bike so I can use the flats when utility riding
Need more episodes like this!
Great video for those of us who don’t have £££££s to spare. A great unbiased and non-elitist Blake, you’re Grrrrreat 😂👍
I live in Canada and I started winter riding (fat bike) back in 2020 (needed something to do while in lockdown). Since I didn't know if I would actually enjoy winter riding I bought cheap, price wise, clothing. Still wearing these items to this day. ROCKBROS Winter Cycling Jacket - $56.99CA, BALEAF Men's Winter Bike Running Pants (wear for snowshoeing also) - $52.99CA, and BALEAF Men's Bike Shorts Padded - $30.99CA I also rigged a cheap handlebar lamp to my helmet and it works great as a head lamp. Wastou Bike Lights Super Bright Bike Front Light 1200 Lumen - $26.38CA
Bought the shoe dryers a couple of months ago. Think they’re bloody excellent!
Hey Blake good video for anyone who doesn't have a local bike shop nearby Amazon has some good stuff for anyone who has to travel cities to get to a bike shop
5:31: can we talk about how smooth that was?
😎😂
Timmy Mallet called from the 90s, he wants his glasses back..
Man I love Blake just... being Blake in videos. 🤣
hey Blake what under armour shoes are those from the shoe warmers?
Great video guys! I’ve tried to buy the camera some years ago as 3rd camera but is unusable at all! I’ve tried glasses too as 2nd pair of glasses and I think they do their job pretty good maybe because I didn’t shake my head until my neck breaks!
The pedals with one side spd are good for touring, Funn Mamba are the same. If you are touring and want to wear something more comfortable you always have the flat option. And clip in if you are doing long distance with the riding shoes
yeah I always wish mine came with a weight but in that I could move to bias it towards the side I expect to use most. I've since switched to full on Crank Bros with no platform. I figure that it's more intimidating to somebody trying to steal my bike. I can and have used them with regular shoes for short distances, so a thief could too, but they definitely would not be confident doing it. of course I don't trust to that
The boot dryer is a massive gamchanegr in winter when you come home with wet shoes, no more stuffing newspapers, actually dry boots in 20 minutes
Eddie the Eagle with them glasses! 😂
Bought photochromic lens glasses in Decathlon for about the same money. Really good and I'm not going to feel sick if I lose them. Just one word of warning some cheap knockoffs will shatter into eye shredding shards if you have a big impact. I like the look of that bar bag.
Yeah and at least Decathlon ones have real and proven certifications, would not trust a random brand for my eyes regardless of the price.
Just got sram guide re brake, not on amazon mind you. Love them or hate them, but 45 quid, brand new, thing-a-majig version, pads installed.
the pedals in the beginning of the video would actually be an amazing thing to own, especially if your a beginner trying clips on your bike but would prefer flat pedals
those dual clip and flat pedals are for your trainer at home.. so you can ride either way during your workout
Those rockbros antislip pedals are dope.
Nice video Blake!!! I saw a review on some cheap amazon boot dryers they looked good until the reviewer took it apart and found the wiring was a joke,the wires were just twisted together without marrets twisted on not even black tape either...A definite fire hazard they should never even be pluged in like that!!! Buyer beware!!!
Hey Blake! Nice to see you on gravel bike. Could you tell us which model is that? Thanks
Just got a pair of those glasses for Christmas. Mine aren’t as pazazie as yours Blake, LOL!, I just went with black. Question I do have, did you have any issues with them fogging up?
I actualy use that glasses and they are really fine. Polarised glass really work, I also use yellow glass a lot- in forest or in evening. Really good glasses for that price.
such catchy product naming!
cheap glasses are good looking, price is neat but when you don't what will happen to lenses when you fall it's very scary choice
Well done sir. Great video
Ive had good success with Amazon for peddles, handlebars, seats, and headstems. You just have to shop smart and know what youre looking for! Especially if youre on a tight budget, or simply want to try out something different before committing to a branded model.
I had some shimano hybrid 50/50 pedals.... they were just as crap at always flipping round so that he SPD was on the underside... cant blame the cheap ones exclusively for that fault!! I gave up on the shimano ones pretty quickly and went full SPD!
I have an Apeman camera, a simple flick through the settings turns on the image stabiliser and let's you switch between 4k 1080p 720p and frame rates
9:23 man, why is it I bought these last week cause i needed something better for mountain biking lol tbh tho out on the trail they did their job. I like em
I prefer, “buy nice or buy twice.” Great vid!
How were the riding glasses beyond the tinting feature? Google air flow? Could be used in a full face helmet?
Hi Blake, I actually had bought the same Apeman action camera and you need to download the app and connect it to enable 4K!
I got some of the 2022 Oakley copies of the Oakley Pilot, my old lenses from years, many years ago, fit the new glasses. I found em for 40 on ebay. Local shop 180.00
The "you chuck in a burrito" had me dying 😅
Safety glasses for sure, I bought a Akaso camera for about 1/4 of the cost of a gopro, rock Bros bags, but I went expensive with pedals with mag peds and I live them, you can get some good deals at A to Z
I've got that same handlebar bag. Haven't had any issues with it yet I keep it on my gravel bike with flat bars, for snacks.
I use KleenGuard Nemesis glasses when I ride. I bought them in a PPE and workwear store. They're just normal safety glasses with tinted lenses. Mine are amber colored, which isn't very dark. They work greath, both in the open fields and in the shadows under the forest trees, and the slightly yellowish colour increases the contrast and gives everything a warmer tone. I don't think a pair of $150 Oakleys would make that much of a difference.
Bouvht a truing stand but needs some persuation to align before actual truing your rim and spokes
That bag had me at burrito.
I use flat/clip pedals on my road bike. It's easy to flip them right sight before clipping in. It's not the pedals fault you don't use that style, how is the quality of the pedal?
Snap got that boot warmer Works a treat
They save the day on a winter ride! 😅
Blake is the best 🤙🏻🤙🏻 coolest guy on the planet.
Great video 😃 I do like the bag 😃😃 on and off the bike .
Thanks, Anita! 🙌
Great new video hope to see more!!!
You got it! Thanks for the support!
Great video from Blake..! 💸
I have that same handlebar bag, except it's the grey and black version, and have been impressed with it. It's great for carrying tools, food, a spare inner tube, my phone, identification and keys. It's better than a saddle bag (which compromises the effectiveness of a dropper post) and negates me carrying these items in my shorts. I use it frequently on my MTB and road bikes. This said, I would steer clear of cheap electronic items from Amazon.
I got that same green bag on my gravel bike. It does the job :)
I have a different version of this. Same idea. Cheap go pro. And although the screen on the camera isn't great it takes great photos and videos. Well worth the 35 dollars for all that came with it. I got same as you plus some.
have the Kapvoie photochromatic riding glasses. works great for the price :)
Got quite the same glasses from Lidl for 19 euro....quite a good deal
I got these pedals for my home spin bike, my wife clips in with her spin shoes and i ride the flat with my Five Ten flat shoes. No complaints, not sure i'll use them on the trail i'll stick with the One Up Pedals.
Reviews pedals without pedaling. 🤣 Still love you dude. Favorite GMBN presenter, with Doddy close behind.
Camera have trouble after few usage it would open but blank on monitor the plastics would not stand tropical heat it would break.
I have a pair of those glasses, the inner prescription frame works great. Can't wear contacts and regular glasses fall off too easy.
How do you fit the lenses? Do you have to go to optician and get the some lenses specifically cut for the the size?
@@spotlesswindows Yea, almost any place that makes glasses can do it. I went to two places and the second one got it done. I got impact resistant lenses for good measure.
love the low-key mockery of the bike stuff that i can afford :)
430g for both pedals is actually quite a common weight for aluminium flat pedals with CrMo spindles.
Bought everything. Thanks
So for 'bar bag' read 'hand bag', next it will be high heel riding shoes and mini skirt riding shorts. 🤣
Blake, it was nice if The Macho Man Randy Savage to lend you his glasses! 😂
I dont know about you, but I have been using the same nylon flats for a whole year, plenty of strikes and it is still going strong
those glasses are sick!
Got that shoes dryer. It's the best for drying wet shoes in winter. Recommend to anyone.
I use these glasses myself and can confirm they are really great
Well at least you got the apeman no pro camera it one of the better ones I have some no pro knock offs they are super light and some video look old fashion or audio is horrible but the apeman does ok out of all the no pros. When they state the action camera the word action speaks louder then the camera. What I think on it probably better for small vlogs.
Lol i actually use photochromatic glasses from amazon. Not that colour or style but they do what they should.
My Hard tail hero!! 🥹🥹❤️🫰
Oof! That "4K" camera footage is the same as you get from my GoPro 3 - I feel ill now...
I have a campark xtreme v UHD4k action camera around the same price as that camera with a EIS stabilizing mode. Works great and wide view. Does not come with SD micro card. Buy good ones. An dont leave the battery charging. Not a smart charger. Battery will over charge and swell. Put it on a timer. Found on ebay. 👍
I literally have glasses from the same company and a similar camera - I don't like any of them particularly. Both are fine.
I have the same brand of glasses mine came with multiple lenses cant fault them for cheaper riding glasses.
Love the video! Only comment is the sunglasses are fake Oakleys from the Olympic kokoro collection
Glad my Apeman dashcam is actually decent.. They know how to make cameras, but perhaps not action ones !
I bought a derailleur of ebay for $25 Australian dollars and to be honest its really good and haven't had any issues!
I kept hearing "baw bag" for the bar bag.
I have some kapvoe glasses and they’re great. Especially if you usually only wear the clear lens. I have original Oakley glasses and I can’t tell the difference. Now most of my friends have them too. Ali express for the win😂
my kapvoe ones fog very fast and the oleophobic coating is non existent. water, sweat will sit on the glasses and my oakley never had issues with also the nosepiece digs in to my nose and isnt comfortable.
Nice one Blake!....