Gearing Up for Paris-Roubaix: My Cobble-Crushing AliExpress Bike Build
The 2025 Paris-Roubaix is just around the corner, and while the pros will be battling it out on their €10,000 superbikes, I’m taking a slightly different approach this year. Instead of splashing out on the latest carbon wonder-machine, I’ve decided to resurrect my old 2015 carbon hardtail mountain bike and turn it into a budget-friendly cobble monster—powered mostly by AliExpress components.
Why a Converted Hardtail for Paris-Roubaix?
Having ridden the Roubaix cobbles 12 times over the years (on everything from cyclocross bikes to gravel rigs), I’ve learned a few things:
- Comfort matters—but so does reliability.
- Weight is overrated when you’re bouncing over cobbled farm tracks at 30km/h.
- Simple = better when mud, dust, and chaos are involved.
A converted hardtail MTB gives me a suspension fork to soak up the worst of the pavé, plus the sturdiness of 29er wheels—without the complexity (and cost) of a full-suspension bike.
The AliExpress Gamble
To keep costs down, I’m kitting this bike out with budget-friendly parts from AliExpress, including:
- A 1×11 drivetrain (with a comically large 11-50 cassette)
- 40mm gravel tires (because cobbles hurt)
- Road handlebars (for that drop-bar speed feel)
- Hydraulic disc brakes (fingers crossed they actually stop me)
But let’s be honest—this could go horribly wrong. In my latest video, I break down my 5 biggest fears about this build, from “Will it even fit together?” to “Will the brakes fail halfway through Sector 15?”
Will It Survive?
The rebuild is still in progress, but early signs are… mixed. Some parts have arrived looking surprisingly decent, while others have already required “creative engineering.” (Read: I’ve sworn at a derailleur multiple times.)
I’ll be putting this bike through its paces in the coming weeks, with the ultimate test being a proper ride on the Roubaix cobbles. If it holds up, it might just be the ultimate budget endurance rig. If not? Well, at least it’ll make for a good story.
Follow the Build!
Want to see if this AliExpress special makes it to the finish line? Subscribe to catch the full rebuild videos, where we’ll see if:
✔ The drivetrain shifts (at all)
✔ The wheels stay true after cobble impact
✔ I regret every single life choice that led me here
And if you’ve ever built a bike on a budget—or taken an unconventional rig to a brutal ride—let me know in the YouTube comments!