This bike uses cantilever hubs, secure on one end and free the other. Not sure if it is strong enough to resist flex under high loading and bumpy rides. But agree with you that bikes in China is very affordable. They are real stuff made for China domestic market and not meant to be exported. But I understand that there are stricter quality control for goods meant for export, especially branded bike like Giant and others. We cannot run away from goods made in China, just about everything is now made in China, even Iphones and Ipods.