Advantages of Carbon Wheels?
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If I ever got carbon rims, they'd be the low profile type like dura ace c24s. They're light, very stiff, and don't have any of the crosswind wobble of deep wheels. For me, they're perfect. That said, like any wheels, I'd never buy them if I couldn't afford to replace them after a wreck, and currently I cannot.
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I've had two sets of Zipps. One has at least 20,000 miles and never been touched except for rear wheel bearings once. The other has 10,000 miles and has been perfect. I compare that to Open Pros with cracked eyelets. I've also broken spokes several times on both factory and custom built box rims. Maybe I've been lucky but I couldn't be happier.
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Thanks for the feedback folks. I am impressed you have 20,000 miles on a set. I think this may be one of those items I wait until I see a smoking deal on. Then I may go ahead and pull the trigger.
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I dunno - i'm using the zipp brake pads on my zipp firecrest carbon clinchers and the braking is a little grabby and unpredictable in the dry and next to non-existent in the wet.
This whole concept of "bad braking" and "over heating brake tracks" is utterly ridiculous with current carbon wheels. I've ridden them for about 8000 miles in 2013-2014, including some halfway serious descents where I grabbed hard for short periods (isn't that what you're supposed to do?), and as far as I'm concerned there is literally no issue with braking provided you use appropriate brake pads.
I'll defer to anyone who has actually personally experienced an exploding or deforming rim, but otherwise its all conjecture.
Too expensive? Wait for the end-of-year sales and shop around hard.
I'll defer to anyone who has actually personally experienced an exploding or deforming rim, but otherwise its all conjecture.
Too expensive? Wait for the end-of-year sales and shop around hard.
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I've had friends training for 6 gap in Dahlonega, GA destroy a set of carbon wheels when braking during the long descents. So overheating a carbon wheel is a concern for very long descents where frequent braking is necessary.
My 303 zips are currently en route from having the hubs replaced a second time. The rear hub failed on the drive side at a spoke attachment point. It is still under warranty, but I thought they fixed their problems with the rear hubs. I weigh about 185 lbs, so I don't think weight is an issue. Another friend (much lighter) had the same problem.
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You need to have someone check everything then. I've got two pairs and they stop in the dry almost as well as my aluminum rims. They are predictable and never grab. I rarely ride in the rain but when it happen, lightly touching the levers dries off the rims enough to make a reasonable stop.
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From what I've read, the Reynolds Cryo blue pads are the best carbon pads out there. I'm still too new to carbon wheels to have an opinion myself.
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This is no longer much of an issue according to the most recent VeloNews test. They cited their own carbon clincher failure from heat buildup during a test three years ago. Now they mention due to new resin technology and better design, that's no longer a problem. What's interesting is they mention the latest wheels are fine even for occasional off road dirt riding and are okay even in wet conditions.
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Just bought Reynolds Blue for Zipp 404 rear and old Shimano front. Brake tracks are blue.
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the speed at which "they" don't think it's silly to ride carbon. As you go faster, you do save more watts, but you theoretically get a benefit at any speed.
I know someone with a high end bike with carbon wheels who rides with the slow group at 15-16 mph. Some people think it's silly, but she loves her bike and she's got the money. A cat 1 or pro racer might look at me thinking it's just as silly to ride carbon wheels for a TT averaging 25 miles an hour. They would be right.
With few exceptions, we buy all the cool stuff because it's a hobby and we like nice gear. I love my 404's and I ride them all the time. I know they provide significant aero benefits at speed, but my favorite thing about them is the sound carbon makes. The sound of a big pack of guys riding carbon wheels is pretty awesome.
I know someone with a high end bike with carbon wheels who rides with the slow group at 15-16 mph. Some people think it's silly, but she loves her bike and she's got the money. A cat 1 or pro racer might look at me thinking it's just as silly to ride carbon wheels for a TT averaging 25 miles an hour. They would be right.
With few exceptions, we buy all the cool stuff because it's a hobby and we like nice gear. I love my 404's and I ride them all the time. I know they provide significant aero benefits at speed, but my favorite thing about them is the sound carbon makes. The sound of a big pack of guys riding carbon wheels is pretty awesome.
#45
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the speed at which "they" don't think it's silly to ride carbon. As you go faster, you do save more watts, but you theoretically get a benefit at any speed.
I know someone with a high end bike with carbon wheels who rides with the slow group at 15-16 mph. Some people think it's silly, but she loves her bike and she's got the money. A cat 1 or pro racer might look at me thinking it's just as silly to ride carbon wheels for a TT averaging 25 miles an hour. They would be right.
With few exceptions, we buy all the cool stuff because it's a hobby and we like nice gear. I love my 404's and I ride them all the time. I know they provide significant aero benefits at speed, but my favorite thing about them is the sound carbon makes. The sound of a big pack of guys riding carbon wheels is pretty awesome.
I know someone with a high end bike with carbon wheels who rides with the slow group at 15-16 mph. Some people think it's silly, but she loves her bike and she's got the money. A cat 1 or pro racer might look at me thinking it's just as silly to ride carbon wheels for a TT averaging 25 miles an hour. They would be right.
With few exceptions, we buy all the cool stuff because it's a hobby and we like nice gear. I love my 404's and I ride them all the time. I know they provide significant aero benefits at speed, but my favorite thing about them is the sound carbon makes. The sound of a big pack of guys riding carbon wheels is pretty awesome.
It sounds like that is what you did.
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