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Old 04-15-14 | 01:07 PM
  #11  
xjustice09x
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Joined: Sep 2010
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Bikes: 2012 BMC SLR01, 2012 Yeti ASR5, 2013 Trek Crockett

Newer carbon rims may handle heat better than older ones, but I would still be cautious. With cheap carbon clinchers you may not know exactly what materials they use. You also don't know what kind of support you will get if you have problems later.

I have had a carbon brake track fail on me during a long steep descent. It was within the 2 year warranty period and reynolds replaced the rim. I gave up on riding carbon rims after that. If I didn't do much climbing, or start riding triathlons, or get a road bike with disc brakes maybe I will consider carbon again.

The biggest performance difference to me between aluminum and carbon has always been braking. My carbon rims never braked as good as aluminum and were pretty bad when wet. Different brands and brake pads may perform different. I only have experience with 2010 and 2011 Reynolds carbon rims with the reynolds cryo blue pads. I've heard newer rims have better braking but havent tried them myself.

If you really want carbon I would recommend going with a manufacturer that will stand behind the product and handle any issues you could have in the future. That could be a major brand like zipp or enve or reynolds, or a smaller brand like williams or november or boyd.
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