Jarrett2

That's something I've always wondered about. Carbon wheels for Clydes.

I know that there has been the braking issue for a long time, but with road bikes going all disc in the future, that might open up some possibilities. If the wheels are strong enough.

JakiChan

They feel carbon wheels CAN be made stronger than AL.

sstorkel

And, unlike aluminum wheels, they also have a nice fat profit margin!

JakiChan

Sure, I guess. If you can afford them then why does that matter?

jsigone

braking issues isn't limited to clydes. It happens to skinny guys as well. Its all braking style and how long/steep the decent is. If you're one to drag your brakes on a 5000ft mt decent, than you are likely to have problems, doesn't matter on the brand. At minimum the tube will pop from the heat of braking. WOrst case the clincher lip melts and carbon starts to de-laminate on top of a flat tire. If you brake in the braking zone only on the same hill, than you should be fine on them.

At the time, i didn't trust carbon clinchers, so I got carbon tubulars, but I have other things to worryt about like Glue holding the tires on....one trade off for another. But I've taking them into the local mts here, 4500+ ft of decending fun.

XR2

Forgive me but how much do you weigh now? I want to run sew ups. I'm @ 300 lbs. Bad idea? Not a fan of carbon it will be on alloy rims if I do.

jsigone

I was 225 when I got my tubs. Now a days you can get used Zipp 303/404 tubs for the price of new china made tubs. $600ish on ebay. I think I paid about $630 for my planetX tubulars 3ys ago. I bought them for racing crits and fast club rides. With Zipps, the tubular sits deeper in to the rim so essentially more glue surface. My planetX wheels had a 210# limit, I think Zipp list a 250# limit.

jsigone

if you want to have the "feel" of sew ups and not have to deal with limits and glue.

I Highly suggest getting wider rims, like Velocity A23, HED belgiums, Pacenti SL23, Kinlin XR279, H+S Archtypes

These allow the tire to mount a bit wider, more volume, less pressure, better rolling resistance and the feel of sew ups (awesomeness)

My next custom build will be on either Archtypes or Kinlins XR279. I'm currently on stans Alpha400's but want a bit deep profile

dagray

60cm Orbea Orca with 105 groupset. Orbea 32 spoke wheels front and back, lizard skin grip tape, and Selle Italia Flite saddle. I now have an Ultegra chain as a replacement......I mis shifted and broke the factory chain....I like the new chain better.

sstorkel

Just suggesting that given the amount of money involved they might not be completely impartial. Personally, I can't justify buying carbon wheels. Which is saying something given how much money I have invested in bikes and bike-related equipment...

jsigone

I thought you had some mad fibers on your cervelo? @sstorkel

sstorkel

Nope! Kinlin XR-270 rims 24f/28r with PowerTap hubs. I wouldn't get enough benefit from CF wheels to make them worth the investment...

dkyser

Thanks for this info, I almost went carbon but my fear was at 350 lbs, if carbon were to fail it very likely would not be a small crack.
I purchased a Specialized AWOL Comp and love this bike, have went to 38mm tires, and may even go down to 35mm and that bike is becoming quite fast and I love the feel of the steel.
I also have an alluminum cross bike but have to say I prefer the steel bike most days.

As the weight comes off I will reward myself with a nice road bike but believe it will be steel or something besides carbon. This thread is the first I heard anything about Titanium so now have more research to do.

One more thought, if carbon fales is it more dangerous than steel or alluminum? Seems alluminum will bend or crack where carbon would break. Not stating a fact, but asking a question.

Jarrett2

They say it does, but I haven't seen or heard any carbon fiber stuff failing catastrophically since I've been riding.

The folks that I've seen with carbon cracks didn't get injured when the fail happened. Speaking of, another person in our riding club mentioned a carbon frame crack this week. I think he's getting replaced under warranty.

I just bought a Lynskey titanium bike this week. 45 day trial. I'm interested to see how it compares to my steel bikes.

These are a couple of new steel options at Nashbar that look an awful lot like the Vaya/AWOLs:

FitWell Riley Fahrlander 1 Road Bike
FitWell Riley Fahrlander 2 Road Bike

XR2

Thank you. Guess we'll wait until next spring. Oughta be light enough (relatively) for them then.

sstorkel

If you care about the answer you should ask someone with a materials science or mechanical engineering degree, not a bunch of Internet yahoos. That said, aluminum, carbon fiber, and modern steel alloys all tend to fail pretty catastrophically from what I've seen.

sriley4290

I ride a 2014 specialized Roubaix carbon. the rims are aluminum, but the frame is carbon. the Fulcrum S5 wheels only had 20 spoke so this weekend I will be putting on my new mavic open/ultegra hub wheels(32 spoke), hoping those last a little longer. I started riding march 2015 at over 250, on a hybrid, got the roubaix in January 2015.

dr_lha

I don't have a degree in materials science, but I do have a close friend who does. His opinion is that steel is least likely to be "catastrophic" given it's strength, flexibility and fatigue limit, but in the age of Tig-welded frames, if a weld fails, it can be real bad (like for example if the head tube separates from the frame, you're toast).

No material is safe from failure, thankfully it's rare in my experience. Worst and most painful (as in, I still have scars) failure I've ever had is with an aluminum part breaking because of metal fatigue. I've broken a steel frame and the only real sign it was broken was that it was flexing too much (the seat tube had separated from the bottom bracket). I've had no carbon failures as yet, thankfully*.

*I only own carbon forks, no frames.

brawlo

There are really very few failures that don't have early warning signs. Maintain your bike regularly. Give it a wash and run your hands over the tubing and visually inspect the paint for any hairline cracks or other abnormalities. This easy practice can save you a lot of pain (monetary and physical) in the long run and will extend the life of all your running gear.

bobbyl1966

Hello how are you. I deside to write you here because i not know why i post questions but people most of the times not answer. I see you know many thinks about bikes. Carbon fiber bikes is not really worth for people i not race?. Like me i try to go fast but i not race. I ride for exersice and because is i love to ride bicycle. I have now one steel bike is 2003 is around 25 pounds. with bottle waters. Other steel bike is 1987 around 27 pounds. One i have is TT aluminum is arpund 22 pounds with out the two bottle water i use in ride. One other road bike i have is aluminum frame around 20 pounds. You think is worth to keep and ride the bikes i have and i not look for carbon fiber bike? I do love the way steel frame ride. Me too no have hear good thinks about carbon fiber frames. One man do racing tell me one other man had carbon fiber bike and when tried get on the bike with the shoe cleat is hit the frame and the frame cracked

Flatbroke

I got a new roubaix sitting in the garage. Only rode it 1.5 miles so far. Waiting for cages, seat bag and 28 Clements 120 tpi to come in before I get fitted And take the maiden voyage. No cracks thus far lol.

bobbyl1966

Hello how are you. I deside to write you here because i not know why i post questions but people most of the times not answer. I see you know many thinks about bikes. Carbon fiber bikes is not really worth for people i not race?. Like me i try to go fast but i not race. I ride for exersice and because is i love to ride bicycle. I have now one steel bike is 2003 is around 25 pounds. with bottle waters. Other steel bike is 1987 around 27 pounds. One i have is TT aluminum is arpund 22 pounds with out the two bottle water i use in ride. One other road bike i have is aluminum frame around 20 pounds. You think is worth to keep and ride the bikes i have and i not look for carbon fiber bike? I do love the way steel frame ride. Me too no have hear good thinks about carbon fiber frames. One man do racing tell me one other man had carbon fiber bike and when tried get on the bike with the shoe cleat is hit the frame and the frame cracked

bobbyl1966

28mm tires is faster than 23c tires?

Jarrett2

I don't think you can go wrong with carbon fiber at this point.

I like steel personally, but if steel bikes disappeared tomorrow, I'd be on carbon fiber.

TheManShow

I met this guy at the LPBS (Local Performance Bike Shop) he rides a Specialized Roubiax he is like 305 and 6'5". Apprently the guy rides a lot of double & triple centuries. I honesltly do not know how he stay that big, but his bike is a 2010 model, and had has not destroyed it yet.

Not endorsing Specialized, or Carbon just passing on what I saw. Do not think he is a spped demon, but gets the miles done. Like I said do all that heard riding, and keep that weight on must equal a big grocery bill.