sancle1

Any clyds ridding on carbon wheels, or has anyone tried the carbon fiber wheels from china?

jsigone

I have about 1500 miles on my planet x 50 mm tubulars. Carbon Clinchers scare me and test out some renolds dv46 (i think) carbon clinchers. Lots of front wheel flex. I got the px team tubs for $620. They claim weight limit of 200lb but rode the piss outa them at 225 and with the sapim cx ray spokes they don't flex at all. I run conti sprinter with stan sealant and never had a flat yet. I still carry a pre glued tub in my jersey pocket just in case. Even done a few 5000+ft decents and they hold up to the heat just fine.

youcoming

I have a set of Dura Ace Carbon clinchers with the aluminum brake surface and have rode them with no issues and well over 20000km on them. I recently started riding a set of Mavic Cosmic Carbone Ultimate tubulars, can't get much more carbon than that, no long term feedback on the Mavic's but they sure ride nice. Have a friend that has Token tubulars from China, look great after he took aweful stickers off them, he opening admits he got them just to try out tubulars on the cheap. He also states his Ultegra wheels are better overall. Only difference is the tubulars have a better ride quality but do not roll as good but that's all bearings. The finish on the Tokens leave a lot to be desired, you can see the outlines from pressure bladders.

mkadam68

I currently own 88mm tubular (24-spokes front, 28-spokes rear), 50mm tubular (28/32 spokes), and 50mm clincher (28/32). All were purchased via eBay from China. I had an expert wheelbuilder build the 88's and 50 tubulars. I built the 50-clinchers.

All wheels are awesome so far. I have well over 1,000 miles on the tubular wheels, and approaching that with the clinchers. The tubulars are much more comfortable (I run Vittoria CX-EVO 700x23 tires) than the clinchers (running Michelin Pro3 Race 700x23 tires).

Each set cost about $600 before tires/tubes. I didn't want to spend $2-3000 on Zipps if they wouldn't hold up to my weight (265 pounds).

If you have a good wheel builder, I do recommend them.

Here's my (dated) detailed report on my 88mm tubulars. I'll need to update it for the 50's.

vesteroid

I have been riding enve 45s since I was about 230 and they haven't broken yet.

jsigone

I want enves for my 29er mtb. My club gets a discount on them but only limited sets of hoops.

CliftonGK1

I was initially looking into a pair of 23 x 38mm carbon rims for my CX racer, but decided against them solely on the fact that I'd likely just obliterate the braking surface in a single season of sandy, muddy, PNW racing and that didn't seem like an investment I was willing to make.

The company I was looking at is Yoeleo, out of China. I emailed back and forth with them about rim specs, and got the following information about their 23 x 38mm tubies:

Thanks for your inquiry.
1):


2):maximum spoke tension:280kgf
3):yes standard external spoke nipples, you can use Sapim CX-ray spoke with these rims


They also list a max weight limit of 450 pounds on their rims, as opposed to the 200 or 250 that many other Chinese manufacturers have.
If I build up a dedicated roadie just for go-fast riding, not for commuting, I'll definitely go this route.

ChuckD6421 

I think it'd be worth taking a look at VeloNews' 2 articles on carbon clinchers this week. Personally I wouldn't go there. Stick to metal.

cafzali

People who are concerned about that can buy carbon wheels with aluminum braking tracks.

jsigone

well those are actually alum wheels with a carbon faring

Moose Power

Hi,

So how do you like those ENVE wheels. I'm a big guy at 6'5" and 235 this morning, but hoping to get to 210. My Mavic SL's just got some cracks in the rim after just over 6,000 miles. So I'm unexpectedly looking at new wheels.

The owner of my LBS rides the ENVE 45's but he is a little bitty guy (but still a cat 1). He says because of my size I could go with the ENVE 6.7 wheels without too much of a crosswind problem. I always thought someone as big as me wouldn't really benefit from an aerodynamic wheel so I always just looked for a stiff wheel. That's why I would go for the Ksyrium - I just wish they would last longer. But after reading a little I can see a quite a few watts can be saved with aero wheels.

How well do they stay true? Are the clinchers? How many miles do you have on them? What hubs did you get on them?

The ENVE wheels are some serious loot, but with a five year warranty and as many miles as I rack up I still could come out ahead as the Mavic only has a one-year warranty.

Thanks,

Moose

Wooden Tiger

I wouldn't ride on anything made in China...

...Just sayin'.

volosong

Best wheels I've ever owned. Don't think I have quite as many miles on them, but they've been outstanding. (I use tubes in them, even though they are tubeless capable.)

Erwin8r

Thanks for the tip--I read the article and got a new understanding of the current compromises involving carbon aero wheels. The reduced braking capabilites and potential for "overcooking" the tube/tire alone make it a no-go for me (the article touches on the fact that the carbon provides much less braking traction for the pads, and the high-heat generated by the braking forces cannot be readily diffused by the carbon, hence the high temperatures transferred to the tubes--some manufactures even advise against latex tubes because they cannot handle the intense heat generated; also mentioned is the potential for catastrophic delamination of the carbon resin at high temperatures and the corresponding blow-outs). At my weight, I would push those wheels well beyond their intended parameters... If I was under 200lbs, I might not worry so much, but at well over, yeah, I would worry.

vesteroid

we (were) the same size. Same height now, but I weigh 215. Ride the enve 45 with the powertap g3 hubs. Clinchers, running conti 4000s 23's on them. I ride the rear at 110 on centuries, and 100 or so on training rides, and I ride the front at 90. I have never had a flat on the wheels since I took them out of the box. I probably (I switch these wheel around on my two bikes so not 100 percent sure how many miles on them) but I would guess 1500 now.

Perfectly true, and I dont baby my wheels. I dont jump curbs or anything, but I have hit a few potholes in groups, and plenty of drainage grates /cattle crossings. These are 2012 models, this years the 45s are the 3.6 (I think it was). Its a new profile this year.

Everything my wheel builders tells me is enve designs their wheels for everyday use, and not race only. So far I would agree with them.

Jude at sugar wheel works is building these out with cxray spokes and CK 45 hubs for 2800 a set (the new 3.whatever enve's) If I were buying a new wheelset, its what I would get beyond a shadow of a doubt.