This carbon wheel issue has been burning a hole in my soul for so long. The twin headed snake of thrift and indecision (not such an impressive snake as far as twin headed snakes go) held me at the impasse for years. Having @mauibike commit to all carbon for his lifetime wheelset needs got me hot. Seeing Fabs winning Paris-Roubaix and the Ronde on his Aeolius 5.0 wheels made the fever burn higher.
Maui is a very gusty place to ride and I was loath to own some deep section rims that would be the death of me. Looking pro while getting blown off the road at speed, uncool. Bontrager has the budget to blow on high speed computing and wind tunnels to make sure Gianni is not buffeted unduly. They also use Alpina spokes with plastic inserts so the the wheel should be truable for years.
Ebay is full of people who buy tubular wheels then sell them after very light use (or their first flat tire). Voila, Gianni finally owns Fabooo’s tubular wheels.
The first impression on the first ride was holy smokes, these float uphill. The weight difference was what impressed me immediately. I take off the front wheel when transporting the bike and I still marvel at its lightness. This lightness is also noticeable when cornering and not in a good way. The flywheel effect of a heavier aluminum rim is diminished making the steering, for lack of a better term, whippy. I’m used to it now but for the first few weeks the front end felt less stable.
My wife was quite vexed that I was undroppable on climbs; these wheels were feeling better and better. The improved climbing alone was enough to make me embrace the benefit of carbon construction.
It was during the first descent of Haleakala volcano where the other lightbulb switched on in my dim brain. Unintentionally I was going into every corner faster than usual. My V-meter does not give me data to substantiate the feeling but these wheels are more impressive going down than they are going up. They are fast. When you get off the brakes on a descent the bike just hauls more ass. To add to their list of wonders, they are very stable in gusty crosswinds too. The windtunnel testing was money well spent. Score one for the boffins.
I have not done enough riding in wet weather to have an opinion on rainy day braking. This is my number one bike after all and I’ve avoided the real steep descents if I have a choice.
To address the original question in the original article; can carbon wheels be one’s everyday, go-to wheels? I now say absolutely. These aero wheels are faster in all directions, why would you deny yourself that pleasure everyday. They do cost a huge amount to money new. That is their one massive downside. They can be had reasonably if one looks at slightly used tubulars, what is not to love about that? If one buys the premise that wheels are the most important upgrade to a bike, then buying light, aero, carbon wheels is the way to go.
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WEll, I'm convinced.
I have a set of Bora tubs which have been off my bike since I flatted and had to be rescued a year or so ago. They are sitting quietly in bags, waiting for me to spring for a new tyre. I need to work out a removable-core extender system, so I can run some sealant.
Currently, my everyday wheels are Shamal Ultra 2 way fit, with a tubeless on the front and a tube on the back, so not exactly shabby.
Anyone want to offer advice about a nicely durable, but sufficiently light rear tyre option for the Bora ? The front still has a good Tangente which will stay on until it's destroyed. Funny, I've never had a front flat, only rears.
@Ken Ho those Boras are no good. You can sent them to me for disposal.
@Nate
Nice try, but I went shopping on Wiggle after that last post and now have a Vittoria Pave and some valve extenders on the way. I'm returning to the dark side of carbon.
It's not just cycling. When I bought my new ocean ski recently, I had a choice between a very nice boat on fibreglass for a fistful of dollars, or a truly pornographic masterpiece in full carbon, for just a few dollars more.
Despite being a paddling noob, I contemplated the similarity between the carbon jobbie and my lovely Bianchi, which also sports a lot of visible carbon weave, and similarly fast red paint. Needless to say, I opted for the carbon, and love the decision. I know I would have regretted cheaping out. 11kg of carbon art.
Buy well, buy once !!
Reflecting on the importance of carbon, I feel this article missed the chance to wax lyrical on this subject. I'm getting musings about how carbon is the quintessential element from which the V is born and derives it's power.
I'm sure the V has a tetrahedral centre.
There may even be cause for a new rule. No cycling rig is complete without at least one carbon part, and no true Velominatus shall sally forth without an article of carbon upon his or her person. Yes, diamonds count for the ladies.
Steel may be real ( or at least rhyme with it), but carbon rules.
@RedRanger
You do know that there is TRULY espresso bean grounds in that paint job, right? Seriously. That bike is AMAZING!
I ride a pair of 404 tubulars almost every day (not really, I got a kid now, but anyway). I figured, the pros can go blabbering on about "race wheels" and what-not. If I would use these wheels only for races I would use them twice a year. That's just being irresponsible. If you have a nice pair of wheels, USE THEM! It will improve your life dramatically and is the only way to really justify the cost.
@Nate
Yes. I'm still wrestling with that. Would prefer Veloflex Roubaix, but the cost difference is something warranting consideration. And yeah, the freehub... dang! We'll see what the shop can do as I don't have the time to get into messing with it.
@Henrik
You put my thoughts into words exactly! What good are they hanging in wheel bags???
Late to the thread here, but is there any consensus on an ideal depth of rim? I see everything from 25 to 50+ depths. There might be a pair of carbon rims in my future and I was wondering what might be best?
C2 broken Type 3 odontoid fracture 2009, braking issue. Never use Swiss Stop Yellow and switch with aluminum wheel sets no matter what the bike shop guy says. Bontrager provides cork pads use them it says so in the users guide.
@antihero @Nate thanks for the encouragement and advice, chaps. I was thinking Veloflex, although I'm a serial user of Vittoria clinchers (pave CG, Corsa SR & CX) so I'm sure they would do the job nicely.
It's interesting how one can read the same thread in two different states of mind and rationalise different sides of the debate. I've been firmly in the 'nice clinchers are fine' state of mind until recently, but if going carbon I think I'd prefer tubular rims for the inherently stronger design, and that's tipped me into the 'what is there to worry about, and life's too short to compromise' mindset.