Open mold wide profile carbon wheels

[trillo1111]

Derek - I looked around and for the 40mm deep rims (with the modern shape and basalt brake track) found carbon-cycles had the best prices (and they have a nice 40mm tubular). I dealt with Rae and he was very good at responding - you could e-mail him directly at carboncycles@163.com.

[cth]

There seem to be many positive reviews of the 45mm x 27mm U-shaped rims from Light Bicycle. Does anyone here have the 50mm or 90mm deep versions (not listed outright on their website)?...Thoughts? ...Weights?

[dereksmalls]

Not brought anything of Alibaba so don't know what these would be like, anyone got any experience with this supplier or these rims? 210gram 20mm 20 hole tubulars from X-Bike

http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Bicycle-super-light-carbon-road-rim_431130092.html?s=p

[wrcompositi]

Not brought anything of Alibaba so don't know what these would be like, anyone got any experience with this supplier or these rims? 210gram 20mm 20 hole tubulars from X-Bike

http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Bicycle-super-light-carbon-road-rim_431130092.html?s=p

Those foam-filled rims from "X-bike" have bad reputation on the web. You can also refer to the Farsports thread, in the earlier posts there are reports of these rims' failures:
http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=87659&start=45
http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=87659&start=60

Farsports used to sell rims from X-bike, but not anymore. X-bike's weight is very impressive, but apparently it's beyond the manufacturer's capability to make such lightweight rims without compromising strength and durability.

[dereksmalls]

Thanks for the heads up. I'll steer clear then, prefer something that will at least hold up to the demands placed on it.

[petepeterson]

OK I am done with carbon clinchers for now.

I had a brake track deform on the rear rim of my Light-Bicycle 45mm (303 clones). It was subtle but noticeable to the touch and eye and obviously a safety concern. L-B was very good and after a few very civil emails I had a new rim within a few weeks and was out $40 for shipping but did not have to send the defective rim back. This is the second set of carbon clinchers from different manufacturers I've had an issue with in a row so I am feeling jaded. These were on a winter bike that saw no sustained braking so very disappointing. That on the back of a failed set of 50mm clinchers from farsports last summer. I think carbon clinchers are simply fundamentally flawed unless you live in an area where sustained braking is not required. I am sure many of you have had great experiences as I did for some time, but for now I am going to stick to tubulars for the carbon rims. For the record I've had 6 sets of wheels from farsports, L-B, and Yishun over the last 4 years.

Not trying to bash anyone. Just wanted to share my experience with carbon clinchers and farsports/L-B. Both companies will work with you to make it right if you do have issues. I really think there are issues with the technology and that applies to all carbon clinchers.

[eric]

Which models and years (since FarSports changes rims and keeps the same model)?

What brake pads were you using?

Thanks!

[pushstart]

@petepeterson, am sorry to hear of your experience. It certainly comes up that there are issues with brake tracks on these rims. Even from the more reputable of these (arguably) second-class manufacturers. I don't know if the big brands suffer from the same issues still (marketing claims they don't), but this concern contributed to my decision to switch to a disc-brake road bike, though the regular/non-catastrophic braking performance was also a chief motivator. Certainly building a disc-brake wheelset made the decision to use LB rims (over more expensive) much more comfortable.

[petepeterson]

I had the older narrow V section clinchers "w/basalt" from farsports. Bought them fall of 2012 had issues summer of '13.

Yes... I think when you take braking on clincher rims out of the equation these are still great option. I've had 3 sets of tubular rims from china with zero issues. Even though I've now had issues I still recommend L-B or farsports to friends if they are ordering tubulars. I may even order a set of L-B MTB rims for myself.

[Zigmeister]

Farsports, the narrow carbon, and the foam filled have all had issues.

Surprised to hear Light Bicycle had some issues with the 45mm.

I personally only have about 2000+ft of climbing on our Sunday ride course, but our climbs/descents are short/punchy...no long extended braking required, hence, any carbon clincher would have no problems where we live with over heating, just isn't possible.

If you are going to ride bigger descents/climbs, I wouldn't run carbon clincher, tubulars only, like the Pros...no issues with those ever.

[eric]

its not the size or the steepeness of the descents that's the problem. it's the amount of braking for tight turns.

I've done steep 6000' descents in the sierras that hardly require braking because one can take the turns at 55mph. But a technical descent with tight turns that require braking hard from 30 mph to 15 over and over will put a lot of heat into the rims. The low speeds reduce heat loss to convection.

[wynkendeword]

The bike and the HongFu wheels after a post-race bath.

Mini review of my HongFu 56mm depth x 27mm wide tubular wheelset that arrived in March, 2014. I've only done one ride on them: a hilly, wet, dirty and hard-riding (though smooth surface) 112km road race. My comparison is to a previous set of 2011 Zipp 808 tubulars, 2013 Specialized Roval 60mm clinchers, and some stock aluminum Fulcrum clinchers. Rode them on a stock, new 2014 Tarmac SL4 Expert (though I never tried the 808s on the Tarmac, I did try the Rovals and the Fulcrums). I'm riding very similar tubulars to what the 808s had: Corsa CX 25mm ISO compound (vs. my older Corsa Evo CX 23mm tubs). I do believe it's 90% psychosomatic feeling small differences in equipment—tires and pressure have the largest bearing—so take the following with that in mind. In the end I want wheels that at least try to be aero, durable and all-around reliable race machines.

Short story
Wheels feel great, feel fast, tension seems even, they're still true. Some potential water damage / roughness in cassette body bearings, though. But overall worth the $600 CDN all-in price.


After a hose spray, but before soap washing: example of only some of the grit that accumulated in the race.

Long story
The weekend's race was wet and dirty with slight (20–30kph) crosswinds. Lots of winter road grit and sand and a fairly fast descent, with some moderate braking on two sharp corners, and a very steep 2-3 minute switch back climb and lots of race attacks and 100% accelerations. Smooth roads for the most part. After 10km of racing I had full confidence in them, and pushed them harder and harder in the corners as the race went on. Was glad to have them while pulling and attacking the breakaway.


After a wash, a view of the braking surface. Looks fine, felt fine.

Positive: braking felt good: no pulsing, no roughness, no squealing. Slightly better than my previous Zipp 808s. Was using Swissstop yellow carbon-specific pads (with previous wear on them) instead of the stock no-name pads the wheels shipped with. Depth of the rims seemed ideal for the conditions: I'll race these in any condition. Wind up and sprinting was good. Even used the suspiciously light skewers and seemed fine. Whole wheelset shaved nearly 1-pound over the stock Fulcrum training wheels. Front hub still felt super smooth after the race. Rim shows very little wear after a fair bit of dirty grit braking. Minimal water accumulation inside the rims after.

Negative: did notice some flex in the rear with some brake rub when attacking out of the saddle on the climb. Could run the brakes a bit more open, but not much more open. I had the same rub, though slightly less, with my old 808s, too, though don't notice it with the Rovals. Need more tape on the front valve extender to keep it from knocking like a metronome in the rim valve hole while riding. The rear hub axle bearings felt somewhat rough to the touch two days after the race. Pulled the caps and cassette body off and it felt smooth again, and pinpointed the roughness to the cassette body bearings. Not impressed with the seals, though which seal is weak is harder to determine: the cassette-body-to-hub-flange seal, or the outboard cassette body seal near the cassette lock ring? Gonna be difficult getting at those bearings to either repack or replace. Note the hubs are "Chosen" brand. Finally, felt a very slight give to the freehub the first few jumps on it: inspection shows very little 'dig' in the aluminum splines of the cassette body, so maybe it was settling in, and / or the pawls settling in.


Front wheel weight of 939g, including Corsa CX 25c tubular, valve extender, and stock skewers. No glue (maybe add 15g for glue).


Rear wheel weight of 1085g, including Corsa CX 25x tubular, valve extender, and stock skewers. No glue (maybe add 15g for glue).

[HillRPete]

If you are going to ride bigger descents/climbs, I wouldn't run carbon clincher, tubulars only, like the Pros...no issues with those ever.

Not into carbon clinchers myself, but Reynolds claims Ag2r was using them for the better part of the TdF back then.

[tharmor]

Such a nice write up. Cheers!

[bombertodd]

Not into carbon clinchers myself, but Reynolds claims Ag2r was using them for the better part of the TdF back then.

Ag2r had carbon clinchers at the 2012 Tour of California too.