Xiamen Far Sports Experiences

[matteof93]

Rode the Maratona on Farsports 24mm bitex / cxray 20/24 build + Veloflex tubs two years ago (my weight is also around 74-75). Didn't like the road quality either, but went both up as well as bombed down the descents on the wheels happily. Haven't been to high mountains on them ever since (unfortunately) though.

Thanks for the reply. I would use them as every-day wheels, no races or granfondo like Maratona delle Dolomiti...i usually do 1000m of elevation each 50km, hardest rides are around 5000m\6000m (elevation) x 250-300km (for example in a couple of weeks i should do a 250km x 5000m ride with Colle dell'Agnello, Col d'Izoard, Col de Montgenèvre, Colle del Sestriere)

many people told me that they would use farsport (or any other chinese brand) 24mm low profile carbon wheels only for uphill TT (in italy we say "cronoscalata") because they are extremely light (1065g pair) but they would not use them for long rides along alpine climbs because these wheels are "extreme" so they are quite fragile. the worst thing would be to break the rim because of a hole on the tarmac, it can be extremely dangerous especially when descending at 60-70 km\h and i suppose it is not a remote option if the maximum weight is 85kg and i am 75kg (things would be different for a rider of 60kg).

[mrlobber]

I understand. Personally, I tend to start worrying above 70 km/h regardless of the wheels I'm riding

[matteof93]

I understand. Personally, I tend to start worrying above 70 km/h regardless of the wheels I'm riding

You're right, especially with my current setup (clinchers)

[eric]

I have a set of 24mm tubular FarSports that I only use for uphill races. But that's due to the hassle of changing a tubular on the road, and the fact that carrying a tubular pretty much negates the weight advantage of tubular wheels. The wheels themselves are not unduly flexy and the braking is better than any carbon clincher I've used.

For longer events I use FarSports clinchers (38mm or 50mm). The mountain races and rides in the California Sierra Nevada mountains usually do not have super technical descents like in the coast range where I live- though they can be fast (I've hit 85 km/h). So there's not that much worry about braking heat on the clinchers.

[matteof93]

I have a set of 24mm tubular FarSports that I only use for uphill races. But that's due to the hassle of changing a tubular on the road, and the fact that carrying a tubular pretty much negates the weight advantage of tubular wheels. The wheels themselves are not unduly flexy and the braking is better than any carbon clincher I've used.

For longer events I use FarSports clinchers (38mm or 50mm). The mountain races and rides in the California Sierra Nevada mountains usually do not have super technical descents like in the coast range where I live- though they can be fast (I've hit 85 km/h). So there's not that much worry about braking heat on the clinchers.

I do not worry about heat, in fact i ride tubulars that are safer than clinchers because the braking surface is not compressed between the pads and the inner tube.

I worry about structural failures of the wheel, especially of the rim because of its lightness (260 grams) and because of my weight (75kg) that is quite close to the maximum weight recommended (85kg).

[AE86Micah]

I bought a set of the 38mm clinchers about a year ago, have put about 5k miles on them and have not had one issue. Lots of climbing, descending, and hard braking. Wet, dry, hot, crazy cold, you name it, these wheels have seen it.
I have several other sets of "name brand" carbon wheels, and if a blind comparison, I think I would pick these to be honest.

[simnorm]

i have only just above 700KM on my 23mm U shape tubeless compatible wheels. It looks like the basalt is wearing off at several spots all around the front rim. I'm using their FSE black ceramic pads. There's now some slight pulsing when braking.


The rear rim isn't as bad, but there's a bubble a few mm away from the track. It looks like the top UD layer isn't bonded properly, Kyle told me not to worry about it. It doesn't seem to get any worse,


Video of the bubble (44MB)
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/248 ... bubble.avi

[addictR1]

This is my u shaped 38mm clinchers from FS using the pads they provided. It had their high heat treated basalt surface.

Had to make an emergency stop to prevent a crash... Afterward the wheels rubbed when out of saddle sprint. LBS checked and its all bubbled up.

This had extremely low mileage 300 miles or less on it.[emoji31]

Emailed Kyle to see if he can help out. My first set was their v shaped version and the brake track cracked under braking, sine that one didn't have the basalt high heat. But I had at least 1.5k miles on them. Just surprised this one fail so early.




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[matteof93]

This is my u shaped 38mm clinchers from FS using the pads they provided. It had their high heat treated basalt surface.

Had to make an emergency stop to prevent a crash... Afterward the wheels rubbed when out of saddle sprint. LBS checked and its all bubbled up.

This had extremely low mileage 300 miles or less on it.[emoji31]

Emailed Kyle to see if he can help out. My first set was their v shaped version and the brake track cracked under braking, sine that one didn't have the basalt high heat. But I had at least 1.5k miles on them. Just surprised this one fail so early.




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this is normal when using carbon clincher wheels, especially if you ride on steep and long descents. for this reason i bought tubular carbon wheels and not the clincher version.

[ms6073]

This had extremely low mileage 300 miles or less on it.[emoji31]

Two things stand out. I think your brake pads are mounted to far out on the brake track. Also, have you tried cleaning the brake track with white spirits or similar cleaner? While that may be carbon from the rim, I am thinking that those bits/bumps in the images are possibly bits of melted brake pad.

[addictR1]

ms6073, my lbs checked.. Those weren't from the pads. [emoji31]


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[prendrefeu]

Dude addictR1 that's a total bummer.

I'm approaching 42k miles on my 38mm's and outside of a spoke replacement (created someone crashing into me), I've had zero problems.
The only thing I'm starting to see now, after 42000 miles, is the brake track starting to wear thin. Maybe I don't brake enough!

[addictR1]

Prend: yea I'm bummed by it. They make great climbing clinchers too... Sigh...

Update: reached out to Kyle from FS and after multiple emails back and forth, asking for invoice, filing complaint sheet... the end result suggestion was for me to buy another rear wheel.

[simnorm]

Is this still safe to ride? I've triple checked and my pads are adjusted correctly. I wrote to Kyle...

[simnorm]

I've got less than 1000 miles on mine. Anyone else would still ride this?