Is carbon a suitable material for commuting...

downfader
downfader Posts: 3,686
edited April 2009 in Commuting chat
...on wheels?

I'm still fantasising about pimping my ride. :oops: I've been looking at the Mavic Cosmic Carbone SLR. Shame they're a grand :( And it only takes a 28mm max tyre.

Anyone know anything like that? aluminium braking surface, slightly deeper rim. Weight isnt too much of an issue but quality is. Bladed deep spokes like the Kysrium and Cosmics.

Also will these wheels stand up to some rougher ground? Its for my Jake and needs to go off road a little.

The other idea would be to put bladed spokes on my Alex rimmed wheels that the Jake came with. :? :lol: Would that be over kill? How easy is it to change spokes... I wonder

Have also thought about getting a carbon cyclocross fork set. I know I said I wouldnt but I keep dreaming, :oops:

Comments

  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    Where exactly IS Greg66?
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • always_tyred
    always_tyred Posts: 4,965
    They would be okay, I would have thought.

    But you have to ask yourself what would happen if anything wears out or breaks. If you have a set of 105/open pros, you can replace the spokes for virtually nothing, if you ding the rims, its about £40, if the hub wears out, similar.

    A set of carbon wheels - £££££ if anything goes wrong.
  • Christophe3967
    Christophe3967 Posts: 1,200
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    Where exactly IS Greg66?

    The Spa at the Dorchester. Getting waxed up for the summer.
    Bike1
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/35118936@N07/3258551288/
    Bike 2
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/35118936@N ... otostream/
    New Bike
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/35118936@N07/3479300346/
  • downfader
    downfader Posts: 3,686
    Always Tyred wrote:
    They would be okay, I would have thought.

    But you have to ask yourself what would happen if anything wears out or breaks. If you have a set of 105/open pros, you can replace the spokes for virtually nothing, if you ding the rims, its about £40, if the hub wears out, similar.

    A set of carbon wheels - £££££ if anything goes wrong.

    You know, thats a good point. I'll strike the SLR's off my dream list :?

    Hmm lets say my budgie is £600... What kind of bird would fly :wink::lol:
  • fossyant
    fossyant Posts: 2,549
    Get some good hand built wheels made up (Open Pro or CXP 33) - I've got two sets on order - one re-using some Dura Ace hubs with CXP33's and a complete set of fixed wheels, again CXP33's.

    They are reasonably light, and bombproof, and you'll not be off the road waiting for spokes to be ordered if spokes break (very rare on handbuilts)

    Everyday wheels you need reliability and repairability. Flash wheels are for weekends !
  • 2oldnslow
    2oldnslow Posts: 313
    Cosmic Carbone SL 2009 forego the carbon spokes for bladed ss and you're good to go

    Still circa 700 quid which is a bit steep for commuting but reputedly bomb proof. I've had a pair a while now riding on the not exactly smooth tarmac of Riyadh and still as true as the day I bought them and I'm 85KG

    Out here cycling is "interesting enough" without taking unneccessary risks with fragile equipment I ride my carbones pretty much all the time.

    Like I said not everyones idea of a commuting wheelset but then as with so much of cycling if its what you want go for it and they really are a great set of wheels, once up to speed they really motor.
  • always_tyred
    always_tyred Posts: 4,965
    fossyant wrote:
    Get some good hand built wheels made up (Open Pro or CXP 33) - I've got two sets on order - one re-using some Dura Ace hubs with CXP33's and a complete set of fixed wheels, again CXP33's.

    They are reasonably light, and bombproof, and you'll not be off the road waiting for spokes to be ordered if spokes break (very rare on handbuilts)

    Everyday wheels you need reliability and repairability. Flash wheels are for weekends !
    CXP33's are heavy and the depth is merely cosmetic. Open Pro's are a good compromise.

    The point with expensive wheels/commuting is that they have to at the very least be a second set of wheels - the last thing you want to do is grind through the braking surface of your pared down lightweight racing rims with wet weather grit and dirt.
  • fnegroni
    fnegroni Posts: 794
    Latest C+ magazine reports wet weather breaking performance from carbon rims is decidedly poor.
    http://wokinghamcyclist.blogspot.com
  • gtvlusso
    gtvlusso Posts: 5,112
    I would save carbon wheels for race day - Cannot afford to replace carbon wheels that are trashed from commuting in all weathers - I don't think there would be any difference daily as such in terms of speed.....

    They do look cool though.....
  • 2oldnslow
    2oldnslow Posts: 313
    Cosmic Carbones be they SL or SLR have an aluminium braking surface being built on a regular mavic rim with a carbon fairing so whatever C+ says is irrelevant

    Like gtvlusso says however they do look cool specially if you peel the stickers off not sure I'd commute on them but I suspect from a being up to the job perspective they'd handle most things just fine

    At the end of the day you pays your money and takes your choice
  • wildmoustache
    wildmoustache Posts: 4,010
    go for it ... they are as well built as any wheel out there. it always amazes me how a set of 1400g factory wheels that have been really well built can withstand far more abuse than a set of 5hite 2000g wheels that come with most stock road bikes.

    the only worry i have for your plan is that the hoops make the bike too good to leave locked up... i would not fancy leaving SLRs outside the pup ...
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    gtvlusso wrote:
    I would save carbon wheels for race day - Cannot afford to replace carbon wheels that are trashed from commuting in all weathers

    +1. Avoid using on the commute what you cannot afford to replace. It just takes one pot hole...

    Reasonably priced handbuilts will do the job. If you want something hard wearing, you could opt for ceramic rims. I blown one rear Open Pro, dinked beyond repair one CXP 33 rear rim due to a pot hole, and warped possibly beyond repair (probably due to a pot-hole) one Open Sport rim, but these are flexier than the Open Pro, so don't bother with them.

    After an initial tantrum over Mavic rims, I'm warming to my CXP33s again. However, I recently bought some handbuilt Ambrosio Excellight (32h) and used them over the cobbles. They're the Puppy's Plums.

    No point pimping the ride (much :) ) for the commute IMO.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • downfader
    downfader Posts: 3,686
    wildmoustache wrote:
    go for it ... they are as well built as any wheel out there. it always amazes me how a set of 1400g factory wheels that have been really well built can withstand far more abuse than a set of 5hite 2000g wheels that come with most stock road bikes.

    the only worry i have for your plan is that the hoops make the bike too good to leave locked up... i would not fancy leaving SLRs outside the pup ...

    I worry about locking up the Jake as it is tbh. Its a very nice looking bike. Where I work however theres a very nice lock up I use so atleast thats a bit more secure than a simple sheffield stand.

    I remember the s*** I put my aksiums through. Ultimate wheel for the price. Even now I'm tempted by them. I'd buy them for the Kona but they dont take a large enough tyre for the mud, plus I like the look of the more expensive wheels now...
  • mudcovered
    mudcovered Posts: 725
    I remember the s*** I put my aksiums through. Ultimate wheel for the price. Even now I'm tempted by them. I'd buy them for the Kona but they dont take a large enough tyre for the mud, plus I like the look of the more expensive wheels now...

    Why not? My Kona Jake the Snake came with Aksiums fitted with 700cx35 tyres. So don't really see the problem.

    Mike
  • downfader
    downfader Posts: 3,686
    mudcovered wrote:
    I remember the s*** I put my aksiums through. Ultimate wheel for the price. Even now I'm tempted by them. I'd buy them for the Kona but they dont take a large enough tyre for the mud, plus I like the look of the more expensive wheels now...

    Why not? My Kona Jake the Snake came with Aksiums fitted with 700cx35 tyres. So don't really see the problem.

    Mike

    I didnt realise that, I thought they were 28mm tbh. I'm gonna email mavic later before I decide and have a look at the FFWD and Fulcrums. :)
  • fossyant
    fossyant Posts: 2,549
    Always Tyred wrote:
    CXP33's are heavy and the depth is merely cosmetic. Open Pro's are a good compromise.

    The Open Pro's no longer come in 28h which is what my DA hubs are. They are slightly heavier than Open Pros.

    I was going Open Pro for the Fixed but went on my LBS's advice for toughness - he didn't recommend ceramics, as if you chip the surface, you've ruined the breaking - more likely on crappy city roads.
  • always_tyred
    always_tyred Posts: 4,965
    fossyant wrote:
    Always Tyred wrote:
    CXP33's are heavy and the depth is merely cosmetic. Open Pro's are a good compromise.

    The Open Pro's no longer come in 28h which is what my DA hubs are. They are slightly heavier than Open Pros.

    I was going Open Pro for the Fixed but went on my LBS's advice for toughness - he didn't recommend ceramics, as if you chip the surface, you've ruined the breaking - more likely on crappy city roads.
    Good old local bike shops - always best to sound as though you know what you are talking about even when you haven't a clue and have never used a product.

    They do chip, but I'm 2 winters in to my ceramics and they still brake normally and I think I'd be looking at rather worn braking surfaces on normal rims by now. I estimate that, despite riding on some fairly sketchy stuff, I have about 99% ceramic coating left.

    They are twice as expensive as normal open pros. So, I reckon I've broken even already.

    You are also spared that awful aluminium + brake dust slime when you clean them.
  • downfader
    downfader Posts: 3,686
    Hmm my jobs gone a bit pear shaped.. NHS tender has been bought out by another company so I may need to re-evaluate my finances for the next few weeks/months.. :(

    I might have a go at building some cheap wheels myself just for the crack of it. I saw that ChainReaction has a load of cheap hubs and rims...

    ..what else would I need apart from spokes. I still have an old mavic hub too, though I might not bother with that. I saw a good video on Youtube and it looks reasonably easy to do as long as I check the tensions.
  • greg66_tri_v2.0
    greg66_tri_v2.0 Posts: 7,172
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    Where exactly IS Greg66?

    Back today.

    Easing myself gently back into the groove. Backwards and forwards I go, building speed...

    Fnar fnar, yuk yuk.
    Swim. Bike. Run. Yeah. That's what I used to do.

    Bike 1
    Bike 2-A
  • crosstowncommuter
    crosstowncommuter Posts: 110
    downfader wrote:
    I might have a go at building some cheap wheels myself just for the crack of it. I saw that ChainReaction has a load of cheap hubs and rims...

    ..what else would I need apart from spokes. I still have an old mavic hub too, though I might not bother with that. I saw a good video on Youtube and it looks reasonably easy to do as long as I check the tensions.

    If you go down this route, a large helping of patience will be invaluable as a starting point :wink:

    I found this to be a pretty good guide, and well worth the few quid he asks for it:

    http://www.wheelpro.co.uk/wheelbuilding/book.php

    I've tried building a few wheels using the above, and whilst its do-able, you suddenly realise that maybe those hand built wheelsets aren't really as pricey as you first thought 8)

    I've been caught out with some pretty poor mavic spares availability (cheapo bladed spokes from one of their MTB wheelsets - 3 months to get hold of spares). After that I am sticking to the less sexy looking but more traditional looking builds - namely a quality shimano hub, decent rim and trusty DT-Swiss spokes.... I'll take immediate spares availability and durability over 24 spoke rim bling any day of the week!
  • downfader
    downfader Posts: 3,686
    crosstowncommuter wrote:
    downfader wrote:
    I might have a go at building some cheap wheels myself just for the crack of it. I saw that ChainReaction has a load of cheap hubs and rims...

    ..what else would I need apart from spokes. I still have an old mavic hub too, though I might not bother with that. I saw a good video on Youtube and it looks reasonably easy to do as long as I check the tensions.

    If you go down this route, a large helping of patience will be invaluable as a starting point :wink:

    I found this to be a pretty good guide, and well worth the few quid he asks for it:

    http://www.wheelpro.co.uk/wheelbuilding/book.php

    I've tried building a few wheels using the above, and whilst its do-able, you suddenly realise that maybe those hand built wheelsets aren't really as pricey as you first thought 8)

    I've been caught out with some pretty poor mavic spares availability (cheapo bladed spokes from one of their MTB wheelsets - 3 months to get hold of spares). After that I am sticking to the less sexy looking but more traditional looking builds - namely a quality shimano hub, decent rim and trusty DT-Swiss spokes.... I'll take immediate spares availability and durability over 24 spoke rim bling any day of the week!

    I've ended up going for aksiums again, decided to save my money and go with what I know for now. :)

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