Carbon Clinchers, any good? In particular the Planet X 50mm?

RC21

Hi all,

I’m thinking of getting a pair of Planet X 50mm Carbon Clinchers and wondered what people’s experiences/opinions of them are?

Info from their site:

FRONT HUB: Planet-X Superlight, black anodized, 16 hole, 100mm spacing, sealed cartridge bearings
REAR HUB: Planet-X Superlight, black anodized, 24 hole, 130mm spacing, sealed cartridge bearings
RIMS: 16/24 hole 50mm structural carbon clincher, drilled for internal nipples
SPOKES: Black Pillar bladed, built radial on the front, 2-cross on both sides rear.
NIPPLES: Alloy, internal

WEIGHT:
Front - 678g
Rear - 949g
Overall - 1627g

My current set of wheels (Planet X Model B's) weigh 1650g, so I wouldn't be saving much weight so wondered what the advantage is of this type of wheels are . . .

Apart from issues with cross wind and a degradation in braking performance (I would need to get some new brake pads as well) – are there any problems of having a deeper profile wheels made of carbon?

Thanks
Ryan

kingrollo

Ive wondered the same - I would love a set of carbon wheels - theres the braking issue, as you suggest , Ive heard that full carbon wheels give a harsh ride, and I just wonder for general use - how durable are they ?

Monty Dog

Keep carbon wheels for race days only, they are simply not durable enough for day-to-day use - one pothole or riding on a puncture can finish off a rim. Planet-Xs are probably the best value carbon wheels out there.

Anonymous

I would only use that sort of wheel on a race day or time trial. In fact I wouldn't race on them as the aero effect is not really an issue when you are hanging on for dear life at the back of a bunch like wot I does.

Anonymous

That said, just looked at the planet X site and the tubs will be going for 400 quid soon. Pretty good!

oldwelshman

I have Pinnarello MOST Charisma wheels, which are branded Corima wheels. They look great but are very harsh on our roads, at times feel like riding with a puncture.
Even on some race courses they feel like that.
They feel lush on continental roads so guess I have to move to get the benefit!!
The Planet X are good value but the best wheels I have even if the cost less than half the MOST wheels are the dura ace carbon clinchers with alloy braking surface, I use these to race.
http://www.stonehengecycles.com/product/4328/08_shimano_7850_duraace_cl_clincher_wheelset

Anonymous

olddwelshman - I have a pair of the DA wheels and bloomin' love them!

kloftus1044

Carbon rims are plenty safe. The deeper profile (50mm) will be aerodynamically helpful but only if your riding position is already nice and aero.

As the braking surface is carbon, you'll need carbon specific brake pads which are NOT to be used on anything but carbon. That could mean a brake pad swap whenever you swap out the wheels. Not fun.

Most carbon can handle day-to-day riding as long as you're careful. Given that the wheelset you are looking at is not hyper-light, you'll probably find them to be a great every-day wheel as well as a great race wheel.

LardLover

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, there is only ONE reason to buy a pair of deep section carbon rimmed wheels, and that is:

They make your bike look lush

What other reason could you possibly need?

















Foot note: I'm new to the road scene and know nothing about the aero's/durability/climbing ability etc of carbon wheels. But I do know that I use Planet X carbon 50's on my ONLY bike without problems (except squealing occasionally). So my view is purely from a cosmetic point of view but they do look very nice don't they?

mostly harmless

I think we have to defer to the orcale Josh Horowitz of PezCycling, full article here http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=6007

Carbon Wheels. Carbon wheels are for racing! Never under any circumstances should they be brought out on a training ride. Training wheels should be strong and heavy with lots and lots of spokes. Carbon wheels say to the group, I’m not strong enough to do this ride without my $2,000 feather weight wheels. If you have the money to tear up a carbon wheel set on the road, then you’d be better off spending it on a coach who will get you fit enough to keep up with the group ride on regular training wheels.

To be cool, ride with Bontrager flat proof tubes. They’re about four-times as heavy as regular tubes and they just about double your rolling resistance. To be Euro-cool, don’t tell anyone you’re riding with them. It’s enough to know for yourself that you can keep up with those weenies even on a 22-pound bike. And please, no deep dish carbon clinchers. Carbon wheels are race wheels and clinchers are for training. Tubulars are the only way to go on your carbons.

LardLover

mostly harmless wrote:

I think we have to defer to the orcale Josh Horowitz of PezCycling, full article here http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=6007

Carbon Wheels. Carbon wheels are for racing! Never under any circumstances should they be brought out on a training ride. Training wheels should be strong and heavy with lots and lots of spokes. Carbon wheels say to the group, I’m not strong enough to do this ride without my $2,000 feather weight wheels. If you have the money to tear up a carbon wheel set on the road, then you’d be better off spending it on a coach who will get you fit enough to keep up with the group ride on regular training wheels.

To be cool, ride with Bontrager flat proof tubes. They’re about four-times as heavy as regular tubes and they just about double your rolling resistance. To be Euro-cool, don’t tell anyone you’re riding with them. It’s enough to know for yourself that you can keep up with those weenies even on a 22-pound bike. And please, no deep dish carbon clinchers. Carbon wheels are race wheels and clinchers are for training. Tubulars are the only way to go on your carbons.

What does he know?

It's looks man, pure and simple

scruffyduncan

I have a pair of the planet x tubulars. They are great wheels and the older tub version with the spokes I have are significantly lighter than the weights you quote. They ride a little harsh compared to alloy wheels and breaking is not quite as good (but perfectly OK). They are light and noticably faster and look great, but as another poster said they are race only wheels. As I no longer race I am selling them. No marks, perfectly true, smooth planet x hubs sapim bladed spokes, tufo elite lightweight tubs. Make me an offer!

LardLover

so what makes a race-only pair of wheels???? :shock:

Surely if like me, you only have one bike, and, shock-horror, one pair of wheels (eek!! :roll: ) then we're in a minority?? Perhaps I should just ride my bike like I'm racing it all the time? Oh, hang on, I already try to do that (and fail miserably!)

mostly harmless

Of course you're correct; wheels are not branded "race" or "training".

But if we consider suits as an analogy; I don't wear a suit to work and, therefore, only have one suit for weddings, interviews and funerals and in this case on suit does the job adequately. However, some of my mates are forced to wear a suit to work and some of them care enough to own more than one suit. In these cases they have knackered old suits for day to day office wear and a really sharp suit for special occasions. In these cases the sharp suit is kept special by not being ground into an office chair for forty hours a week.

Much in the same way my nice wheels are kept for high days and holidays and a pair of heavy handbuilts (which can also be repaired by me, from spares I have in the house) are battered to death by commuting over what Leeds MDC laughingly call a road surface.

My good wheels also feel so much faster in comparison too.

NWLondoner

My god those wheel do look lush.

My PX PROSL already turns heads when i ride it. Imagine having a set of those wheels on it as well :twisted: (sadly it's men and not women that comment on it ) :shock:

I really will have to look to get a pair of those or DA1850 for my PX one day