The beginners guide to chinese carbon wheels

mroli

With carbon clinchers, the heat from braking does not dissipate as well as it does on Al rimmed clincher wheels. Therefore if you are using them on long alpine descents, unless you are judicious in your use of your brakes (ie alternate front/rear wheel braking, giving them time to cool down), you MAY run the risk of overheating the rims and blowing the inner tube.

For that reason, I would be tempted to use Al rimmed wheels on an Etape stage...

willy b

mroli wrote:

With carbon clinchers, the heat from braking does not dissipate as well as it does on Al rimmed clincher wheels. Therefore if you are using them on long alpine descents, unless you are judicious in your use of your brakes (ie alternate front/rear wheel braking, giving them time to cool down), you MAY run the risk of overheating the rims and blowing the inner tube.

For that reason, I would be tempted to use Al rimmed wheels on an Etape stage...

That is just what i thought! Which is a shame.

ariege_cyclist

Not too much of a negative to not use deep rim clinchers on the Etape, there are enough riders around to spend all the valley time sheltering in a group and on the climbs there's hardly any aero advantage over a decent set of Al rims.

But a very good point about the braking, I've stopped and felt my rims on some long mountain descents and they can get very hot (and I'm a light fella' who descends quite well), especially if you are having to brake more than normal because of other riders, as will often be the case on the Etape.

golfergmc

Can anyone compare these to mavic cosmic carbone sl?

BBH

Guys,
Quick q, am going to order some 60's tomorrow from carbonzone and just wanted to check, their shimano freehub will this take SRAM too or is it just shimano???

Can u also get xtra spokes too??

Cheers and sorry for the silly q

Wirral_paul

SRAM and Shimano use the same freehub so all fine.

Just ask about spare spokes when ordering - they should be able to sort you some out of the correct lengths

BBH

Many thanks for the reply mate..........well, here goes!!!!!

slowerthanilook

paulc33 wrote:

Anyone with the carbonzone 50mm clinchers struggled to fit tyres on them?
I can not get my conti tyres on they are so tight.

Similar here, Paul. My 60mm clinchers arrived well packaged, only about a week after I ordered them and the look real cute. But they do look narrow, and trying to hook my Conti GP Tri's on to them is proving to need a fair bit of grunt. Reminds me of putting cheap, old, metal-wired tyres on. Wish me luck!

christurbo

I just bought a set from

bicyclecarbon@hotmail.com
eBay ID carbon_bicycle
Website: http://www.x-goods.com/index.asp

Got 50mm Clinchers, spokes, hubs, skewers, pads, and extra spokes for a good price.

i will let you know what they are like when/if they arrive

christurbo

Guys will 60mm valve inner tubes fit the 50mm clinchers?

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/TUC ... 60mm_valve

willy b

Yeah they'll fit, you'll not have much valve pocking through, but enough to get a pump onto. I much prefer longer valves than valve extenders!

christurbo

Thanks - i just ordered 5 x Conti Race 28s 60mm. Also ordered some Conti rim tape.

What is the general consensus about adding some decal bling to a chinese carbon wheel set? Im thinking some 2012 Zipp 404 decals.

Beatmaker

christurbo wrote:

Thanks - i just ordered 5 x Conti Race 28s 60mm. Also ordered some Conti rim tape.

What is the general consensus about adding some decal bling to a chinese carbon wheel set? Im thinking some 2012 Zipp 404 decals.

I personally wouldn't. Any knowledgable cyclist will see right past the graphic, and it looks like you are trying to pass them off as a much more expensive wheelset.

christurbo

Agreed, are there any wheel decals out there non manufacturer specific?

Beatmaker

Assuming they are going on your Archon, you could get some Litespeed decals made up.

BBH

anyone been stung for customs from carbonzone?? - my bits are taking an awfully long time to come through customs atm!! Originally ordered at the beginning May, getting a bid worried now

appletrees

Nope, no charge when mine came through.

Of course, they were only a sales sample and had a value of $80.

BBH

Oh I hope so.......Mine have been sitting in international hub since the 13th, have been received and processed by customs and now has been listed again as waiting for customs clearance ??whats going on??

christurbo

When i had that when i bought something from the USA i got stung.

You will get a letter from your local depot to pay the tax.

Mine are just leaving Hong Kong

christurbo

My wheelset has been delivered. Cant wait to get home to check them out

BBH

Lucky u!

Mine have been charged vat of £7 and a parcelforce fee of £13.50

Soured the taste a bit but at least I'm even and got them at 8% off normal price which kind of equates with the customs charge!!

Anyone else had this with carbonzone???

Photos of urs later please!!!

oscar24570

Mine are awaiting clearance from customs it's been three days now,anyone know how long this takes.Ordered them on the 14th of May.

BBH

Mine r on their way now, hopefully tomorrow or Friday
Customs in uk on 13th and released on 22nd late evening and have been charged import vat
Think they r slow with Olympics etc... Did u order from carbonzone???
If urs look like they r processed twice it means u will pay import duty

christurbo

Here you go!




















Stealth!




Just need to fine tune brakes, and take it on a run.

BBH

Very smart mate, look the dogs danglies on the litespeed, Enjoy!!!!!!

ugo.santalucia

christurbo wrote:

Here you go!




















Stealth!




Just need to fine tune brakes, and take it on a run.

Nice,
They look really nice and seem well built.
I have started using the new Novatec 271/272 hubs as well. How much for the set, if i am allowed to ask?

Wirral_paul

Impressed with those wheels ^^. Look great and for a bargain price i'm sure!!

You did remember to fit rim tape though didnt you Chris??

willy b

Nice to see they have replaced the aluminium spoke nipple with steel. I've snapped two of mine now! Look nice!

ugo.santalucia

willy b wrote:

Nice to see they have replaced the aluminium spoke nipple with steel. I've snapped two of mine now! Look nice!

It's not steel, it's brass...

christurbo

Yep i used conti rim tape.
They seem pretty durable!

Oh and i got some spare spokes on their way too.

As for costs - look for carbon_bicycle on ebay and message them.