Need Cheap Carbon Clinchers

shane r

Just want to 'toe into the water' and try some deep section (50mm) carbon clinchers. I know there's loads on here about carbon (and Chinese carbon).

Just wondering if anyone has spotted any great deals around lately?

Thanks
Shane

petemadoc

Surely worth a punt

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/full-Clincher ... 968wt_1163

or these

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/WPP ... r_wheelset

or these

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/WPS ... r_wheelset

Monty Dog

.....and this needed a new thread because?

shane r

Monty Dog wrote:

.....and this needed a new thread because?

...some forum trolling needed to be done?

paulc33

I have the carbon clinchers from carbonzone on eBay.

Same as link above. They are very nice and seem very well made.

I got my in all black.
Quick delivery too.

amaferanga

For racing or just for show?

shane r

Racing of course.

mroli

What sort of racing do you do Shane? I have a pair of carbonzone clinchers, but for the Hillingdon crash fests, I much prefer my Pro-lite Bracs....

MattC59

shane r wrote:

Racing of course.

Of course, how silly of us...........

Fatini999

Well I'm looking for some carbon clinchers too...and I've been doing some homework. Hongfu is a chinese carbon company and I chose to buy from them because I haven't seen a bad word said against them, however other companies such as Yishun and Dengfu (and anything off alibaba from an unknown company) generally have a below than par reputation. So after looking at Hongfu's "credentials" of certificated to say their stuff is up to standards and regulations I asked for a quote for 50mm and 38mm wheels. $470usd and $460usd respectively, with weights of 1695g and 1600g. I'm about to take the plunge and order 38mm (more manageable than 50mm). Btw shipping is like £50.

Fatini999

and to be honest those weights are tthhhaaaattt light.... but I take comfort in that because some carb chinese clinchers are 100s of grams lighter for less cost. Now, I doubt Hongfu will be ripping me off because there's not much price difference between these and the lighter ones, however high end brand carbon clinchers aren't as light as the cheap ones I talk about. So I take comfort in that maybe these Hong fu ones are more reliable than the others. (hope this makes sense I'm not great as explaining)

smoggysteve

If you want "cheap" then you are taking a hell of a risk. Read of many incidence with carbon clinchers failing with heat build up. There are campaigns to even ban them from races. Not saying all are dangerous. But cheap Chinese rims that have no quality control are not worth the risk in my eyes.

Fatini999

I doubt youre going to get much heat build up in a circuit race. Pro tour alpine descents then yes! I wouldn't take them to mountains at all, but for my level of cycling in hilly devon with only downhills being 1-2minutes and temps at around 10 celcius I think I wont explode. Anyway, I'm only 16 so my limbs will grow back if I fall off right? seriously though I've only heard of one case of hongfu wheel heat build up and I certainly won't be generating enough heat on the locals hills for them to spontaneously combust and explode killing everyone within a mile...

smoggysteve

Tell me where the OP says he is doing circuit racing? He could be doing an open road race with a long run down. So you have heard of one incident with a Hongfu wheel. Thats one you did hear about. There are lots more that you didnt obviously. If you want to buy them, go ahead. Just so long as you and others reading this thread are aware of the proven risks associated with them - Ones you even acknowledge yourself.

Fatini999

no matey your'e not getting the point. There ARE risks (with anything, even if you spend zipp money there are risks), but I (thats ME, not OTHERS) am not prone to such risks because of the riding I do and where I live. "there are lots more than that you didnt obviously" doesn't make sense by the way...?

Fatini999

"I havnt seen a bad word said against them". The point still stands. The guy whose inner tube blew up wasn't fed up with Hongfu because it's common knowledge that carb clinchers do this over long braking distances! His fault!! What I mean is, on regular rides I havnt seen any cases of cracking, delamination, distortion of brake track, nipple cracks etc...all the signs that they are presented with quality and how you ride them is up to you - I mean, you can't ride them into a tree and blame Hongfu that they broke!? Just like you cant blame Hongfu that they blew the inner tube on a long descent!! Thats just what happens with carbon and friction!!!!

Fatini999

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... cher-31667

Take a look, even Zipps fail. It's physics Read the review at bottom.

smoggysteve

Again, I was not aiming it at you. This ain't your thread!! It is as a warning to those who may. I have seen the results of blowout from carbon clinchers on seemingly mild downhill rides. The fact a lot of wheels are being churned out by china from places that do not have such tight quality control means a failure is a potential problem. And as they are not from a recognised brand you have zero comeback from them when you total your bike and nearly kill yourself.

thegreatdivide

That's a 2008 review of a first generation alu brake track Zipp clincher. Not valid.

pkripper

I punctured on a downhill with a bontrager carbon clincher. It was a thorn. I rode it out and got the bike to a stop. So, punctures can happen to any wheel at any time, and whether you control it or not is down to you.

However, for my money, I wouldn't go cheap on carbon wheels, just because you end up with an unknown quantity.