Advice for Chinese Carbon Clinchers CarbonZone

chubbmr

I am looking to buy a set of 50mm carbon clinchers and have see a pair on ebay by seller 'Carbonzone'.

Can anyone recommend these wheels I believe they come with Novatec hubs & fully sealed bearings ? Has anyone has any issues with spokes breaking or the braking surface ?

If I order the wheels am I liable to import duty 4.5% and VAT 20%. If so how does it work - do I get an invoice from HM & Customs after the wheels have been delivered ?

TIA

Martin

paulc33

I have a pair of these and no issues. My brakes squeaked a little at first. But due to poor set up by me.

The price on eBay is the price you pay. And delivery was nice and quick.
Both wheels roll smoothly and ran true straight out the box.

I'm very pleased with mine I have too say.

gmb

I can also recommend Carbonzone. My 50mm clinchers are on my Planet X (see photo). They were well packaged, sent quickly and of good quality. They are my everyday wheels and have done a fair bit of milage without issue. They haven't made me any faster though....

petemadoc

GMB wrote:

They haven't made me any faster though....

Hmmmm

Not even on a flat TT?

What weights are people getting for these wheels? Their stated weight seems optimistic to me.

chubbmr

Guys

thanks for the feedback. very helpful

golfergmc

Can anyone compare these to mavic cosmic carbone sl?

chubbmr

I bought some today so they should be shipped this week. I also asked for extra spokes...since I weigh 225lbs.

I know someone who bought cosmics then tried the carbonzone wheels and couldnt tell the difference. cosmics will have better braking performance due to alu braking surface.

My LBS recons these chinese wheels overheat then the rear tyre blows causing a crash....any feedback anyone?

mroli

I've ridden them and never had that problem. I think you are only likely to get that problem on long descents if you are braking continuously and not letting them cool...

Gpac65

Carbon clinchers think i'd be looking at a well known brand. Recently heard this discussed on a podcast and they mentioned that Carbon Clinchers were banned on Levi Leipheimer' s GranFondo ride, due to safety concerns.

Here's a link to the note with a couple of links within it that are worth a read.

http://levisgranfondo.desk.com/customer/portal/articles/398070-carbon-clincher-wheels

mroli

Gpac - I'm not sure why you'd be looking at a "well known brand". The articles on that link clearly state that people have had failures on Reynolds and Edge carbon clinchers. I think the principle is sound though - if you are doing long alpine descents or repeatedly on the brakes, be careful with carbon clinchers. You need to give a lot more thought to how hot they are getting. One of the articles talks about "bonded" al/carbon rims being better, although having a slight weight disadvantage - but I have also heard due to the carbon fairing, heat is not dissipated as well.

Riding the Chiltern 100 a couple of years ago, a guy in front of me locked his zipps with his brakes - I think that was due to over-braking, so it ain't just the "no-name" brands that have the issue.

ugo.santalucia

mroli wrote:

Gpac - I'm not sure why you'd be looking at a "well known brand". The articles on that link clearly state that people have had failures on Reynolds and Edge carbon clinchers. I think the principle is sound though - if you are doing long alpine descents or repeatedly on the brakes, be careful with carbon clinchers. You need to give a lot more thought to how hot they are getting. One of the articles talks about "bonded" al/carbon rims being better, although having a slight weight disadvantage - but I have also heard due to the carbon fairing, heat is not dissipated as well.

Riding the Chiltern 100 a couple of years ago, a guy in front of me locked his zipps with his brakes - I think that was due to over-braking, so it ain't just the "no-name" brands that have the issue.

Riding the Zipps in the C 100 is quite idiotic... there are probably 2-3 flat sections and the roads are bumpy, descents are steep and badly surfaced, gravel... really, the last wheels I'd want are the Zipps...

Gpac65

mroli wrote:

Gpac - I'm not sure why you'd be looking at a "well known brand"..

.

was based on this within the same article

" The influx of new carbon clincher brands is mostly due to the fact that Asian manufacturers are producing open-mold (non-proprietary) carbon clinchers at prices far less than what was available on the market just three years ago. The majority of the new brands are purchasing their rims from these manufacturers and without investing the resources that the established wheel brands have. It’s safe to assume that R&D and testing is sometimes minimal to nonexistent for many of the new players. This isn’t to say that the rim manufacturers themselves are not doing their own extensive testing to ensure the rims they’re selling are safe, but it’s not to say they all are either."

Just was trying to help with some what i thought was pertinent and relevant information Personally I think I need to loose a few pounds before considering the areo advantages of carbon clinchers.

mroli

Aye - but that bit of the article is contradicted by the real life advice of the riders.

Ugo - will you be riding the Chiltern 100 this year? And apologies - my memory let me down - it wasn't the C100, it was the Ride 101 out of Thame (not run last year for some reason) - some flat Aylesbury Vale riding in that as well as Chilterns....

ugo.santalucia

mroli wrote:

Aye - but that bit of the article is contradicted by the real life advice of the riders.

Ugo - will you be riding the Chiltern 100 this year? And apologies - my memory let me down - it wasn't the C100, it was the Ride 101 out of Thame (not run last year for some reason) - some flat Aylesbury Vale riding in that as well as Chilterns....

No, I am moving away from the area in two weeks. All my cycling circus and toolage is moving to Richmond, Surrey...

chubbmr

I got my wheels from carbon zone and took them to Richmond park for a few laps. Initial impression are that they are true and roll well and are much more stiff than mavic akiums. Weight 1599g exclusive of skewers. Would not choose red novatec hubs because they are more neon red /pink than the deep red of specialized. The rear squeals a little but at least people hear me. Overall very pleased with the wheel set given the price and performance. Makes any bike look much better as well as performance for flat riding and hill climbing. Thx to all who contributed to my thread.

BBH

Thanks for the update - nice to see what happens to people after ordering.
Have just bought some myself (last wed) and am waiting for dispatch - how long was delivery for you? did you get your extra spokes??
Glad u like them - enjoy!!

chubbmr

My carbon clinchers have now been out into the Surrey Hills for an 80mile trip and they are really rather good. I got extra spokes inthe box and took about 14 days to arrive. I am a heavy rider weighing 102kg. Down a 17% gradient hill I braked for a long time and the wheels performed with no problems.

Pros : smooth hubs and wheels feel really stiff and powerful compared to Mavic Aksiums for all types of riding. Excellent price nothing else is comparable in this price range.

Cons : Brake pads are cheap and make the braking feel a little 'grabby'. Best to upgrade pads. I ordered red hubs but they are more like neon red/pink so stay clear of colours and order black!

EKIMIKE

viewtopic.php?t=12776517

Cu Cullainn

Just a quick response, don't know if its been mentioned yet but most of the top end wheel manufacturers source their rims from the same factories in China as the likes of Carbonzone. Amazingly the decal adds about another £500 to the price tag.

Grill

Cu Cullainn wrote:

Just a quick response, don't know if its been mentioned yet but most of the top end wheel manufacturers source their rims from the same factories in China as the likes of Carbonzone. Amazingly the decal adds about another £500 to the price tag.

Same factory doesn't mean the same materials, designs, or QA. A Chinarello is not a Pinarello.

ugo.santalucia

Cu Cullainn wrote:

Just a quick response, don't know if its been mentioned yet but most of the top end wheel manufacturers source their rims from the same factories in China as the likes of Carbonzone. Amazingly the decal adds about another £500 to the price tag.

That's not the case. Name the top end manufacturers that you think use the same rims as carbonzone, otherwise your statement is misleading

cycleclinic

Or jst use carbon tublar wheels. Tubs are quite easy to get on with I have found.