Enve SES 3.4 Disc Clincher

bikingjohn

The Enve SES 3.4 Disc Clincher is my first full carbon wheelset. This is also my first time buying a custom-built wheelset. Not because I wanted to try a set of custom-built, but it is the only way to get the SES with proper hubs to work on my Domane 4.5 Disc (100/15, 142/12 thru-axle).

Expectation was high, of course,given the price I paid for it. My head said no but my heart said that with the disc brake version of the carbon clincher, I no longer afraid of wet weather braking and rim brake track wear out. Of course there are other bullshit swirling in my mind at checkout page of ProWheelBuilder.com, but anyway, here they came.



The wheels came separated into two boxes. Nice packing by PWB, but unlike top factory wheelsets by Fulcrum/Campagnolo, no wheel bag was provided. You get the build certificate and warranty card, and of course the invoice. No axle/quick-release skewer was bundled.



My set was built with White Industries CLD hubs and Sapim CX Ray spokes, plus tubeless valve and Stan's yellow tape pre-installed. They are simply beautiful to look at. They try to convince that I'd made the right spending. Don't tell my wife anyway.



I tried to add a little bit of bling by spending extra to get the hubs purple anodized. I think road specific centerlock disc brake hubs with thru-axle are still rare. At the time of order, only White Ind CLD was available. Soon the DT Swiss 350 centerlock db hubs will be on sale, which provides a cheaper alternatives for thru-axle road db frame.


oops, sorry for the crowded and messy background

Many say that 24-spoke 2-cross is the minimum for disc brake application, but isn't Mavic doing Ksyrium Pro Disc rear wheel in IsoPulse lancing? Anyway, I have done less than 100km with the wheelset so I could only try to tell the initial feeling against that of Bontrager Affinity Comp Disc wheelset.

On a relatively flat segment like this, I'm satisfied with the balance of comfort and stiffness of the Enve wheelset. It's on the stiffer side rather than comfortable. Once the timespace is moving pass 30km/h, you could feel the ease of maintaining the speed. Acceleration is good due to the stiffness. However, if it is doing some 10% climbs like this, your heart(rate) starts to remind you that it's a mid-section wheelset and providing a balanced performance in all kind of terrains. You get the idea.



Since the rims are not designed for tubeless application, luck would govern the result of the tubeless conversion. During the tire mounting, I found that the front rim is tight, but the rear rim is a little bit loose on tolerance. I end up converted only the front wheel to tubeless, leaving the rear wheel using clincher tire. I checked the bead-rim interface with soapy water and found no bubble formed. But I could still hear air leaking out from nowhere... maybe the yellow tape not applied well? BTW, CO² canister was required to seat the tire. I will try to do the conversion again later.

Chinese New Year is coming and I wish I have enough time to ride this sweet wheelset. Thanks for reading and happy riding.

Here are more photos: http://chup.info/c/2015/02/enve-ses-3-4-disc-clincher-custom-built-by-prowheelbuilder-2/

ugo.santalucia

Sweet...

marcusjb

Now they are nice and I love the back to the 90s hubs!

Good stuff.

mrushton

They rock (in a good way)

bikingjohn

Thank you, the wheels are really nice!

But I wish PWB could supply shorter and matching tubeless valves. Until they change it, I'd recommend not to get the tubeless kit installed with PWB built wheelset.

ugo.santalucia

bikingjohn wrote:

Thank you, the wheels are really nice!

But I wish PWB could supply shorter and matching tubeless valves. Until they change it, I'd recommend not to get the tubeless kit installed with PWB built wheelset.

Big deal, get a pair of tubeless valves, or cut a pair of valves from some tubes you have in the shed. There is nothing magic about tubeless valves...

bikingjohn

ugo.santalucia wrote:

bikingjohn wrote:

Thank you, the wheels are really nice!

But I wish PWB could supply shorter and matching tubeless valves. Until they change it, I'd recommend not to get the tubeless kit installed with PWB built wheelset.

Big deal, get a pair of tubeless valves, or cut a pair of valves from some tubes you have in the shed. There is nothing magic about tubeless valves...

Yes, you are right. That's why we could save the right money by not ordering the longish tubeless valve at PWB.

The tubeless front setup at 90psi provided ample traction even when wet! Hopefully I could get tubeless working on the rear rim.

Tognetta

Great wheelset !

I also own a Domane 4.5 disc, and my priority is to replace the wheels, they are heavy and unneficient, but never removed the tires to check the weight. Can you tell me how much did you save with this new setup?

bikingjohn

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19730483#p19730483]Tognetta[/url] wrote:

Great wheelset !

I also own a Domane 4.5 disc, and my priority is to replace the wheels, they are heavy and unneficient, but never removed the tires to check the weight. Can you tell me how much did you save with this new setup?

The reported weight of the Affinity Comp wheel set is 1.75kg, while the SES 3.4 Disc is around 1.5kg.
http://www.bontrager.com/model/12014

So if you are going after weight reduction only, it's a very expensive upgrade which is almost worthless imho. You gain a few seconds or ten going uphill with this 250g difference.

However, the SES ride quality is much different and should worth every penny. Aero, stiffness, and strong. Anyway, you get what you pay for.

You may also consider getting the Reynolds Assault Tubeless Clincher rims laced with some nice hubs and spokes. Cheaper and tubeless compatible being the key advantages.

mamil314

Any side wind around where you ride?

bikingjohn

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19730835#p19730835]mamil314[/url] wrote:

Any side wind around where you ride?

Ya, sometimes.

The SES 3.4 is stable. A contrasting wheelset that got blown around is Campagnolo Bullet 50.

I weigh 71kg and my bike weigh 10kg when loaded.