Carbon Wheelset Dilemma

If you had an aluminium wheelset would you buy a carbon wheelset that was heavier?

Currently have a pair of DT Swiss RR21's that weigh around 1450g for the pair without skewers, tyres, cassette etc.

Looking at getting a new bike which comes with Aksiums so my 1st thought was to get rid of them & put the DT Swiss wheels on.

However I do fancy getting a pair of carbon wheels but don't want to spend stupid money, budget would probably be £800-£900 max & not too deep, 40mm to 45mm max.

In this price range the majority are heavier than what I have. I'm not a massive weight weenie but I don't really see the point in going down the carbon route to add weight to the bike. I would accept something similar weight wise but don't want to go any heavier. Bit concerned that the lower end carbon won't really be up to it.

Seen some Hunts for about £900 & they are around 1350g for the pair which seems about the best on offer.

Should I be sticking with the better quality aluminium set I have or go lower end carbon? Or save up for longer & spend more?
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Comments

  • I've got the RR21's and also have some decent Wheelsmith 45mm carbon wheels for my CAAD 12.

    I'd say it depends on the kind of riding you do. If you're going up and down lots of hills I wouldn't bother. On the flat the carbon wheels are definitely quicker.
  • edward.s
    edward.s Posts: 230
    In most situations aero trumps weight. So provided they aren't total boat anchors, pick the most aero, be that carbon, aluminium, sitca spruce or pink blancmange!
  • timothyw
    timothyw Posts: 2,482
    Unless you are riding up something rather steep, deep section wheels are faster.

    It's that simple. Don't get obsessed with weight.

    And don't limit yourself to 40/45mm - fears of being blown about are in my experience rather overstated, rode 60mm this morning, no drama despite the crosswinds.
  • ibr17xvii
    ibr17xvii Posts: 1,065

    I've got the RR21's and also have some decent Wheelsmith 45mm carbon wheels for my CAAD 12.

    I'd say it depends on the kind of riding you do. If you're going up and down lots of hills I wouldn't bother. On the flat the carbon wheels are definitely quicker.

    I have the RR21's on my CAAD12 & they've been excellent, no bother at all. Looking at a SuperSix Evo for the summer which is why I was thinking of going down the carbon route.

    In the summer I do a mix of flats & hills which makes it even more complicated!
  • singleton
    singleton Posts: 2,523
    If you can get deeper section wheels while adding minimal weight then that's a good outcome. I was worried about not going too deep with my first set and stayed 40-45mm but there were no issues at all so when they were replaced I went to 50mm and could probably go deeper without issues.
  • ibr17xvii
    ibr17xvii Posts: 1,065
    timothyw said:

    Unless you are riding up something rather steep, deep section wheels are faster.

    It's that simple. Don't get obsessed with weight.

    And don't limit yourself to 40/45mm - fears of being blown about are in my experience rather overstated, rode 60mm this morning, no drama despite the crosswinds.

    Interesting point. I'd kind of ruled out anything deeper than that for that very reason - even in summer!
  • ibr17xvii
    ibr17xvii Posts: 1,065
    singleton said:

    If you can get deeper section wheels while adding minimal weight then that's a good outcome. I was worried about not going too deep with my first set and stayed 40-45mm but there were no issues at all so when they were replaced I went to 50mm and could probably go deeper without issues.

    Just as an example I was looking at the Mavic Cosmic Exalith which were £749 or thereabouts but weigh 1650g.Think they are 45mm deep which seems a good middleground.

    Appreciate the comments about aero trumping weight but I just don't know if I want to spend that kind of money to add weight.
  • fenix
    fenix Posts: 5,437
    All depends. I replaced my 50mm wheels with shallower sections because I do ride in all weathers and a side wind gusting through a farm gate would send me sideways a lot more on 50mm wheels.

    The material doesn't matter.
  • Consider the prime rr-50 se from wiggle/CRC for £430 at the moment, with decent tyres included. Approx 1600g and 50mm deep. Get good reviews
  • ibr17xvii
    ibr17xvii Posts: 1,065
    shiznit76 said:

    Consider the prime rr-50 se from wiggle/CRC for £430 at the moment, with decent tyres included. Approx 1600g and 50mm deep. Get good reviews

    Cheers for that will have a look at those.

    Sound like good value if nothing else.
  • I've just got then and got say that I am impressed from small run I have been on them. Also comes with brake blocks for carbon rims and black decals of the shiney ones on them aren't your thing. Actually don't look as bad in flesh as they do in photos
  • svetty
    svetty Posts: 1,904
    My old 50mm wheels with a 'V' section were hopeless in cross-winds. My new 55mm 'U' shaped ones are excellent......
    FFS! Harden up and grow a pair :D
  • ibr17xvii
    ibr17xvii Posts: 1,065
    Thanks for the replies, certainly plenty to consider.

    Any other thoughts / recommendations welcome.
  • singleton
    singleton Posts: 2,523
    If you're going to buy wheels now - buy wide ones if they fit your frame.
  • ibr17xvii
    ibr17xvii Posts: 1,065
    singleton said:

    If you're going to buy wheels now - buy wide ones if they fit your frame.

    How come?
  • StillGoing
    StillGoing Posts: 5,211
    ibr17xvii said:

    singleton said:

    If you can get deeper section wheels while adding minimal weight then that's a good outcome. I was worried about not going too deep with my first set and stayed 40-45mm but there were no issues at all so when they were replaced I went to 50mm and could probably go deeper without issues.

    Just as an example I was looking at the Mavic Cosmic Exalith which were £749 or thereabouts but weigh 1650g.Think they are 45mm deep which seems a good middleground.

    Appreciate the comments about aero trumping weight but I just don't know if I want to spend that kind of money to add weight.
    They're not carbon wheels. They're an aluminium rim with a carbon fairing.
    I ride a bike. Doesn't make me green or a tree hugger. I drive a car too.
  • bobones
    bobones Posts: 1,215
    Have a look on Amazon for Chinese carbon wheels sold on Prime as they're fulfilled by Amazon and shipped next day from the UK with 2 year warranty and no custom tax issues. Some really nice wheels at decent prices available. For example:

    40mm 1400g £559
    50mm 1357g £649

    I bought a set of 50mm last summer with Novatec straightpull hubs and CX-Ray spokes which were spot on in weight @ 1460g and very nicely built. These are virtually identical to the Prime Black Editions that were selling for £300 more.
  • ibr17xvii
    ibr17xvii Posts: 1,065
    bobones said:

    Have a look on Amazon for Chinese carbon wheels sold on Prime as they're fulfilled by Amazon and shipped next day from the UK with 2 year warranty and no custom tax issues. Some really nice wheels at decent prices available. For example:

    40mm 1400g £559
    50mm 1357g £649

    I bought a set of 50mm last summer with Novatec straightpull hubs and CX-Ray spokes which were spot on in weight @ 1460g and very nicely built. These are virtually identical to the Prime Black Editions that were selling for £300 more.

    Considered the Chinese option but not gonna lie it makes me nervous.

  • bobones
    bobones Posts: 1,215
    edited February 2020
    But they're almost all Chinese, Hunts and Primes included!

    Actually, rims are Chinese, hubs Taiwanese (Novatec) and the spokes Belgian (Sapim). Some of the 'name' brands use inferior Pillar spokes from China.

    More fool you.
  • bobones
    bobones Posts: 1,215
    skwarczek said:
    4-6 week lead time so they take your money and import them from China. Better off using Amazon as above - next day delivery, easy returns, 2 year warranty.
  • ibr17xvii
    ibr17xvii Posts: 1,065

    ibr17xvii said:

    singleton said:

    If you can get deeper section wheels while adding minimal weight then that's a good outcome. I was worried about not going too deep with my first set and stayed 40-45mm but there were no issues at all so when they were replaced I went to 50mm and could probably go deeper without issues.

    Just as an example I was looking at the Mavic Cosmic Exalith which were £749 or thereabouts but weigh 1650g.Think they are 45mm deep which seems a good middleground.

    Appreciate the comments about aero trumping weight but I just don't know if I want to spend that kind of money to add weight.
    They're not carbon wheels. They're an aluminium rim with a carbon fairing.
    Decent compromise though or are full carbon rims good enough braking with suitable pads?
  • ibr17xvii
    ibr17xvii Posts: 1,065
    bobones said:

    But they're almost all Chinese, Hunts and Primes included!

    Actually, rims are Chinese, hubs Taiwanese (Novatec) and the spokes Belgian (Sapim). Some of the 'name' brands use inferior Pillar spokes from China.

    More fool you.

    I get that but it still makes me nervous :'(
  • bobones
    bobones Posts: 1,215
    Why?
    ibr17xvii said:

    bobones said:

    But they're almost all Chinese, Hunts and Primes included!

    Actually, rims are Chinese, hubs Taiwanese (Novatec) and the spokes Belgian (Sapim). Some of the 'name' brands use inferior Pillar spokes from China.

    More fool you.

    I get that but it still makes me nervous :'(
    Why exactly? Let's rationalize this: you'd rather pay Hunt £900 for Chinese rims. Chinese spokes, and Taiwanese hubs, than pay Amazon for £550 for Chinese rims, Belgian spokes and Taiwanese hubs?
  • mrb123
    mrb123 Posts: 4,833
    Have a look at Spokesman Wheels. He will do you a set of 50mm handbuilt carbon wheels for less than £700.
  • ibr17xvii
    ibr17xvii Posts: 1,065
    bobones said:

    Why?

    ibr17xvii said:

    bobones said:

    But they're almost all Chinese, Hunts and Primes included!

    Actually, rims are Chinese, hubs Taiwanese (Novatec) and the spokes Belgian (Sapim). Some of the 'name' brands use inferior Pillar spokes from China.

    More fool you.

    I get that but it still makes me nervous :'(
    Why exactly? Let's rationalize this: you'd rather pay Hunt £900 for Chinese rims. Chinese spokes, and Taiwanese hubs, than pay Amazon for £550 for Chinese rims, Belgian spokes and Taiwanese hubs?
    Dunno mate if I'm honest.

    I guess I'm just thinking about getting a "name" for the after sales backup if it all went pear shaped.

    Don't get me wrong I know exactly where you're coming from & it makes perfect sense but I guess it boils down to I've had Shimano, Mavic, DT Swiss etc etc wheels before but I've never had anything directly from China before.

    I'm not discounting it at all but I'd just need to think about it.

  • bobones
    bobones Posts: 1,215
    edited February 2020
    That's fine, just don't think that Hunt or Prime are anything other than stickered up carbon wheels made from generic components in Chinese factories like all the other cheaper carbon wheels. I'll grant you Mavic, DT Swiss and Shimano are a different prospect, but that doesn't mean to say that their wheels will perform any better.

    I suppose I have some understanding about what makes a good wheel from building my own, and it's not rocket science and there are is no secret magic involved. The wheels I bought from Amazon are perfect - good components, light, wide, tubeless, well built, backed by Amazon with 2 year warranty, and I have the satisfaction of knowing I paid under the odds for them.

    Here they are on my De Rosa (click for larger image):

    image
  • ibr17xvii
    ibr17xvii Posts: 1,065
    edited February 2020
    bobones said:

    That's fine, just don't think that Hunt or Prime are anything other than stickered up carbon wheels made from generic components in Chinese factories like all the other cheaper carbon wheels. I'll grant you Mavic, DT Swiss and Shimano are a different prospect, but that doesn't mean to say that their wheels will perform any better.

    I suppose I have some understanding about what makes a good wheel from building my own, and it's not rocket science and there are is no secret magic involved. The wheels I bought from Amazon are perfect - good components, light, wide, tubeless, well built, backed by Amazon with 2 year warranty, and I have the satisfaction of knowing I paid under the odds for them.

    Here they are on my De Rosa (click for larger image):

    image

    Nice bike.

    Certainly food for thought.

    I like the look of those 40mm you linked to on Amazon, they tick pretty much every box I'm after - cheap, light, wide & tubeless I guess I just need to decide if I want to go down the carbon route at all & if so do I "risk" buying direct from China.

    I would've liked something I could potentially get on the C2W scheme but at that price you can't complain.
  • I understand your concern buying direct from China, personally I wouldn't either, even if my primes were made there
  • bobones
    bobones Posts: 1,215
    Who's talking about buying direct from China? The wheels I linked to are FULFILLED BY AMAZON and shipped for next day delivery from one of their UK warehouses. Sheesh!.