Lightweight Carbon Wheels vs Durability and Performance

[aserota]

Hi all,

Yet more questions, but have truely got the cycling bug!

My bike currently has XED Carbon wheels, which are very light. The problem i have is i do a lot of road cycling and do occassionally hit the odd pothole.

I am quite happy to get my wheels trued as reguarly as need in my lbs, but i would rather not completely ruin these if i decide to start entering tt's

Would i notice a large difference if i bought myself a set of bargain carbon wheels (say under £200) or a decent set of alu wheels for the same price?
Alternatively, what are TT wheels like in comparison for durability, speed and weight?


Cheers

 

[fossyant]

Erm...get some good alloy wheels......either a hand built or a good factory like a Ksyrium Equipe/Elite or a Fulcrum 5/3

Weight won't be much different, but they will be bomb proof.....

I never use my Carbon HED Jet's now I have some Ksyrium Equipe's (and a third of the price).....

 

[RedBike]

Would i notice a large difference if i bought myself a set of bargain carbon wheels (say under £200)

Yes, they'd almost certain be complete rubbish.

You'll probably find most 'budget; deep sectioned carbon wheels are tubulars. (You can get clincher carbon rims; but they always be heavier than tubulars and cost more. ) If you get a puncture with tubular tyres you can more or less forget about changing the tyre beside the road. It takes an hour alone for the glue to set in warm conditions!


Another disadvantage of carbon wheels is the braking surface. You need to use cork pads. As you've probably found out cork pads on wet carbon rims are a lethal combination. You can get an aluminium braking surface; but again you're adding extra weight.

I would look at Planet-x's 82/101's for time trials or the planet-x 50's for road racing; and forget all about using these wheels for training.