Why do I want carbon rims so bad?

Carbon Rims

  • I want them too

    Votes: 14 29.8%

  • I already have them, neener neener

    Votes: 21 44.7%

  • Ehhhh, they're ok

    Votes: 8 17.0%

  • So laaammmmeee

    Votes: 4 8.5%
  • Total voters
    47
wheezy

wheezy

Member
Is it the media? Is it the sexy good looks? Is it the stiffness they allegedly provide?

I can't figure it out, but for some reason I really do want them. I've never even tried a set yet I find myself obsessing on every new carbon rim that comes out, though I secretly desire the Enve over all others. The thought of them has consumed my brain and I keep scheming ways to raise the funds to finally satisfy the intense burn that's resonating from deep within. Someone, please help.

Is there a cream for this itch?

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I prefer carbon since I switched about a year ago. I definitely feel the stiffness difference, less vibration transfer through the wheels. I went from crank brothers cobalt (great wheel) to easton havens. You can find good deals if you're patient and shop around. I would never pay full price.:thumbsup:
 
I'm the opposite as @scan. I felt a ton more vibration through my hands due to the stiffness of carbon wheels (i9 Pillar). I also felt so much deflection I had to let increasing amounts of air out of the tire and fork. Unlike carbon v aluminum handlebars, I find aluminum rims much more compliant and carbon rims much more harsh. I did like the Ibis 741s however, but a lot of that was the width more than the material.

Aaron Gwin finished 3/4 of a World Cup DH run on an aluminum rim without a tire. Try that on your Enves.
 
There are some good deals on pricepoint right now for Easton Havens and Stan's aluminum rims.

I definitely wouldn't pay full price for carbon wheels, or even a lot of the sale prices I see.

Carbon doesn't always much weight savings over aluminum for rims these days, and I'm not convinced some extra stiffness is worth a bunch extra money either. Not that I can tell the difference anyways...
 
I put about 10,000 miles on a set of CB Cobalt 11 carbon wheels.

They were definitely stiffer than the Arch EX/Hope Pro II's that they replaced. Same width rims on both. CB wheels were within 100g of the Arch/Hope combo.

They were stiffer up and down, but still had a bit of give side to side.

I had rim strikes on the carbon rim that would have dented a Stan's rim without question.....no even a scratch on the carbon.

They were also easier to run tubeless.....no spoke holes(more because of Crank Bros funky spokes).

I ran them on the SS for their entire life. I would actually still be running them, but I lost confidence in the hubs after multiple failures.

Do I think they are worth the $2000 retail price....nope. Would I pay a bit more than an aluminum rim...sure. I got mine free, so I didn't have to shell out anything for them.
 
OK, that video along with a few other "reads" has kind of led me away from the carbon in favor of something like the Easton ARCs.

I've just got a wild hair to build something. I have a set of almost brand new Chris Kings that have just been sitting. Will swap the stock Tallboy wheels onto the wifes ride and build up the CK's for myself.

Thinking 24 is sufficient, but maayyyybeeeee 27. Time to read some more. Any input?
 
wheezy said:
Is it the media? Is it the sexy good looks? Is it the stiffness they allegedly provide?

I can't figure it out, but for some reason I really do want them.......

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Because they are awesome!


I have carbon rims on my 3 bikes, and I zero problems to this point.
I have two sets of SRAM rise 60, and one giant (OEM). The SRAM rise 60 are hook-less, and they set up tubeless very easily.
All 3 sets staid true from day one with no mechanical issues to date (I did brake an old 10 speed free body on my SS).

If I ever build a custom wheelset, I would go wider (30mm) on a FS bike. The only reason.... wide rims look cool ;-)
 
That was an interesting video. Never thought about it that way. I ran a cheaper set of Easton 29er carbon hoops for a while and didn't like them. They were billed as trail wheels, but I think they were more towards the XC side. At my 190 lbs, they flexed. They were narrow by todays standards and only had 24 spokes. I went to a set of Mavic Crossmax XL aluminum wheels and like them. Not much of a weight penalty and a much better ride. That said, I've never tried a high end set of carbons, but would like to some day.
 
Great video. Guess I'm lucky that they don't make all the newest plastic stuff in my wheel size... pretty happy with my ali-minion hoops (gotta love the bri-ish language!). Mine get a dent, I straighten them out, good to go, and wide enough I suppose at 26 inner and fairly light i9 factory set.
Disclaimer: I've never even ridden carbon hoops so no idea if they are more harsh, more precise on all out racing scenario, etc as the video leads on to... I'm sure there are good things, thinking wide would be nice, but carbon out of my $ range for now, and for the benefit to me, probably better spent elsewhere... and I'll not know if I don't try them which is my current stance.... good luck!
 
I bought a carbon water bottle cage. My bike is much faster and stiffer now. I just longing after carbon and finally pulled the plug and bought it. My riding has improved and now I wonder why I did not do this sooner. Don't wait live is too short to deprive oneself.

Dean
 
My NOX Farlows are great (on DT 240s). I noticed a big difference between them and the Arch EX's I had on my bike before (also on 240s and now on my HT)... then again they are wider so it's all relative to comparison. I really don't need anything that I buy for my bikes half the time but it's a hobby so I indulge.
 
I dig mine (Enve). I can't make a meaningful comparison. But they look bitchen :) , I have 1,000 or so miles on both the Bronson and the Pivot... And I drop some tetchy stuff once in awhile. They are as true today as the day I bought them. They have taken some low tire pressure hits and some tragic bunny hop fails. So there's that.
 
They're inexpensive enough now to be considered an option when upgrading your wheels.

I really don't get the too-stiff/rough ride bit. CF dampens vibration better than alloy while being stiffer. I've had Derby, Enve, Easton and Roval cabonium hoops, in all wheel sizes and have never felt anything but pure performance/improvement. All on a variety of setups from steel and ti HT to alloy and CF FS.

The increase in tire volume from a wide rim is an upgrade on its own. People will think you're riding a fat bike (many experienced riders have asked what size my 2.35 tires are). The ability to run low pressure comes with the width.

My worst experience with CF rims has been the Roval ones. After six years all the alum spoke nipples started failing. Nothing to do with the CF I presume. My newest ones are 29er and not very wide – super responsive and no notable undesirable characteristics on my hardtail. As far as the hoops, all have been indestructible and have dropped spinning weight and overall weight on the bikes I've put them on.
 
mike said:
They're inexpensive enough now to be considered an option when upgrading your wheels.

I really don't get the too-stiff/rough ride bit. CF dampens vibration better than alloy while being stiffer. I've had Derby, Enve, Easton and Roval cabonium hoops, in all wheel sizes and have never felt anything but pure performance/improvement. All on a variety of setups from steel and ti HT to alloy and CF FS.

The increase in tire volume from a wide rim is an upgrade on its own. People will think you're riding a fat bike (many experienced riders have asked what size my 2.35 tires are). The ability to run low pressure comes with the width.

My worst experience with CF rims has been the Roval ones. After six years all the alum spoke nipples started failing. Nothing to do with the CF I presume. My newest ones are 29er and not very wide – super responsive and no notable undesirable characteristics on my hardtail. As far as the hoops, all have been indestructible and have dropped spinning weight and overall weight on the bikes I've put them on.
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I think when people say the carbon wheels are too stiff or the wheels feel like they deflect too much could be related to tire pressure. I'd be willing to bet that a lot of riders making the change to carbon hoops run the tire pressures too high in fear of rim strikes.

The first set of carbon wheels I got to put some miles on (Reynolds XC carbons) felt like they deflected a lot in rock gardens. Part of it was that they were 1400g wheels(29er)....the other part was me running higher than normal PSI because I was worried about rim strikes and destroying them. They were only demo wheels, and I was told I was not allowed to break the. Once I got used to them and lowered the pressure....no issues.
 
@mtnbikej sort of...

When I demo'd the i9s, I ran the Minions at the same pressure that I run them on my alu-mini-um rims, and the deflection was so noticeable that I reduced the pressure by about 5 psi. I wasn't trying to avoid rim strikes (they weren't my wheels :sneaky:), I was just trying to get the front end as plush as my own setup. It never happened, despite running 60% of recommended air in the (MRP Stage) fork and lower tire pressure.

Wanna go fast up hills? Wanna go really long distances? Get carbon if you can afford them. If you live for the downs, aluminum rims are more friendly.

To each his own. :thumbsup:
 
When I got outta the MTB game good wheels meant 819's or 823's on Hadley or Chris king or Hope proII to save a couple bucks. I built a handful of my own and they worked GREAT.

Now I am back and wheels are $2,000 freaking bills? And 27.5" and the rims are CF? And not only CF but wide as all heck and there is no bead hook? Why no bead hook? To hard to make in CF? How does a UST tire even seal without a bead hook?

I test rode an IBIS with the wide CF rims. Is it just me or is all the hype true?The traction is improved, the stiffness is on point, the accelleration is effortless. The climbing is improved(rotational weight?) seriously, how did I climb that hill I can't climb? And with 2.5" tires!!!! This design works. I am sold.
 
AKAKTM said:
Those Roval Control Carbons are some of the best wheels you can get. I have had two sets. Excellent. Then againDT 1700 wheels are also super.

Tony
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I had to call Incycle in San Dimas to see if I can get online price if I bought them in store? The guy said he received more this week and yes I can get them at that price, told the guy hold them went down there and just picked them up. Wheels look amazing, nice finish.
 
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