Carbon wheelsets

Asprilla

Asprilla

Asprilla

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Joined
7 Oct 2014
Posts
556
OK, I'm taking up sprint triathlons again; extension bars ordered, pointy hat ordered, swimming and running programme underway.

That's the basics, now I just need some bling wheels to save me 3s over 20km.

So, I'll be going second hand and I'm looking at some different options but PX 82/101 tubs can be picked up for about £300. Anyone using them and can provide feedback?

What other options are there (Chinese blanks obviously, but there are so many options).

Cheers.
 
The hadrons are nice, and they have the advantage of alu breaking surfaces and clinchers, but they are still £800 for the ones I would want compared to £300 for a pair of s/h 82/101s from planet-x.

Cheers for the links Supercow, I'll have a look.
 
Lightweight all the way :p

Don't know how branded you're planning to go - you often see a lot of Mavic 3G knocking about. A colleague has used them quite a lot and commented that in still air they are very good but they start to lose a lot of aerodynamics when there is a crosswind because of the shape of the spokes.

I've been riding my disc at the back a few times recently when it has been quite windy. I've not experienced it blowing me around particularly - I think it's a much greater effect on the front wheel. At the front I've got a very minimal aero-section alloy rim with bladed spokes and the air just blows through it.

A nice set of tubulars pumped up to 170psi also helps you roll along quite well ;)
 
Not looking at a disk yet, I'd probably just get a generic cover first (although PX also have some Vision Metron discs for £599).

I was thinking about 60-80mm. I'm 72kg at my heaviest and 65kg at my lightest (currently near the heaviest but it's dropping again) so cross winds could be an issue.

Not bothered about branding. The alternative will be my Archetypes so I guess anything over 25mm deep will offer an advantage (regardless of whether it's V-shaped or torroidal).
 
Had C50s ages ago and they were amazing back when you could get them for £800, but now so expensive!

I was always told to avoid carbon rims where the nipples did not terminate on the carbon rim as they were not true carbon rims?

Wheelsmith is another one
 
Of the nipple goes through the carbon then it's fairing on a separate rim. This isn't necessarily bad as it's the only way you can make disc wheels.
 
That's what I found with the Planet X stuff, looks ok, but it is really heavy, and never seemed to roll that well.

I've now got a set of Chinese carbon 56mm tubs which seem to roll better and are lighter. They're also more aero I'm sure being of the newly favoured torodial variety and something like 27mm wide!

By far the best tubs I owned were a set I won from a Bikradar competition but stupidly sold. They were from a company called Matrix and were 50mm tubs. Occasionally a second hand set will pop up on ebay for £300, mighty tempted to get the next set that do! (http://www.matrix-cycles.co.uk/bike-products-Matrix-Road-Wheels-111-1 - TX50 Wheels)

Although, in fairness I had shod them with some insanely light vittoria tubulars. Chrono CS if I remember. Still I always absolutely flew on those wheels.
 
The PX ones I'm looking currently are the CT45s which are also toroidal profiles (although that doesn't necessarily mean better). There are some new ones on eBay for £350 down from £500.

Where did you get your Chinese ones from?
 
Asprilla said:
The PX ones I'm looking currently are the CT45s which are also toroidal profiles (although that doesn't necessarily mean better). There are some new ones on eBay for £350 down from £500.

Where did you get your Chinese ones from?
Click to expand...

It was a seller on eBay called: carbon-cycle

Originally bought a 56mm front and 86mm rear, then bought another 56mm rear to go with them about a year later. All wheels been great.
 
I've heard mixed stories about the after-sales care with Carbon-Cycle. I'm not saying to avoid them because I think you'd end up paying a lot more to get any kind of decent warranty/etc but it's just something to keep in mind. I think the chances of the wheels being dodgy are extremely low, as Thomas has said.
 
Asprilla said:
The PX ones I'm looking currently are the CT45s which are also toroidal profiles (although that doesn't necessarily mean better). There are some new ones on eBay for £350 down from £500.

Where did you get your Chinese ones from?
Click to expand...

I've got a set of CT45s on my Scott and been very pleased with those, light, roll well and do seem better in cross winds than the 50mm set I had before. I'd probably go deeper for a TT or tri bike though.
 
Thinking about it I'll probably go for the clinchers.

I've got latex tubes and loads of spare clinchers that are very good (Vittoria Open Corsas 320tpi) so I just think it will be easier and more cost effective.

My tri bike is going to be my S1 id the seat post reversed and clip in extensions.
 
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