Carbon Rims

25sean

Looking to build a cheapER set of carbon tubulars. Spending hours on end online reading forums about Chinese vs. Taiwanese... Gigantex.. Alibaba etc

I do want quality but keep the overheads down..

So far Im looking at

Hubs(they had a team down at Rás Mumhan)

http://www.spincycleworks.com/servlet/the-121/road-bike-bicycle-hubs/Detail

Spokes with nipples form the same crowd

http://www.bikehubstore.com/product-p/zsls14.htm

and rims, Want them low profile enough.. 38 is plenty.. for climbing but strong enough for cyclocross

http://www.bikehubstore.com/product-p/wh108.htm

the rims is where Im not 100%. Does anyone have any experience buying carbon rims from the east? dont mind spending a little more to be sure of decent quality...

anyone have any experience/suggestions?

thanks all

lennymc

im kind of in the same boat, but im thinking of going for a set of mavic reflex/ambrosio nemesis alloy rims built up with DT swiss spokes/hubs purely because they will be a strong wheel (similar to what some teams use in the paris roubaix) and easily servicable and should survive the roads here. The should come in about 1200 grams for the set.

I did look at the chinese carbon but im not 100% convinced. Gigantex (AFAIK) are the same as the planet x rims, and are used by wheelsmith.co.uk who apparently only sell decent stuff. HTH.

AstraMonti

I have a set of gigantex 50mm with novatec hubs and they have been fine so far, no issues with them. Farsport wheels are getting great reviews and the guys that are running the company are more than helpful. I've ordered another set of ultra light wheels from them and I ll update when I get them. I need help

Lenny ambrosio nemesis with DT swiss will be more around 1400gr than 1200gr. It will be a great wheelset that will last for ever though.

TheBlaaMan

Good thread..........I'd be interested too. Partly because I'd be able to stretch out purchase of the components over a few months to make a lesser hole in the bank account - and I have access to someone who can build them for me at a reasonable cost. My difference would be for clincher rims rather than tublular...

@25Sean As a matter of interest, what is the budgeted cost for the elements that you are looking at?

pprendeville

Also, Yishun are pretty good. Have placed a few orders with them. If you have the cash, you should try and get yourself a set of Chris King hubs.

amjon.

I have a set of DT Swiss 240's(shimano 10 speed) and 50mm tub rims for sale if you are interested.

lennymc

AstraMonti wrote: »

Lenny ambrosio nemesis with DT swiss will be more around 1400gr than 1200gr. It will be a great wheelset that will last for ever though.

your right of course (ye lightweight loonie!)
The reflex rims are a bit lighter than the nemesis, but allegedly not as durable?

@pprenderville - chris king hubs would be super lovely for my own build, but very pricey. Havent seen any on special offer yet.

lennymc

amjon. wrote: »

I have a set of DT Swiss 240's(shimano 10 speed) and 50mm tub rims for sale if you are interested.

any more info amjon? what sort of price?

amjon.

300e each or 450e for the lot.

25sean

thanks for replies,

reflexes look great, mixed reviews online but claimed weight is low, and theyre cheap enough.. still, looking for a climbing wheelset so carbon would be the way to go..

astra monti, I rmember talking wheels with you before, farsport! never have found that! and they do a 23mm wide rim for cross! did you get the gigantex from them? also, novatec are good enough are they? wouldnt mind spending a little extra for a strong set of hubs..

couldnt stretch for c.kings, would be nice to have a set of r45s.. maybe some day.. trying to cut down on bike bills, you think youve got everything you need for the season then you convince yourself you need new wheels!

will look at yishun too prendeville.. i suppose you have to bite the bullet with the carbon rims and hope for the best at these lower prices...

blaaman, Id probably be looking at 5/600 for the set.. if I can get a set of 1200g for that Id be happy....!

the search continues!

AstraMonti

25sean wrote: »

astra monti, I rmember talking wheels with you before, farsport! never have found that! and they do a 23mm wide rim for cross! did you get the gigantex from them? also, novatec are good enough are they? wouldnt mind spending a little extra for a strong set of hubs..

I got the gigantex off wheelsmith.co.uk, he built them nicely but he is expensive. Novatec hubs are fine, nothing spectacular in terms of performance, but they are very light and very easy to service. And they are cheap enough that you can easily change them if something goes bad. The new wheels I am expecting are with edhub ceramics, haven't tried those before but I got a good deal so I went for it. They are very light as well.

38mm wide tubs from farsport have been very popular and all of the reviews I have read so far for them are pretty great, obviously taking in account how much they cost. And don't skimp on tyres, buy the best you can afford, that's what makes tubs so much nicer to ride.

ryan0380

I am considering getting Chris king hubs on gigantex rims from wheelsmith.co.uk but I would be interested in knowing if you can buy the gigantex rims direct and from which company?? I would like to see if I bought rims, hubs, spokes etc could I get them built cheaper than buying off wheelsmith.

AstraMonti

You can buy gigantex from http://www.bikehubstore.com/. I don't know a place in europe to get them. You can check the Token rims as well, I am pretty sure they are gigantex as well.

AstraMonti

Actually you can try emailing those guys as well http://www.stradawheels.co.uk/ about gigantex, they might have something.

25sean

so the search continues.. made contact with a few people, not farsport yet but plenty to look at on their site..

'jason' from YISHUN came back to me with a quote for a set of 44mm rims incl postage.. $235.. which is about €180.. seems too good to be true.. prendeville, you have a set, are they good enough? were they raced on?

Im thinking its all much of a muchness, there are cheap carbon rims(you get what you pay for).. and then top o the range carbon rims(you pay for what you get)..

leopard trek

Try flyxii.com, fantastic wheels with an unbeatable price. Not the lightest of wheels but strong.
Lpt

Unregistered.

25sean wrote: »

so the search continues.. made contact with a few people, not farsport yet but plenty to look at on their site..

'jason' from YISHUN came back to me with a quote for a set of 44mm rims incl postage.. $235.. which is about €180.. seems too good to be true.. prendeville, you have a set, are they good enough? were they raced on?

Im thinking its all much of a muchness, there are cheap carbon rims(you get what you pay for).. and then top o the range carbon rims(you pay for what you get)..

Can you post a link to these?

25sean

rim page here...

http://www.yishunbike.com/20082012-carbon-rims-tubular-wider-rims-c-273_275.html

44mm here

http://www.yishunbike.com/yishunbike-700c-44mm-tubular-road-carbon-rims-p-449.html

cheeeeeeap...

TheBlaaMan

If you want to consider eBay as a source, this is another seller worth a look:
[URL="http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Carbonwheels2011/Carbon-Tubular-Wheels-/_i.html?_fsub=3951413016
"]carbonwheels2011[/URL]

lennymc

TheBlaaMan wrote: »

If you want to consider eBay as a source, this is another seller worth a look:
[URL="http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Carbonwheels2011/Carbon-Tubular-Wheels-/_i.html?_fsub=3951413016
"]carbonwheels2011[/URL]

seriously tempted by the 38mm tubs. 312 euros delivered. novatec hubs.

noc231073

I have had 2 sets of yishun wheels and have never given me any trouble .. Great wheels... once you order from a good manufacturer in china you will have noting to worry about.

noc231073

But do stick to the good ones and not the eBay ones?
Yishun
Dengfu
Far sports ..
3 of the best

TheBlaaMan

noc231073 wrote: »

But do stick to the good ones and not the eBay ones?

I know nothing about 'carbonwheels2011', but happened upon them some months ago when I was originally looking. There's a fairly full thread here http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12776517&p=17655051 that has some info on these and other Chinese sellers on eBay.

25sean

Going to bite the bullet and place an order with farsport. EDhubs, cx rays on 24mm rims.. climbing specific wheelset..

let you know how they look/feel when out of box...

thanks for replies

AstraMonti

If you want to wait 10-12 days when I'll have mine, you can see them in person. I bought exactly the same specs. Guys sent me photos today when they finished building them, they look nice.

25sean

Hah!

look slick alright.. was gonna go for 38s but have something similar, so thought 24 would get the weight right down and with good spokes and build are made for the hills.. sub 1000gs!

see how I feel on pay day tomorrow and might take you up on the offer thanks!

25sean

hey astra monti,

did you get your wheels yet/

i was told 3-5 business days, but thats never gonna happen. left hong kong yesterday by all accounts..

any problems with customs/

AstraMonti

Yeap got them in 6 days, they re really nice from up close, just finished gluing them on the weekend but since my good bike is still in the shop I haven't had time to use them yet! No problems with customs.

25sean

good news.. looking forward myself.. best of luck with them!

leCycliste

Hi AstraMonti,

Just doing a bit of research on carbon wheels, I hope you don't mind me asking you about how you are getting on with the wheels you have pictured above? Did you buy from Farsport?