Good service? Durable (for a lightweight rider)? Great price for the “weight”
I’ve had these wheels in 650c for almost 5 years. I weigh about 140 lbs and have never had to true them, although I tend to use them only for hilly, windy races. They’ve held up well and are good climbing wheels.
Pete
Your not a WW are you Rod?
Not really (though I do like my ZeroG brakes, K-force light crank, etc.)
But my training wheels (Ksyrium SSC SLs) have about 22,000 miles on them and I just got back from the Tour de Georgia with 6 MILE long climbs. You can put the rest together … just looking right now (but I don’t want tubulars). My race wheels are heavy as can be (Renn 575 and Hed Jet90) but super aero 
Why do you use them for only hilly, climbing races? Do you not “trust” them for an everyday/training wheel? What spoke count did you end up going with?
I had a set of Spiders before going to KOM tubulars. The rims were strong and light and the front hub is silky smooth. In fact, I am still using the front hub for my KOMs. They did wear fast after being caught in the rain once so I figure the material is a bit soft. Dave at Nimble is friendly and supportive. Customer service is top notch. My father bought a set of Spiders on my recommendations but got a bad set. It looked like the hook on one section of the front rim was just missing so the tire bead had nothing to hold on to. The tire simply blew off the rim at low pressures which bent the rim out at that spot.
They did change their rim extrusion and I got to see both profiles. There were slight differences in their braking surfaces but nothing major. You may be surprised to see the seam. It is quite large and noticeable. Maybe this has changed by now.
For the price, they are a good deal overall.
– Boris
Rod,
I’ve used the set of CXP21s that came with the bike for my training wheels, but I probably would trust the spiders as everyday wheels. However, they haven’t been ridden much in the rain and another poster mentioned some problems with rain-related wear, so I can’t speak to their durability as training wheels in locations where it rains a lot. Spoke counts are 24R 20F.
For a couple of years I used a Renn disc rear and spider front for most races, a combination that surprisingly worked pretty well.
Pete
Thanks for your insight guys.
Been leaning towards some Hed Ardennes as my next road overall wheelset - pricey for an AL rim wheelset though.
I had a set, they were great light and smooth…intill I broke a spoke - then another - then another - then…the wheel is now in my laundry room. MY Campy wheels last far longer and no broken spokes.
Front, radial 16
Blecch.
.
I’m going for the Ardennes. The Bastogne is another option, too. Gerard Vroomen himself said that they are, “very aero, but don’t look it.”
Blecch. Blah.
Weather getting to you up in the NW or what?
Care to expand - I generally like your insight, but not quite enough info for me to glean from there …
I am thinking if getting a pair of the Nimbles myself.
I’d be happy to let you know how I like them.
"Weather getting to you up in the NW or what? "
For the very first time, yup - it’s been really, really bad this year.
As for the wheels… I think they’re blecch.
It’s hard to narrow down to one specific thing, because it’s a collection of bad experiences. Every time a Nimble product has rolled into any bike shop I’ve worked at, the wrenches exchange “the look,” because odds are that there is going to be some kind of hassle.
Two of the things I’ve seen have already been mentioned on this thread; rim extrusions that are missing a bead seat, and hoops joined so badly that you can’t use the brakes. I mean, come on - the fact that this kind of stuff makes it through QC is completely inexcuseable. The fact that it doesn’t appear to be all that uncommon is amazing.
The absolute worst factory builds I have *ever *seen have been on some of the Nimble spoked wheels; sure the wheels rolled true, but the tension? Holy moley… all over the place doesn’t even begin to describe it.
My very first real experience with the Nimbles was when they were very new to the market, and were only making the composite spoked wheel. A big team showed up at the Tour Of Willamette with a quiver of the wheels, and rolled up to start the first climbing stage with these really cool, super shiny, super-light, fancy wheels.
The only problem was, it rained.
The wheels simply didn’t stop - at all - in the wet. I had a set of Corimas on, complete with the cork pads, and I watched these poor guys go flying all over - and off - the road as soon as it went downward. I don’t think any of them finished with the lead group - they all got dropped on the descents.
They were stupid. They took the manufacturer at it’s word that normal brake pads would be fine, and they just weren’t. I formed an impression then, and it’s stuck with me ever since, and been reinforced by every experience I have had with Nimble products; this is a manufacturer that simply doesn’t sweat the details, and the details matter. A lot.
.
I formed an impression then, and it’s stuck with me ever since, and been reinforced by every experience I have had with Nimble products; this is a manufacturer that simply doesn’t sweat the details, and the details matter. A lot.
Wow…I could not agree more.
My experience with them is also less than stellar. I had an issue with a Fly carbon rim. The rim cracked from one side to the other at the valve hole. I blamed it on myself and called Nimble to purchase a rim. Rather than sell me one they wanted to repair the wheel, so we agreed on a price and I sent it off to them. When I got it back I found that they cut my Sapim CX-Rays and replaced them with their OEM spokes and they changed the spoke pattern on me. No call, no email. When I confronted Dave with this he said the only mistake he made was not informing me. He told me that the CX-Rays were junk spokes and that theirs were better, he told me that his 2x/2x spoke pattern was better than my 3x/2x. When we finally got to trying to figure out what to do, he suggested two things 1> Pay for DT Aerolites and he would rebuild for free 2> Send back the rim and spokes for a full refund. The second offer was simple to tell me to F*** OFF. The first offer left a bitter taste in my mouth. This was a simple rim replacement and he turned it into a great big hassle, with me holding the short end of the stick. I never got my CX-Rays back and never will. I have vowed that anyone I speak to about wheels I will make sure to mention Nimble specifically as a company to not do business with as they do not stand behind their products.
Thanks for your reply(ies). Ended up going with a different set of new road/training wheels.