How many of you guys use your carbon wheels for everyday riding? Tubular or clincher? The reason I am asking is I am thinking about either using my Reynolds DV3K carbon clincher wheels or my Ritchey Apex 50mm wheels for everyday use and also for the occasional race. Both Reynolds and Ritchey say that they are durable enough for everyday and should ride them. I have heard the same for zipp 404 and Enve.
The fact is I say every day but it is more like 1 maybe 2 times a week. I do ride a fair amount of miles when I go out (I do a 75-120 mile ride every other week when weather is nice.) The reason I want to use them is I have them and they make me faster which is fun.
What do you think about using these for everyday? I need to sell one…which should I keep? Are there occasions where I should not ride them? Like maybe mountain area? I am ~ 200 lbs
I have been running a set of Reynolds Strike clinchers for about 3 years now on my road bike with zero issues at all. I weigh about 180lbs and these things have been rock solid. I ride in the upwards of 200 miles a week when I’m not traveling, so they get plenty of use.
The wheels are strong, stable, and hold up to the beating I throw at them. Can’t say that I’ve been super careful with them either.
Reynolds Assault on my road bike for the last 3.5 years, racing, training, sitting in the office, looking pretty, whatever I threw at them they are rock solid!
I’ve been on Carbon only for about 7 years. Well before I was a rep. In that time I’ve broken one hoop here in Detroit under a 190lb rider (it wasn’t a Reynolds). I’d say that’s pretty good.
So which should I keep the Reynolds DV3K clincher 46mm or the Ritchey Apex tubular 50mm? Also do you worry about braking going down a mountain? (I know you need to use the right pads)
I rode tubies for everything for years and actually only got back into clinchers when I became a rep. I do have to say, i don’t miss $100 flats.
you should be using the blue pads, and be careful, but it really depends on the mountain that can produce the kind of braking necessary to fail the clincher.
So which should I keep the Reynolds DV3K clincher 46mm or the Ritchey Apex tubular 50mm? Also do you worry about braking going down a mountain? (I know you need to use the right pads)
I’ve used Reynolds carbon clinchers for almost two years as my daily wheels with no issue. I ride around 7k miles a year, I’ve weighed as much as 167 lbs. during that time, and I’ve hit a few potholes at speed and not damaged a wheel.
I’d use clinchers instead of tubulars as daily wheels for both the ease and cost of fixing flats. Heck, I keep hearing about how many pros now use clinchers as their racing wheels…
Out of curiosity, is there a durability advantage from using the carbon wheels with the aluminum rims like the Zipp 404 hybrids? Is that done to enable the use of those wheels as both daily riders and race wheels?
I’m thinking about a pair of carbon wheels, and would ideally be able to use them for both regular rides, and for some olys and halves next summer.
Thanks!
Out of curiosity, is there a durability advantage from using the carbon wheels with the aluminum rims like the Zipp 404 hybrids? Is that done to enable the use of those wheels as both daily riders and race wheels?
I’m thinking about a pair of carbon wheels, and would ideally be able to use them for both regular rides, and for some olys and halves next summer.
Thanks!
Just go full carbon… At this point it seems like there isn’t an issue. And I can say with certainty that there is new Mavic all carbon wheels out there that stop better than aluminum clinchers.
Edit: Rappstar did a whole article on carbon and carbon braking in LAVA or Inside Tri magazine… whichever he writes for. It was pretty interesting but the biggest thing I took away from it was that he goes out and literally tries to break wheels… and hasn’t once.
The hybrid 404s turned into the 60s. At new pricepoint are a ripoff. Go FLO if you’re thinking that route. But seriously, everyday carbons seem fine to me.
My only hangup would be the replacement cost. If that doesn’t concern you then go for it.
True… and this is a question, not a statement:
how often does that even happen? it can’t be more than a normal set of training wheels. Once every 5 years? If that? Just curious. I haven’t come close once with my wheels (non aero/carbon).
Thanks for the insights. I guess that seeing so many people talking about low mileage/race only wheels gives the impression that they are for special occasions only. I’m a little more budget minded, and was hoping to use one decent set for training and group rides, and for the occasional race I manage to fit in these days. I’m also not the smallest out there at 175 lbs, and was concerned about the potential to splinter one like a potato chip!
I’ll look for that article. Thanks for the reference.
Thanks for the insights. I guess that seeing so many people talking about low mileage/race only wheels gives the impression that they are for special occasions only. I’m a little more budget minded, and was hoping to use one decent set for training and group rides, and for the occasional race I manage to fit in these days. I’m also not the smallest out there at 175 lbs, and was concerned about the potential to splinter one like a potato chip!
I’ll look for that article. Thanks for the reference.
As I stated above…
I’m 195lbs and rode ENVE 6.7’s, now riding 8.9’s year round.
I particularly like the Bike Rumor factory tour (link below). The road wheel shown in the test above made it up to a 16" impact with a 50lb weight. I’m no physicist, but I know that is some serious force being applied to that wheel. Also pay particular attention to the brake testing… They seem to be pretty focused on making something that is going to hold up to abuse.
Fortunately I haven’t personally experienced a rim failure. But I have trashed a hub and had spokes start to go that required a rebuild. I did bend the hell out of an Alu rim (could limp home but had to replace it) after smacking something I shouldn’t have at 25 mph.
I don’t think that carbon wheels will have issues any more often than some alu training wheels. I just don’t want to have equipment that’s a bit of a burden to replace. Trashing a Hed Belgium on a training ride wouldn’t give me heartburn. Trashing a Firecrest rim would. Everyone’s tolerance for this sort of thing is different.
I have a set of Williams 38mm carbon clinchers as my daily trainers on my road bike for 2 years. Still as true as can be and have never been trued. I do ride aluminum rims when on the rollers since it seem nuts to do trainer workouts on them. FWIW They have over 12,000 miles on them to date.
My only hangup would be the replacement cost. If that doesn’t concern you then go for it.
True… and this is a question, not a statement:
how often does that even happen? it can’t be more than a normal set of training wheels. Once every 5 years? If that? Just curious. I haven’t come close once with my wheels (non aero/carbon).
With low mileage and dry conditions (rain = dirt → high wear of brake pads and rim) a wheel can lost for many years. I wear out 1-2 wheelsets a year.
In addition, all kinds of accidents can happen, not fun to pick up a 500USD wheel beneath a car wheel.
I’ve been riding a rear 88mm “Chinese carbon” rim with my PT the last 2 years and no issues at all. Been in road races, crits, triathlons, training. Everything and it is still going strong. Might upgrade to some HEDs this season and go disc then I’d put that PT back on the mavic open pro. But I’ve never had a hang up using them everyday.
I’ve been riding a rear 88mm “Chinese carbon” rim with my PT the last 2 years and no issues at all. Been in road races, crits, triathlons, training. Everything and it is still going strong. Might upgrade to some HEDs this season and go disc then I’d put that PT back on the mavic open pro. But I’ve never had a hang up using them everyday.
I picked up zipp 404s (aluminum braking) from ebay and ride them whenever i’m on my tri bike…for training or racing. The ones I currently use i’ve had for two years now, I believe. They’re fine, although I had them inspected and had the hub replaced on the rear wheel (which zipp provided at no charge).
I’m around 150lbs and rode about 3000 miles this past year…
I got a set of Generic 50s for less than 300…ride them as everday drivers…I live 80% in FLorida so makes cruising A1A slightly more enjoyable…
However I just got a set of enve 8.9 and while many claim you can ride them everyday…im going to pick up some sub $200 clinchers for piece of mind…filed under the category of “how stupid would you feel.”