In this age of at least 10-20 carbon wheel manufacturers (well at least in brand name) I’m still looking for a new set of Carbon wheels that I mean to swap between my roadie and my tri bike (ideally only the front wheel and run a disk on the back).
The latest siren song that I’m following is for a set of Easton Tempest II Carbons. @ a claimed 1265g for the set they are light, @ $1,395 at trisports they are relatively cheap, and they claim to be stiffer than the older 404 based version and more durable. (btw they are 56mm deep)
Seems like a good call once I get over the fact that they will be replaced next year with an even better version, but one always plays this game.
Enter now wheels like Token, Prolight, Matrix, etc and you have a whole mixed bag of Carbon wheels in the 50mm deep range that retail for between $500 a set and $1,000. These options send my perfect triangle into whack offering what seem to be viable options that are much less expensive (also a little heavier, and who knows aboutthe quality of some of the more obscure like Matrix).
Even with a little added weight any of these can be ordered with a backup set for the price of new 404’s. Now I’m sure that the 404 is a superior product, but considering the reason why I’m replacing wheels I can’t ride new 404’s everyday. The real question is, at $500 for a 50mm carbon tubie can I afford to buy a regular set of training wheels and another set of race wheels?
Why bother training on carbon wheels? Drop the carbon and go with a medium deep rim and you should be able to get all three requirements. A set of Niobium 30 rims, White Industries hubs with Sapim x-ray spokes should only set you back ~$600 and still come in around 1400g for the set. I think I’d rather have a set of handbuilt aluminum rims for training and keep the 404s for special occasions. Besides, I’d feel rather goofy riding on my trainer on carbon wheels.
What was wrong with the Campys (besides the fact they’ve now got a nasty crease in them)? Save the difference in cash and take a ski trip (hint, hint).
How’s the shoulder? I heard you’re going in for surgery at the end of the month?
Well I guess that $600 for a ‘good’ set of training wheels is the problem. i ahve a hard time dropping that kind of coin so that I can think about dropping another $1000-$2000 on a set of ‘race’ wheels to use a few times a year. Not to mention the cool factor of a nice set of deep carbon rims.
I guess the real question is if your going to spend between $600 and $1000 on a new set of rims anyway, would you rather have a set of carbons or traditional Al?
My rear wheel is still in good enough shape for the trainer, and I refuse to spend money looking for a new Scirocco rim for the front since I think that it weighs like 1000g.
The shoulder is getting stronger everyday. it is goign to be really frustrating to take the big setback of surgery to gain all of my mobility back. i’m getting 2nd and 3rd opinions this week, but am still scheduled for the reconstruction on the 23rd.
I agree - carbon is out of control. Take a look at bike magazines from 7-10 years ago and compare the prices on top of the line bikes vs. todays prices. $1400… what do you think was the cost of raw materials?
Anything at the cutting edge is expensive which is why I wonder about some of the ‘off’ brands of these carbon wheels beign just as good as 2 or 3 year old Zipp designs. Carbon is expensive, but ther is not that much carbon in a wheel. It is the design and development of the new designs that add to the cost. Plus the marketing etc
There are other, extenal factors driving up the cost of carbon - and thus the cost of carbon bikes, wheelgoods, components, etc.
The aerospace industry’s demand for carbon has increased significantly. The new Dreamliner has a significant amount of carbon in it, and demand for the new airplanes is going through the roof. The planes are more fatigue resistant, lighter, use less fuel, etc. I think we’re just going to see the cost of carbon continue to rise with the rising demand, and with it the cost of carbon bikes and parts.