http://www.williamscycling.com/85cc/85cc.html
Anyone using them? Feed back? Value?
A friend has a set of the williams 50’s and swears by them
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I don’t have a pair, but looking at the specs, they’re a bit heavy for what they are. Getting equivalent Zipps/Am classics would be about the same price (same rims, different logos with the exception of the newer zipp dimples).
Boyds are slightly lighter while giving you more spokes. No personal experience but I’ve heard good things about both companies. Soul is another.
http://www.boydcycling.com/clinchers/c85.html
I love Williams wheels.
Keith has done a stellar job of bringing quality wheels to market.
I may have a discount code for them…going to check if it still works.
Boyds are slightly lighter while giving you more spokes. No personal experience but I’ve heard good things about both companies. Soul is another.
http://www.boydcycling.com/clinchers/c85.html
The Boyd frames are the same generic carbon frames that you can get directly off eBay or through various vendors on alibaba. I wouldn’t be surprised if their rims were sourced from there as well.
Asad
The Boyd frames are the same generic carbon frames that you can get directly off eBay or through various vendors on alibaba. I wouldn’t be surprised if their rims were sourced from there as well.
Asad
Starting off we did use an open mould frame and have since moved to a different road frame, used only by certain companies (one who uses the frame was just named the “best race bike” by Cycling Weekly magazine for 2010). The frames now are made by the same manufacturer as some of the highest quality bikes out there.
As for the wheels, we are using the same rims as various other companies. Yes they are sourced from Asia, as are the vast majority of wheels costing less than $2500. I can assure you these are NOT the Yinshun rims that have been popularized on the roadbikereview site. Every wheelset is handbuilt in Greenville, SC using Sapim CX Ray spokes.
Sorry if this sounded like a plug. I just wanted to clear up any misinformation possibly being spread about my products.
This is just my $.02 worth and my personal choice on how I like my wheels built, but I like the fact that Boyd is using Sapim CX-Ray spokes. I use these spokes on all my builds if at all possible - Prefer not using any other spoke and will gladly pay the extra. Almost to the point I really wouldn’t buy a wheel without them. In fact the only wheels I have owned without them is my current set of MTB wheels. Built with Stans 29er rims which cannot (edited to change the typo from can to cannot) tension that high so using CX-Rays on these rims would be a pure waste and not utalize the benefits offered by the CX-rays.
Michael
I have the carbon 38’s on my road bike and have been very happy with them. I have several thousand miles on them and they have been very durable for a do anything full carbon clincher, suprisingly durable actually… They also have a great braking surface for a carbon rim. The only problem I have had with them was a creaky freehub body after a year. I called Williams and received a call back the same day and had a freehub body on my doorstep within 3 days. They apparently had a problem with this early on but I have been told it should be better now. No problems since.
If you want a durable full carbon clincher for everyday use I say go for it. Silky smooth and a very eye catching wheel to boot.
I am about to buy a front carbon clincher 85mm. I have read everything that i can and i have only heard good things so far. They have the same torodial shape as the zip rims as reported by test rider. They are structurally carbon wheels. Then only disadvantage would be their 20mm wide rims which are alittle narrow, but similar to many wheels. For the price i think they are quite impressive wheels. I did meet one guy who raced with them and he said that he was very impressed, he was riding the 58’s. Also, if you have any problems they are know to replace the wheels no questions asked, that is a selling point for me.
Got Julian’s Boyd finished and took it out for a spin tonight.
Stomped hard on it…gave it all that I had.
Very stiff and very responsive…extremely stiff BB area.
I’d race it…and I’d really enjoy hitting it hard out of corners in a crit.
Very Nice Frame.
Buy BOYD!
This is just my $.02 worth and my personal choice on how I like my wheels built, but I like the fact that Boyd is using Sapim CX-Ray spokes. I use these spokes on all my builds if at all possible - Prefer not using any other spoke and will gladly pay the extra. Almost to the point I really wouldn’t buy a wheel without them. In fact the only wheels I have owned without them is my current set of MTB wheels. Built with Stans 29er rims which can tension that high so using CX-Rays on these rims would be a pure waste and not utalize the benefits offered by the CX-rays.
Michael
Absolutely agree. I can’t quite figure out why Williams is not using the Sapim spokes on their deep dish wheels. Nevertheless, I have multiple pairs of their wheels and they have held up well through a couple of nasty crit crashes. And to back up Coach Boyd, I’ve raced against several of their bikes/wheels and heard nothing but positive feedback.
They said somewhere on the website why they use off brand spokes. I think it is in one of their videos. They argue that they have a special deal or network for their spokes and this is one way they cut their costs. Overall i have not heard of any breaking from the people that i have talked to.
This is just my $.02 worth and my personal choice on how I like my wheels built, but I like the fact that Boyd is using Sapim CX-Ray spokes. I use these spokes on all my builds if at all possible - Prefer not using any other spoke and will gladly pay the extra. Almost to the point I really wouldn’t buy a wheel without them. In fact the only wheels I have owned without them is my current set of MTB wheels. Built with Stans 29er rims which can tension that high so using CX-Rays on these rims would be a pure waste and not utalize the benefits offered by the CX-rays.
Michael
Anyone with a hanbuilt mentality might opt for a set handbuilt on the Gold Coast AUS.
20mm - 1050g
50mm- 1250g
88mm- TBC
Strong, light, aero, cheap!! Website’s getting final touches - “LOGIC”
Biased i know ; )
I have a set of the Williams 58 carbon clinchers w/ a PT hub and have had great experience with them. Would not hesitate to use as an everyday wheel. Customer service is excellent.
Starting off we did use an open mould frame and have since moved to a different road frame, used only by certain companies (one who uses the frame was just named the “best race bike” by Cycling Weekly magazine for 2010). The frames now are made by the same manufacturer as some of the highest quality bikes out there.
Ok, but your Bow and Aero TT frame is still an open-mold frame – looks the same as the DengFu FM018, which I believe is available through many other vendors as well.
I just wanted to clear up any misinformation possibly being spread about my products.
So, aside from your road frame now being different, the other statements I made were correct?
And, in addition, would it be accurate to say that your company doesn’t do any engineering on the frames and rims, you source the products from Asia and assemble them (like many other companies)? I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with that, just trying to make sure I don’t have any misinformation.
Asad
Starting off we did use an open mould frame and have since moved to a different road frame, used only by certain companies (one who uses the frame was just named the “best race bike” by Cycling Weekly magazine for 2010). The frames now are made by the same manufacturer as some of the highest quality bikes out there.
Ok, but your Bow and Aero TT frame is still an open-mold frame – looks the same as the DengFu FM018, which I believe is available through many other vendors as well.
Yes, the Bow & Aero TT frame is still the open mould frame. I did work in getting that frame developed (gave input for frame shape, features, and sizing) about a year and a half ago, but as the company wasn’t even around yet I didn’t have the capital to have the mould protected (it’s also why there is only three sizes available). What I didn’t count on was when this frame came out, that the mould would be picked up by so many different companies right around the time Alibaba became a cycling household name.
But, just because a frame uses the same mould as another does not mean it’s the same frame. I liken this to a cupcake tray. Lot’s of people buy cupcake trays and can make the same cupcake shapes as Martha Stewart, but they will definitely not taste the same. It’s about the ingrediants and way it’s prepared. The factory I work with I know exactly how the frame is made and what goes into it. Some of the ebay/Alibaba frames have the same mould but in an effort to cut costs will use cheaper carbon, or even mix it with fiberglass.
(and I am working on a new TT frame. . for my company only)
So, aside from your road frame now being different, the other statements I made were correct?
And, in addition, would it be accurate to say that your company doesn’t do any engineering on the frames and rims, you source the products from Asia and assemble them (like many other companies)? I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with that, just trying to make sure I don’t have any misinformation.
Asad
The manufacturer for the rims has mechanical engineers on hand, has been making rims for years, and has an excellent reputation (the rims seem to be good enough for Tom Boonen last year). For me to come in and change things around, just for the sake of saying I engineered it doesn’t make any sense. As I stated above, yes the rims and frames are sourced from Asia, as are the vast majority of rims from wheels costing less than $2500. They are not, however, the rims that individuals could just purchase off Alibaba or eBay.
Cool, thanks for the info.
Asad
No problem, I appreciate the opportunity to answer the questions and provide information.
Boyd
How are the Williams 85 wheels working?