Why Carbon Clinchers?

[bigbill]

I bought a set of rim brake Boyd Carbon 60's in December. I live in flat to rolling terrain so they'll be good here. I've only taken them out on one ride so far because winter, but I intentionally chose a day with big crosswinds and they were good. The downside, brake pads, you need to use the correct pads and setting up a bike with those pads means you don't ride alloy wheels again without changing the pads. I'm fortunate to have several bikes.

I've got a new set of wheels from Oldpatatoe with DT RR511 rims and so far they're all that. I also have an old set of Cosmic Carbones that I can put in play as well because they have aluminum rims.

[pasadena]

CC-
Aero
Looks
Convenience
Weight

CC vs. Ctubs
Convenience
Practicality

CC vs Alloy Clinchers
Aero
Looks
Weight

[glepore]

Until you start looking at wheels in the 60mm range, a good aero alu (ie A33's or the similar Boyds) test as aero as most of the popular carbons except at extreme yaw. In exchange you get better braking, particularly in the wet, and less worry about blowouts in the mountains.

OTOH, carbons can be cheaper if sourced direct, are stout as heck, and some folks prefer the look.

[bshell]

Clincher, always.

Carbon was the first to 'go wide', which is what I was looking for.

And now tubeless. Pressure so low it seems weird...(65/60). I'm #185.

Very strong and very easy to build.

Stay true despite bad roads and some big hits that would dent aluminum.


Wet weather breaking still pretty awful even with textured track...

[btanner]

In a word, convenience. Over time, carbon clincher technology, including that for road tubeless has made clinchers an arguably better option than carbon rims made for tubulars.

[MattTuck]

marketing.

[bshell]

After all of the accounts of user experience?

[djg21]

The question was why carbon clinchers over aluminum clinchers? It’s not a clincher v. tubular debate.

[DRZRM]

That is a striking difference in weight. As I mentioned in another thread,
I'm building a 32 hole disc wheelset, and was leaning towards widish alloy,
but those Lightweights are available in 32 hole (I have some nice hubs,
I know I could go lower spoke count) and are light weight (go figure).
I'm no WW but I like a nice light wheel as much as the next guy,
and for disc, I don't see much of a problem.

Originally Posted by crankles

I find them to be stronger, lighter and only slightly more expensive than aluminum rims.

Now the details. Experience is limited to CX Disc wheels. Training and racing.

Comparison experience is between the Pacenti Sl25 Disc only rim and the Light Bicycle RM29C06.

Pacenti SL25. ~460gm, $90.
RM29C06 ~350gm, $162.

I found the pacenti aluminum to be soft. The rims barely lasted a season of training and a few races. Soooo may dents.

I relaced them with the carbon rims from Light-Bicycle. Built up easy. I babied them a bit at first to be honest, then in one race I hit a rock to hard I burped down to about 8 psi. I was sure I cracked the rim so I rode the thing to the pit, not caring...figuring it was toast. Nope. Not a mark on it. Wheel was straight as ever. After that I stopped babying them and have ridden them pretty hard. Two seasons and still like new. Buitl up a 2nd set for the pit bike.

I like em for the purpose stated.

[crankles]

Originally Posted by DRZRM

That is a striking difference in weight. As I mentioned in another thread,
I'm building a 32 hole disc wheelset, and was leaning towards widish alloy,
but those Lightweights are available in 32 hole (I have some nice hubs,
I know I could go lower spoke count) and are light weight (go figure).
I'm no WW but I like a nice light wheel as much as the next guy,
and for disc, I don't see much of a problem.

They now make a 280gm flyweight rim at for 269. I weigh 75kg in the off season, and about 72 kg when racing. I'm tempted to try a set...been that impressed. That would equate to about 1260 gm 28h tubeless wheelset..
( x-rays +brass nips). Wow.

[PNW]

Originally Posted by crankles

They now make a 280gm flyweight rim at for 269. I weigh 75kg in the off season, and about 72 kg when racing. I'm tempted to try a set...been that impressed. That would equate to about 1260 gm 28h tubeless wheelset..

( x-rays +brass nips). Wow.

Holy moly..what hubs?


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[Mark McM]

Originally Posted by ergott

Carbon clinchers give you more aerodynamic rims and stronger builds than you can get with alloy (assuming lower spoke count that's typical). Weight isn't really their strong point. Braking depends on who you talk to. I think the better rims currently available are excellent.

As I noted before, carbon vs. aluminum is not a binary option. Hybrid carbon/aluminum rims can often provide the best combination of weight/aerodynamics/braking.

Take for example, this article on a test between a variety of carbon & carbon/alloy clinchers:

https://www.bikeradar.com/us/road/ne...-wheels-49390/


In this test of 10 wheels, the HED Jet 6/9 Plus wheelset, which uses an alloy rim extrusion with a carbon fairing, compares very favorably to full carbon clincher rims. In fact, the HED wheels were the 2nd most aero, and the 4th lightest - not to mention the 2nd least expensive. They didn't test braking, but since the HED Jet is the only one with alloy brake tracks, it is likely to be the best braking as well (The HED Jets are also available with their proprietary 'Black' surface treatment, which definitely beats all the full carbon rims in braking, especially in the wet.)

Given the clear performance weight/aero performance parity of hybrid carbon/alloy rims, as well as their superior braking, I don't understand the apparent snobbery about this rims. Is it because they typically cost less than full carbon rims, and people just assume that price = performance?

[MattTuck]

Originally Posted by Mark McM

...I don't understand the apparent snobbery about this rims. Is it because they typically cost less than full carbon rims, and people just assume that price = performance?

Yes

[crankles]

28h DT 240s.

I used the wheelbuilder.com weight calculator and fudged the rim weight using the enve 2.2 tubular rim @287gm. ...

http://www.wheelbuilder.com/wheel-we...alculator.html

Originally Posted by PNW

Holy moly..what hubs?


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[ergott]

Originally Posted by Mark McM

As I noted before, carbon vs. aluminum is not a binary option. Hybrid carbon/aluminum rims can often provide the best combination of weight/aerodynamics/braking.

I didn't mention them specifically, but yes hybrid rims offer similar benefits to what I mention. You are limited to specific drillings so no custom options if that's important.