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Best $1000 carbon disc road wheelset?

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Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

Best $1000 carbon disc road wheelset?

Old 11-18-20, 07:07 PM
  #1  
Plainsman
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Best $1000 carbon disc road wheelset?

I’m learning a lot about disc wheelsets that I didn't know. Far more offerings out there than I realized. Based on your experience, is there a $1000 set you would recommend?

Parameters:

Carbon, 700c disc
11 speed Shimano hub
40-46mm deep
1500g or less including valves
warranty

Thanks for suggestions!
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Old 11-18-20, 07:49 PM
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Greiselman
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I think you'll find a lot of people here will tell you to look at Light Bicycle. I think you could spec a pair of AR46s for under $1000 and 1500g as long as you're ok with a lower-end (but still quality) hub.
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Old 11-18-20, 08:24 PM
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Originally Posted by Plainsman
I’m learning a lot about disc wheelsets that I didn't know. Far more offerings out there than I realized. Based on your experience, is there a $1000 set you would recommend?

Parameters:

Carbon, 700c disc
11 speed Shimano hub
40-46mm deep
1500g or less including valves
warranty

Thanks for suggestions!
You're asking for a lot for <$1000. Good suggestion in post #2 above, but I don't know that I would spend that much on a wheelset with lower-end hubs. A hub failure is kind of a big deal.
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Old 11-18-20, 08:33 PM
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Plainsman
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Originally Posted by Koyote
You're asking for a lot for <$1000. Good suggestion in post #2 above, but I don't know that I would spend that much on a wheelset with lower-end hubs. A hub failure is kind of a big deal.
Let's say $1000 range. Not expecting <$1000, but not looking to spend $1500 either. I know Boyd for instance sells a 44mm deep wheel for $1050, it's just a tad heavier than I want.
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Old 11-18-20, 08:36 PM
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Have a look at November: https://novemberbicycles.com/collect...on-disc-wheels

Also Psimet2001 , who frequents these parts: https://www.psimet.com

Both are a bit north of your cut-off, but at least some options get close.
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Old 11-18-20, 08:41 PM
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Originally Posted by Plainsman
Let's say $1000 range. Not expecting <$1000, but not looking to spend $1500 either. I know Boyd for instance sells a 44mm deep wheel for $1050, it's just a tad heavier than I want.
Just throwing this out there: for that money, you can get a low-end wheelset with cf rims, or a high-end wheelset with alloy rims. Something like this will perform beautifully, and the hubs will last pretty much forever - in ten years you can still be riding them, laced to different rims.
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Old 11-18-20, 08:51 PM
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Originally Posted by wgscott
Have a look at November: https://novemberbicycles.com/collect...on-disc-wheels

Also Psimet2001 , who frequents these parts: https://www.psimet.com

Both are a bit north of your cut-off, but at least some options get close.
Thanks. I know this isn't the year to see big sales (it's a seller's market when it comes to bikes this year) but I'm hoping something pops up around Black Friday as well. I'm encouraged to see the likes of Zipp with a 303s (45mm deep) at a regular non-sale price of $1300, and are rated for road tires at 28c even up to 40+c gravel tires. Something like that might tempt me to wait and save a bit more.
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Old 11-18-20, 09:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Koyote
Just throwing this out there: for that money, you can get a low-end wheelset with cf rims, or a high-end wheelset with alloy rims. Something like this will perform beautifully, and the hubs will last pretty much forever - in ten years you can still be riding them, laced to different rims.
I have those. For the record, the rims are immortal, too.
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Old 11-18-20, 09:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Plainsman
Thanks. I know this isn't the year to see big sales (it's a seller's market when it comes to bikes this year) but I'm hoping something pops up around Black Friday as well. I'm encouraged to see the likes of Zipp with a 303s (45mm deep) at a regular non-sale price of $1300, and are rated for road tires at 28c even up to 40+c gravel tires. Something like that might tempt me to wait and save a bit more.
One of the things you are paying for with those links is the hand labor of love that is pretty much the single most important thing as far as wheels go.
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Old 11-19-20, 08:15 AM
  #10  
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Reynolds currently has a 20% off sale, putting their AR41 a hair over $1k. It's at spec'd at 1630 grams, but I personally wouldn't adhere to a hard and fast 1500g limit.

FWIW, I got my Zipps 303S from PBK for ~$1100, including duties. I wasn't actually looking for a deal on them, I was just looking for someone that had them in stock - they were nowhere to be found stateside.

On that note, one thing that you should consider about your desire for a good warranty is who and how the service will be completed. When I broke a spoke on my old Assaults, it was under warranty and Reynolds rebuilt the wheel with all new spokes... but I had to ship it to them and that cost me about 40 bucks. Being able to drop a wheel off with your LBS would be a considerable convenience and savings, IMHO. At the other extreme, having to ship your wheel around the world almost makes me value a warranty significant less.
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Old 11-19-20, 09:24 AM
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< $1000 and < 1500g on a carbon rim is a lot to ask for. It's probably possible doing a custom build with lower spoke count, and some low-end hubs.
  • Zipp 303S seems like a great wheelset, but $1300 and 1600g
  • Chris Kings/HED Belgium also looks fantastic, but $1215 and 1665g, and also not carbon (so no aero... if that's what you're after)
  • Psimet makes great wheels (I have a set of alloy CX tubulars from him that have been solid), but his carbon disc wheels are all $1350+
  • The Reynolds AR41's are probably the closest match on price, as I'm seeing them online for around $1000. 1630g.
Someone mentioned November. Not sure if they have anything that is in this price/weight range. I'm sure LB can get something close, and they seem to have a good reputation here on BF. For $1000, I'd probably be more likely to spend my money on nicer hubs and worry less about the rim material, and be happy with a final build in the range of 1600g. Those Chris King/HED Belgiums are very attractive in that regard.
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Old 11-19-20, 09:25 AM
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https://www.lightbicycle.com/site/share-cart?id=2310

1507g 46mm deep(21mm internal width) CX-Ray spokes, and DT Swiss 350 hubs for well under $1k.

Last edited by noodle soup; 11-19-20 at 10:55 AM.
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Old 11-19-20, 09:32 AM
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HED Jet RC5 Plus Black Edition, disc....$1250, 1568g.....46mm deep, tubeless tape included
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Old 11-19-20, 10:12 AM
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Originally Posted by msu2001la
< $1000 and < 1500g on a carbon rim is a lot to ask for. It's probably possible doing a custom build with lower spoke count, and some low-end hubs.
  • Chris Kings/HED Belgium also looks fantastic, but $1215 and 1665g, and also not carbon (so no aero... if that's what you're after)
These are great. I have 2 sets.

Someone mentioned November. Not sure if they have anything that is in this price/weight range.
eg: https://novemberbicycles.com/collect...-mp2-pre-order

Saves an extra $100 with pre-order.

Those Chris King/HED Belgiums are very attractive in that regard.
They treated me extremely well, and so have the wheels. I recommend them to anyone. They rebuilt a wheel for me under warranty even though a spoke broke only because my wife's bike fell on it. It had nothing to do with their quality control or anything. They just went the extra mile. The only reason I haven't bought yet another set is my bike is QR, and these are thru-axle only now.
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Old 11-19-20, 12:00 PM
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I've just switched to disc frames and wheels. I ride where gusty cross winds can be a problem, so deep profile carbon rims don't make much sense. I chose the fulcrum racing 3 with 21 spokes front and rear, 19mm internal width and tubeless ready with no rim tape needed. Only about $500, delivered with no sales tax from chain reaction. They weigh about 100 grams more than my previous Campy zondas.

I would never buy from merlin cycles again. They buy wheels in bulk and don't include valves stems and special valve adapter bushings for the asymmetric rims. Their price is low, but they add $43 freight.
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Old 11-19-20, 03:15 PM
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Originally Posted by noodle soup
https://www.lightbicycle.com/site/share-cart?id=2310

1507g 46mm deep(21mm internal width) CX-Ray spokes, and DT Swiss 350 hubs for well under $1k.
These are pretty sweet looking and definitely tick all the boxes on this thread.

Anyone know why the Chris King hubs aren't available as a "North America" option? Looks like they can be configured through "Global Options", and there's a few more options on colors and rims w/o holes, etc. The 36mm version of this wheel with CX-Ray, CK R45 hubs is $1177 and 1517g. I might be tempted to spend the extra $200 to get those, if "Global Options" are available in the US.
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Old 11-19-20, 06:02 PM
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I paid $1052.92.

wr46 dtswiss 240 exp

With the help from
Light bicycle mega thread
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Old 11-19-20, 07:04 PM
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Originally Posted by msu2001la
These are pretty sweet looking and definitely tick all the boxes on this thread.

Anyone know why the Chris King hubs aren't available as a "North America" option? Looks like they can be configured through "Global Options", and there's a few more options on colors and rims w/o holes, etc. The 36mm version of this wheel with CX-Ray, CK R45 hubs is $1177 and 1517g. I might be tempted to spend the extra $200 to get those, if "Global Options" are available in the US.
Contact LB North America if you want that build. Supplies might be limited, so that might be an option they aren't "pushing" right now. I suspect they are available, but it might take a couple of weeks longer to source the hubs.

Last edited by noodle soup; 11-20-20 at 07:38 AM.
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Old 11-19-20, 07:09 PM
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Originally Posted by noodle soup
https://www.lightbicycle.com/site/share-cart?id=2310

1507g 46mm deep(21mm internal width) CX-Ray spokes, and DT Swiss 350 hubs for well under $1k.
I have LB rims and they are great. These are also a great option for $1000 (~1400 grams):

https://icanwheels.com/collections/3...-disc-wheelset
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Old 11-20-20, 06:32 AM
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Lightbicycle AR36 with Novatec hubs (which are plenty good) = approx $600 a pair and 1400gm, and am very happy with them (I also own HED, Roval CLs and Roval CLXs, for what it is worth).
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Old 11-20-20, 07:27 AM
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Originally Posted by msu2001la
These are pretty sweet looking and definitely tick all the boxes on this thread.

Anyone know why the Chris King hubs aren't available as a "North America" option? Looks like they can be configured through "Global Options", and there's a few more options on colors and rims w/o holes, etc. The 36mm version of this wheel with CX-Ray, CK R45 hubs is $1177 and 1517g. I might be tempted to spend the extra $200 to get those, if "Global Options" are available in the US.
The North American location is a distributor/builder in Canada, they just don't stock certain hubs. They also don't offer custom color/rim options because they stock the rims with decals already applied. The Global option is direct from the factory, which is why you can have them make your wheels any way you want. I had them make mine with three LB decals in white (instead of two, looks uneven with two, imo) and the valve stem decal in gray, can only do that through the Global option. My next set with be without holes, no decals, and in satin finish, all options only available through Global (they don't even list satin, but it's available, just email them and ask for it). The downside is you have a longer wait time, you can usually get wheels from the North American location quicker. But either way you go, they are great wheels.

This is my old set, AR46s with the grooved brake track, they were awesome.

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Old 11-20-20, 09:22 AM
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Originally Posted by Rides4Beer
The North American location is a distributor/builder in Canada, they just don't stock certain hubs. They also don't offer custom color/rim options because they stock the rims with decals already applied. The Global option is direct from the factory, which is why you can have them make your wheels any way you want. I had them make mine with three LB decals in white (instead of two, looks uneven with two, imo) and the valve stem decal in gray, can only do that through the Global option. My next set with be without holes, no decals, and in satin finish, all options only available through Global (they don't even list satin, but it's available, just email them and ask for it). The downside is you have a longer wait time, you can usually get wheels from the North American location quicker. But either way you go, they are great wheels.

This is my old set, AR46s with the grooved brake track, they were awesome.

That's a great looking bike. Well done, and thanks for the info.
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