Cyclist0108

I weigh about 200 lbs, and have two sets with HED Belgium + rims. One set I got in 2014 and the other I think a year later. Both have stayed round and true, and I beat the living shi'ite out of them.

I am curious about carbon wheels, but have been afraid they wouldn't hold up as well. Maybe my fear is misplaced? I thought of getting some Santa Cruz wheels because of the warranty and because SC is where I live. But I have hesitated.

shoota 

I'm not saying every alloy wheel will explode after 2 years, I'm just offering my anecdotal evidence.

I guess I'll just say this, I haven't seen any carbon wheel in my group of local riders fail any faster than an alloy one (or at all really). Carbon is really pretty strong.

KJ43

Anyone thinking about buying the Santa Cruz Reserve wheels should watch the video of Danny MacAskill trying to break them. Sure they are mountain bike wheels, but carbon is very strong.

GrainBrain

I'd spend the money on carbon bars and a flexy carbon seat post. Not sure what's out there for Giant component wise, since Giant uses a proprietary seat post (D fuse). But these two items will be like half the cost and for sure some carbon endurance bars will help lessen vibrations.

chaadster

SwampGrinder you should take a look at Spinergy wheels, which use unique, fiber spokes rather than metal. They’re claimed to damp vibrations better than conventional wheels, and you can get them in either carbon fiber or aluminum rims.

Cyclist0108

They make gravel and road wheels too (and now have a whole spin-off company, with Enviable pricing).

NB: He did break the wheel eventually.

KJ43

Yup. I plan on getting a good carbon wheelset in the next few months and they are on my shortlist.

bonsai171

Love this video!

Carbon ftw! Danny MacAskill is pretty cool too.

Dave

shoota 

This is the video that got me to buy Bontrager Pro 3v's (plus the lifetime warranty):

tomato coupe

Carbon wheels on a gravel bike worth it?
Brilliant.

Cyclist0108

Who else, if you don't mind me asking?

I'm also trying to decide if I should try 650b.

Cyclist0108

Summit has a shop just over the hill from here. I think I recognize some of these folks.

Marcus_Ti

It all comes down to the rim and how the build is done. I like my Light Bicycles build I have.

KJ43

Honestly right now I'm thinking about Reserve wheels or getting a build from one of two chinese carbon wheelsets.

Either BTLOS or Light Bicycle both of which have cheap custom carbon wheelsets and good reputations.

I'm looking for a hooked tubeless wheelset and about 1,500 ish is the max I'd like to spend. The Reserve is just about in that region and I have a soft spot for Santa Cruz.

Cyclist0108

I live in Santa Cruz...

They assemble them here. They are machine-built but finished manually. The bike I want to put these on is quick-release, and both Santa Cruz and Chris King (who also build with those rims) no longer do QR.

I think only their 700c rim is hooked, BTW.

KJ43

I'm not interested in 650b. I want a bike that not only is great to ride on the dirt but on the road. Even if I had a mountain bike I'd go for the larger wheel diameter. It just rolls over things better.

Cyclist0108

I should have said 700C road. I think the gravel ones are hookless (hard to tell from the new web-site), and their prices sure have gone up a lot.

I'm looking at November and Jones.

996

How are the Light Bicycle wheels treating you? Which rims / hubs do you have? I was looking at a set for my gravel build. How durable are they? any problems?

Thanks!

Marcus_Ti

CX46 laced to Onyx Racing hubs. Hubs have been amazing, they should be. I had one rim develop a spoke-hole crack, LB was very chill about getting the rim replaced--had my shop do the rebuild locally....for the trouble they comp'd me a swag shirt and cap with the replacement rim.

Would buy again if I need to.

bonsai171

By chance did you contact Light Bicycle about the crack? Curious what there response was.

Dave

tdilf

I have hooked LB rims laced with xray spokes to DT Swiss 240 hubs - less than 1500 grams. About 11 months old with no problems.

Marcus_Ti

Oh, they were surprised and turned it around quickly. They actually advanced RMA'd me the rims, I had both rims unlaced, and they x-ray'd them and confirmed only one was cracked. They refunded me the broken rim, and I paid for the other new one.

Only hitch was RMA shipping...I had to pay them for a USPS label, as USPS no longer would ship wheel boxes internationally from consumers....and UPS/FedEx was wanting $200USD. They were chill

KJ43

I've heard good things in general about Light Bicycle and BTLOS in general. Both are supposed to be very responsive and doing their best to keep the customer happy.

I read on one forum that someone bought carbon rims from BTLOS and it arrived with some very minor extra material around where the mold junction was. It was nothing at all that affected the way the wheel operated and was barely noticeable but they complained until BTLOS sent them a replacement rim for free and they still kept the original rim that was sent. I would never do that, but it shows how far BTLOS was willing to go for the customer.

bonsai171

Sounds like light bicycle held up their end of the bargain. Glad to hear they are honest in their dealings. Was that ups/fedex standard ground shipping, or was there some expedited shipping there? That sounds pretty hefty for ground shipping.

Dave

dwmckee

I have a great set of carbon rims. I generally do not think they are worth the expense for gravel. But The Santa Cruse wheels above are admittedly interesting!
I'd like to see how they do in a loose baby head garden where they roll around and bash into the sides of the rim too...