My Recommendations & Opinions on Carbon Wheels

Thinking of upgrading your wheels? You should be, because it will make the single biggest difference to your road bike. In this video I share my buying advice for wheels ranging from £350 to over £3000.
We discuss wheels from big reatailers
VEL+ from Sigma Sports
Prime from Wiggle and Chain Reaction Cycles
Merlin from Merlin Cycles
we discuss the eastern brands like Winpace, Superteam, Farsports, etc and the western alternatives like HUNT ands Scribe
We also talk about the mainstream brands like FFWD, ZIPP, and show the difference between the budget range like the FFWD Tyro compared to the FFWD Ryot.
We discuss getting your wheels made by your local bike shop or by somewhere like ‪@RyanBuildsWheels‬
Finally we give some input about navigating the minefield of extremely premium wheels and making sure you know exactly what it is you want or need from your wheels. Discussing brands like Enve, Lightweight and Mavic.

[@n.eilo_rides]

Swapped out a pair of Tokyo wheels at 50/60mm for a pair of Winspace Hyper 38s. Save 400g on the pair, added in so much more stiffnes and acceleration. 2 years in they are super reliable and easy to service. Those were factory direct, we now have an Australian agent who i recently purchased a set of Lun Grevil wheels for my gravel bike. Good communication and quick delivery. Couldn't recommend them any higher.

[@seryozhasteve]

I’m really enjoying this straight talking channel which I discovered recently. I’m getting back into cycling after a 3 year break to manage my osteoarthritis and a few ops and I’m now looking to replace my 12 year old Bianchi road racer. Getting a mechanical view of what is and what isn’t up to snuff is really helping, (and slowing) the decision making process. Keep up the great work!

[@Mapdec]

Thank you. Glad we could help

[@matthewcarey5952]

@@Mapdecwhat do you think about zed wheels here in the UK?

[@nickdalamagas3540]

Enjoy you channel & great content. I’m also an owner of 2 year old Winspace Hyper 50 wheels. To date they have traveled approx 15 thousand tough Km & must say haven’t missed a beat. They still roll true & smooth. Highly recommended 👍

[@JamesSocialCycling]

Purchased myself a set of Mavic Pro’s, they were a set of 2016 model, managed to get hold of some spare spokes and hub just in case. Just over 600 miles on them now and keeping a good eye on them, but just love the older style Cosmic wheels. They feel really solid but not the lightest like me. Still great for holding speed and are good in cross winds as well. I purchased a set of Scribes a few years back, learnt much lesson on cheap wheels back then, never again. Cheers😊👍

[@raykleiner3151]

Really good video. I bought a new set of carbon MTB 29° wheels with DT Swiss hubs for Eur 1,500 from local wheel builder. They are so sweet to ride, and are fully supported. You are spot on.

[@AndrewBroadbent-dr8wb]

Excellent discussion of the issues.

[@GCPerformance18]

1000 percent on the hookless, I have had so many giant owning customer come into my store with 100psi without them knowing they have a hookless wheel. It’s crazy. And I don’t blame the consumer, it’s the staff that’s selling it. It needs to be made known to the consumer and they should be educated on what to do with there wheels

[@Mapdec]

Thanks Mr GC. Hope business is good.

[@user-sm1ur5bk2r]

​@@Mapdecпочему лэнс амстронг выигрывал на алюминиевых колесах дура айс Шимано? Дядя ты дурак

[@petersinsky9123]

even my mechanic pumped them to 120psi when I got the bike serviced :D

[@adam-maleki81]

Fantastic review! Honest, professional, informative, and in one word; excellent!

[@Mapdec]

Thank you

[@swites]

Bora's are one hell of a good wheel. Still remember being blown away by how good the braking was for a carbon rim brake wheel after borrowing them from a mate for a few days. So obviously lots spent on R&D to make a great wheelset.

[@Robutube1]

This was excellent. I'm much more 'arts and crafts' than engineering savvy and so really appreciate this no nonsense, well explained guidance. Good job Paul!

[@Mapdec]

Thank you

[@valmorell]

Thanks for wishing us all good luck. That's about where this is just now.

[@Paddystyx]

Before I knew about your channel I bought a wheel set from Parcours. I seen an interview with Dov, the owner and I was very impressed. I wanted to order the Ronde (35/39) but as the wheels were going on my front wheel drive recumbent bike I needed the front wheel (35) as my drive wheel and my back wheel (39) non drive wheel. I contacted Parcours and I got excellent service from Dov. The recumbent bike manufacturer was recommending a 28 spoke minimum but Dov assured me his wheels at 24 spoke were fine. The wheels were also Hookless and I had no problem getting my local bike shop to fit tyres etc. I can honestly say excellence wheels. After getting to know your channel, which I love and seen one of you videos on Fast Forward and if I’m right you had said that they actually manufacture their own wheels in Holland (I think) so anyhow I contacted them and I ask the question and like most companies I got a politicians answer so that slightly put me off. Moving on to the last few weeks and days I have got a new LOOK 765 (2022 model) but was using alloy wheels for the first month while waiting to sell my Basso. The bike bike shop offered me a trade in on a new set of wheels but my choices were only with companies they dealt with so I opted with Corima Essential 40 All-road Hookless. I went for Corima because they actually do manufacture their wheels in France. I’ve only ridden them twice, last Thursday and today. The verdict is still out but I can highly recommend my Parcours Wheels and I thinks if I was to go again I’d just go for the Parcours. Thank you as always for your great content.

[@Mapdec]

Nice. Sounds like a sweet ride.

[@DavidStacey-tx7on]

2018 bought new Parcour Grimpuer and never had an issue. In my 2011 Tarmac a 25mm is max tyre but that is plenty, anything over 25mm and I will go mtb riding. Wheels cost AUD990, still have them and love them

[@piglegluckson9156]

Thank you for sharing your "DEEP" Wheels knowledge. I run 3T 60 LTD Discus with build-in factory installed Ceramicspeed bearings for 3 years without any issues. Still running "True" after 15000 miles up & down San Francisco Russian Hill

[@Rafael-vu2xn]

He really kept it rolling am I right

[@sjtutty]

Thank you for putting this together. I spent ages and ages researching value carbon wheels but after getting caught in rain four rides in a row (rim brakes, there's some left out there!) went for alloy from Scribe. So far really pleased but blimey, that freehub is LOUD so can sympathise!

[@zinpaw]

Nice video - as always. I was getting brake rub when out of the saddle with Zipp 404s and it was almost eliminated when I switched to a set of Bora WTO 60s, so stiffness can be important and can be significantly different between wheels.

[@n22pdf]

Great vid and very honest which is awesome.. thanks for creating this dude 😊😃😃🚴🏻👍 love my Campagnolo shamals I uhave 2 x sets of ally rim and carbon disc been excellent and easy to service hubs etc

[@RB-xv4si]

My Bora Ultra WTO 60s have been great. Very stiff, aero, and not too heavy given their depth. Their hub bearings are amazingly smooth. Like glass.

[@StopTheRot]

Campagnolo are awesome wheels

[@KrazyKrzysztof]

better be at that price lol

[@raffel66]

How about the cross winds and mostly hilly terrain ? I am between 45 and 60. I am 82kg guy

[@markj.a351]

@@raffel66 I'm 84kg. I love my WTO 60s. zero issues with cross winds and hills.

[@bobowsinski1704]

I bought a set of 50mm Elite wheels but substituted Dt Swiss hubs and named brand spokes for serviceability. So far they seem fine. First set of carbon wheels. My local bike shop checked them out and mounted them only 1 spoke needed to be tweaked. Happy so far.

[@athleteservice_henley]

Great minds think alike! FFWD Ryot 33/44/55 are our go-to wheel for value for performance with DT Hubs. And more often now on Time frames too! I (as a bike shop owner and can choose nearly anything) ride a Time ADHX with FFFWD Ryot 55/DT240 hubs as road setup (28mm GP5000) setup is fast, comfortable, great handling and reliable (ride outside all year none of the indoor nonsense).

[@WowRixter]

Ive got a pair of 44's and 55's and love them

[@bradhester9923]

What groupset do you recommend on the ADHX for road riding? I love the SRAM 1x on my gravel bike. I would be riding gently rolling roads with occasional steep but fairly short climbs.

[@nadsim154]

Thank you for your quality content !

[@adderhoney]

Thanks for this excellent video. I have Fulcrum wheels on my bikes. Airbeat 550 wheels for my aero bike, DB800 wheels as my winter hoops, Racing 5 and 4 when I want a peppier feel. I am really happy with that brand. I bought some Scribe Duty D wheels a few years ago, and they lasted one short ride on the bike. The freehub noise was like a dentist's drill. I actually cut my ride short to rush home and change them, lol 😂. I love the very subdued freehub noise of the Fulcrums. ❤

[@Mapdec]

Glad it helped

[@daviddjerassi]

A great open review plenty of experience behind your recommendations you covered most of the spectrum if i may add if your in a road club there are plenty of very good secondhand wheels about some barely used unwanted by wealthy bikers .thank you loved the video.

[@macanbhaird1966]

Great recommendations...thanks for this!

[@jevgeniardassov]

Purchased Elite gravel G35 wheels. My points were, they are 35 mm high, so not very affected by crosswinds, I live ashore, it is mostly very windy here. I wanted them to bare at least 110kg, system weight and those had 120 kg, bikepacking plus I myself am a 85 kg rider. Weigh is 1450 grams a pair, did not want carbon spokes, parts are hard to get since I live at the end of the world, sapim race CX bladed spokes, brass nipples. Wheels use off the shelf bearings as well. And the price was 700.- euros, so I went for it. Yes, they are not the widest, fastest, lightest or the stiffest but they fit my budget and I basically did not have to compromise on anything. Not overexpensive, sturdy and easy to repair (Sapim spokes, catalogue bearings, brass nipples) rated to 120 kg… Not a pain in the a*** in crosswinds, which is 99% of the time where I live…

[@JoeW71]

I bought a set of alloy wheels from a small shop in California. They also have carbon wheels and they only build and sell wheels. Mine came with a sheet with the spoke tensions listed and signed by the builder and 3 spare spokes, 1 for each different length. When I got a new (used) bike I kept my Neugent wheels and sold the old bike with the Scott wheels from the new bike. Very pleased.

[@dariusvick1636]

Excellent information. Thank you.

[@Mapdec]

Glad it was helpful!

[@dariusvick1636]

I pretty much knew the points you were making but I still nice to things in a very comprehensive manner. I’ll be sharing this link with anyone who has questions on which wheel to buy. When you know better you do better. 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽

[@teachemwell4961]

I love your channel, keep on filming.

[@shus5787]

Don't buy hookless

[@guantisengkun4342]

Why not? U too broke for it?

[@phuphan913]

​@@guantisengkun4342nah he just wants to be alive

[@M3GRSD]

Don't buy hookless because fitting tubeless tires on some wheels straight up suck.

[@Themildcyclist]

Agree too many limitations

[@Jamess92]

​@@Themildcyclisti recommend hookless if you are not a heavy rider

[@moobaz8675]

That was good. Very useful. I've made some terrible wheel choices in the past, but lessons learned.

[@Mapdec]

Glad it was helpful!

[@matsrekdal3065]

Had my 1170$ Winspace 2023 Hyper R33 set for almost a year now. Light, super stiff, delivered with 3 spare carbon spokes and even with my 97 kg's, there was practically no tuning / adjustment needed when i had them serviced recently. Very happy with them.

[@Mapdec]

Keep in touch. You are the test subject for these wheels. Keen to know

[@matsrekdal3065]

@@Mapdec will do. Bought them much due to good reviews from people like Peak Torque and Hambini, and i also come from poor experiences with top carbon wheels from both Bontrager and Zipp, so i figured why not.

[@TXLogic]

I have a Winspace Hyper wheelset as well, the Hyper 23 SE R45 (rim brake version). Absolutely amazing wheelset with great, in-depth reviews (for both the 23s and earlier generations) from reliable, independent experts. Winspace deserved an explicit recommendation here.

[@matsrekdal3065]

@@TXLogic Will buy the SE model next time. Identical wheels, but cheaper due to no ceramic bearings. 🙂

[@abigaelbalbuena1917]

Hello! Just pinging in to see what your experience has been after these 10 mos

[@ftekkie]

I had a head-on crash trashing my front Farsports wheel. They gave me a discount on a new rim, shipped in a few weeks with the old Sapim CX Rays and DT Swiss hubs reused by a local wheel builder. A very solid experience.

[@rorysellar6613]

Great reviews, just what is needed in theses days of fluff and fog.

[@WowRixter]

I found my perfect wheelsets. I was looking for DT Swiss 240EXP hubs, good bladed spokes, external brass nipples, reasonable weight, tubeless ready with 'hooked' rims, and good customer buying experience (as I had questions). FFWD checked all the boxes for me

[@christophersalvador8380]

wish this was around when i was in the market. research got me there but it took an incredibly long time to even understand the dimension of the market, let alone making a decision. very useful vid!!

[@Mapdec]

Glad it was helpful!

[@paulstuart9465]

Many of the risks associated with wheels upto the £1000 mark are negated when you can build and maintain them yourself. I bought a couple of sets of Light Bicycle aero rims based on PT's build and they're very good. Using DT hubs and cx-ray spokes.

[@themindgarage8938]

I can also vouch for Light Bicycle, but these days given price increases, shipping and the weaker pound they're basically £1000 wheels now. Still, 2 seasons (each with ~10 months of use), basically zero maintenance and zero problems is very impressive

[@richardgate1571]

I do this also. Nextie and Carbonal also good rim choices

[@harryadams4070]

I agree with the self-build option. I bought a pair of Light Bicycle 45mm deep rims, delivered for £320. At 77 I do no competitive cycling but enjoy a bit of bling. Using Bitex hubs and Sspim Race spokes with brass nipples I built a wheelset at 1560gms for the tidy sum of £490. Buyers of carbon wheelsets from retailers should be cautious. A clubmate bought a set of Token C45 carbon wheels from a major online retailer, mentioned in Paul's video. After 3 months of steady road riding a rear spoke broke. The retailer refused to replace the wheel. Nor did they offer to replace the spoke. The rider was told to take the wheel to his local bike shop, get the spoke replaced and they, the retailer, would cover the cost. In my opinion they failed to meet their obligations as set out in the Consumer Rights Act. There is a wider issue, that of a retailer's capacity to fulfil their legal obligation to replace, repair or refund when goods are faulty. The wheels use Pillar aero bladed spokes. The retailer does not stock replacements and they also stated that they had no arrangement with Pillar to supply them. As far as I know there is no UK distributor for Pillar spokes so the local bike shop had to install a bladed spoke that did not match the original one. Buyer beware. If you're buying Chinese built wheelsets from a UK retailer, check availability of spokes and rims, items that wear out or get damaged.

[@LogicalQ]

+1 for nextie. Repurposed a super fatty 27.5” x 85mm carbon rim for use on a unicycle. It’s held up for the past few years with 0 maintenance despite my 200 lbs of abuse. Effortless Tubeless.

[@rcg9573]

@@LogicalQ You'll be a good deal faster if you add a second wheel to that rig. I promise!

[@nicknick194]

I got some Mavic Cosmic SLR 45's at a very good price and initially I was disappointed with how even a 25mm tyre 'lightbulbed' and the bead but when I switch them between my other wheels including Zipp 303, the Mavic ride quality is far superior and make the bike feel much more agile. I've had no problems either. And no rim tape is required 💪

[@Phaidrus]

Indeed. Mavic are quality wheels - I ride a 2017 Cosmic 40 disc set and they've been performing flawlessly. Regarding inner width, I'm seriously tempted by the Cosmic SLR 32 with 21mm inner width and 1390g total wheelset weight.

[@ivanboesky1520]

I ride a pair of Ksyrium SLs as training and rec wheels. Very tough wheel with decent climbing characteristics, and these things have been abused on potholes and rough roads. Never had to true a spoke yet. Used to ride some SSCs with the same results.

[@shoff535]

I’ve had really good luck with Campagnolo. Finally retired my alloy Ventos (8sp clincher) from the 90’s. They were rock solid and have 10s of thousands of miles on them. They are a heavy training wheel, but they roll nicely down hills 😊 For the longest time I road Campy Electons (clinchers) from around the year 2000, still ride them but they are no longer my lightest. Next I added a set of HED Ardennes around 2008, also clinchers, these have worked well for training and racing because they are quite light. Finally around 2013 I added a set of rim brake 35mm Boras (they came with my Wilier. I’ve been lucky, no nightmare wheels!

[@aaronbrewer3499]

can i have your ventos? rebuilding my bike from the 90s….

[@shoff535]

@@aaronbrewer3499 ha, you’re too late, I gifted them to a friend awhile back, sorry 🤷‍♂️

[@rubenkuperus8318]

Thanx for explaining all the wheel stuff that is gaining round these days. Haven't read any comment on Scope wheels, but I love them. Got them second hand and only just recently thought about how little they botter me :-). I Have a pair of R5 rim brake wheels and I abuse them quite a lot; bumps, potholes, gravel and even some side scars of high stones I overlooked one time... Still through and running smooth. I am looking for a new bike and they are a no brainer for me to buy again and put on a Time ADH (or a pair of wheels with a nice DT Swiss hub 🙂). 2 side notes: I did had to balance the wheels, there was a very annoying wobble at high speeds (I used to race them on my local circuit with a slight downhill run to the finish). Is this balancing thing still an issue on modern disc brake wheels? The other note is that after 5 years the braking surface is fading, so in the rain they are becoming pretty bad. But on the dry days I trust them completely and I can still lock my tires up during an emergency brake....

[@bitchoflivingblah]

Best set of wheels I have ever had are a set of secondhand Cycle Division Cero Aero wheels for £150. They were wreaked by a cycle mechanic who didn't realise how light and delicate the rims were. But they were fast, light and I flippin' loved them. I replaced them with a set of Shimano C35's alu again and I was surprised how delicate those rims were as well, but that's the tradeoff for lightness I guess. They are pretty good as well.

[@davidburgess741]

When I build the wheels, I know who to congratulate! Carbon drove the need for disk brakes and dictated the "NEED" for B B standards to keep changing. Time marches on, but it's unlikely to meet the durability of the older stuff. Definitely slower than newer, but older has a handmade soul. They spoke Italian , English, and Japanese mostly. My wheels handle really, really well.

[@user-hl2dd5pv3c]

Fulcrum, they are bomb proof im 88 kilos and have a set of redwind 55 fulcrums love them.

[@adamcoppock5018]

I got a pair of DT Swiss GR531 aluminum rims built up with some 240 hubs by a local wheel builder for my crux, and they are brilliant. I couldn't see how a pair of carbons would be much better for gravel and they are certainly a lot more money. Road... probably a different story, I would still buy some carbon rims but probably a 45 is the sweet spot with side winds, probably wouldn't bother with aero spokes because of the noise and would use some DT Swiss rims. Thanks for the tip on the vens and riots. They look great value all said and done.

[@r.d.vaughan4541]

Your videos are so jammed packed with quality content they don't get sent to "Watch Later". I'm five rides into a stock to carbon wheel set upgrade and what you have covered significantly reflects my own purchasing experience. To keep my budget for a "luxury" purchase reasonable, I initially targeted direct from China brands and wrote off domestic retailers as being far too expensive. During countless reviews, KZbin videos and Reddit posts, I started to become more cautious about the risk reward balance. In the end the crash replace policy and lifetime warranty of the wheel I chose plus the availability of replacement parts for the foreseeable future, made me reconsider the perceived saving, until I came back to a domestic purchase. Obviously accepting a revision of my initial budget. So far the "luxury" purchase has delivered as advertised, still subtle for the cost but the upgrade doesn't leave me with buyer's remorse. The only benefit not mentioned to much with carbon wheels was that my max wattage per ride has consistently leaped much more than average power or speed. Climbing was even better than advertised although I hoped that would happen. Thanks again for your content, much appreciated.

[@Mapdec]

Thank you. What did you get?

ICAN alpha 55s for ~650euros, same weight as my previous aluminium wheels (~1500g) - but SO MUCH faster. Aero rules! Best update ever

[@paulwebster4499]

I agree with one of your past videos , If I was in the market for a new bike I would buy a giant framest if i could get one and build it up without hookless rims!

[@shepshape2585]

I have a 38mm set of SuperTeam carbon wheels that I bought 5 years ago off of Amazon. They were on sale for $275, down slightly from their normal price of $325. You can still buy a set of their wheels for around $300-$400. 5 years and many thousands of miles later and they still look great, are still extremely true, and I would buy another pair if these ever break/fail/whatever. There is absolutely no reason to spend over $1,000 on a pair of wheels unless you are getting paid to race on them, and even then, I just can't see it making that big of a difference. RIding a bike comes down to 15% equipment and 85% the motor. You can't buy speed. You'd be better off buying the wheels I have and just learning to be in a more aero position on the bike. It's free and will save you way more time and watts than any set of wheels ever will.

[@michaelgarcia5181]

I got three pair of Superteams…2 discs and 1 rim brake. Great wheels and sound great with absolutely NO issues on all three bikes.

[@diehardbikes]

See, I think for some people, maybe Superteam wheels are fine. But myself as a racer, I can't do super team wheels. They are cheap and they are not well made. They are impossible to get parts for. And they don't hold up to the rigors of racing. I cant say any of the Chinese brand with maybe the exception of the higher end far sports stuff is any good. It's all cheap for a reason. You don't get quality when you go cheap. Going just over 1k is great because you get parts that are more bombproof, like DT Swiss hubs, which are easy to service and get parts for. You can get those bearings at basically any bike shop. You just cannot say that about ANY Chinese brand. If you have issues, you will be screwed. I wouldnt put 100 into Chinese wheels. I wouldnt even pay 50. They are just not worth it. For your purpose, maybe they work. And good for you. But its not a quality product and having ridden and raced hundreds of products over the years, I cant recommend anyone buy anything under 500. Unless it's used on Ebay. Just don't. You will regret it.

[@diehardbikes]

Also, you can buy speed. You just gotta get your equipment to a point that it's decent. From there, the biggest gains will come from you. You don't need Zipps or Enves to be fast. But you should have quality stuff like DT Swiss hubs. A good quality chain kept clean and lubed. Lubed cables and shifters. All that costs money but does make you significantly faster. You can buy speed. There's just a point where you are paying more for stuff than speed. And that's not what you want.

[@peterwillson1355]

​@@diehardbikeshubs really don't make much of a difference, at all. Marketing hype.

[@diehardbikes]

@peterwillson1355 that's bull. It really is. Especially when you have a well made set. Get a set of Chris King hubs and you will change your mind very quick. Or at least a decent set of hubs like the DT 240s with the 54t ratchet. If you are on the road you don't need more than the 36t ratchet, but the 54t is more fun. I have a set of Kappius components hubs with 240 points of engagement that I wish I could ride on every set of my wheels. I also have a few sets of wheels with Bontragers 108 hub. Once you ride one of these hubs and get used to it and you go back to whatever crap you are riding, you will never say that again. Better bearings, better serviceability, and faster engagement. Once you have a set of these you will never go back. Ever.

[@abhimawa1]

Nobody that I know offers opinion on wheelsets this way. This is how it should be. Good one 👍

[@Mapdec]

Thanks.

[@shannonparker7404]

Just gold. Buying wheels is a minefield and the confusing marketing bs out there has overwhelmed me. Thankyou for putting the effort into this. This channel is excellent. Now, to see if ffwd support is as good in Australia as it is in the UK...

[@Mapdec]

Thank you. Let us know how it goes.

[@shannonparker7404]

@@Mapdec Will do. I'm having trouble finding a relevant Australian dealer, so have emailed FFWD to ask.

[@StreamBikesNL]

Thanks for sharing Paul!! You made interesting points. Have been a Hunt dealer for the past 16mo and very happy with them and their service, so happy to hear your positive thoughts too. The problem I have with carbon spokes apart from replacement difficulty, is the fact that spokes are meant to bend and carbon does not like it to be bend. 😂. Also a more thorough analysis of the different types of hub setup and bearing choice (e.g. Steel vs alloy vs ceramic types of seals and layout of hubs in combination of maintenance). Thanks again!

[@Mapdec]

Oh man. I didn’t know hunt had dealers. How do you cope with the noise?

[@StreamBikesNL]

@Mapdec I seriously have headphones laying around in my workshop just for this purpose. Most of my customers love this about Hunt.

[@abhattal]

Carbon can be made to tolerate bending or flexing, just ask Adrian Newey at Red Bull F1.

[@danc1829]

I own a set of campy Bora wto rims and shamals (rim brake) Agree with your comments excellent climbing wheels and the boras imo are some of the best looking wheels with the exposed carbon. The braking on them is FAR BETTER than any wheelset I've tried to date. Only down side is cost. The shamals like the boras also an excellent wheel and just as light which is very impressive for an alloy rim.

[@n22pdf]

I also use shamals 2x sets of ally ultras and a set of carbon disc excellent wheels 😊😊👍🚴🏻❤️

[@PhiyackYuh]

Would you recommend shamals for alloy rim brake? Are they compatible to shimano cassettes?

[@danc1829]

@@PhiyackYuh yes great wheels also available with Shimano freehub 👍👍

[@n22pdf]

@@PhiyackYuh yes recommended 100% excellent alloy wheels c17 with ceramic bearings I have 2 x sets and yes can use shimano freehubs

[@user-cx2bk6pm2f]

Interesting point about the thicker outer profile. Some call this a "U-V" profile where there is a slight bulge before tapering to the spoke nipple. Best example I know of for this is the Roval Rapide CL II wheel. However, I also have the DT Swiss ARC 1400 wheel... and they do not implement a bulge. Bothe wheels are ~50mm deep. This is curious to me. I believe both Roval and DT Swiss wheels were designed with CFD simulation and prototypes put through verification testing in an actual wind tunnel. I believe both companies are competent and have aero expertise. I've ridden both and thoroughly enjoy the handling of each wheel... even though they appear to have quite different aero designs.

[@marksimpson3035]

I've got hunt 50mm carbon disc wheelset tlr & had them coming up four years now Paid 1k brand new , broken two spokes in that time & replaced with no issues , Nice rolling & solid on the rough road surfaces Also have the 44mm fast fwd carbon disc set , another no brainer when it comes to durability & maintenance With the right tyres these are all sweet , without the stress of fixing & getting stranded out in the remote areas Happy cycling 😊

[@johnweidenfeller8136]

Paul - watched video on wheels/value/recommendations. Great stuff! Q:looking to build new gravel wheelset - comment on Sapim CX ray spokes vs Laser,, and DTSwiss spokes offset vs symmetrical, rim depth for gravel,thanks and keep it up!

[@atahsili]

Thank you for a great review… very interesting. May I suggest you do one for hubs?

[@Mapdec]

Have you seen our epic. How to review your own wheels vid?

[@sandswan]

Amazing content as usual. Fast becoming my fav channel. Have you managed to get your hands on Chris King's ARD44 wheels yet?

[@Mapdec]

Not yet! I doubt I ever will either.

[@MD0886]

Recently picked up a pair of SwissSide Hadron 2 ultimate wheels. 62mm deep, DTSwiss 180 hubs, carbon spokes 1500€. Definitely worth a mention in that price category!

[@Mapdec]

Oh. That’s a good buy. Congrats

[@aerobrain2001]

If I could have got those wheels through my LBS I’d have loved to try them!

[@andreemurray7039]

Have got a pair of zipps ok but I like alloy rims and still good on tubular tyres found with the carbon deep section rims not good in a cross wind

[@markmccann-wood2225]

Regards rim brakes... 15+ yr old Campagnolo Neutron Ultras absolutely bomb proof, never adjusted them once, still on original bearings & freehub - well over 15k mls. Hunt 38mm, 2nd set of rear bearings & freehub. Replaced under warranty but took ages. Good braking service - wouldn't buy another set based on reliability. 60mm Yoeleo DT Swiss hubs/sapian spokes. Absolutely brilliant! About 5yrs old, no adjustments required at all. Super smooth, very comfortable with a wide rim. Stable in cross winds & light enough to climb in the Dolomites with (over 4k accent in a day) highly recommend

[@joelglenny748]

More very helpful advice on wheel upgrades. Thank you. I wonder if your able to offer some advice a short video or comment on Shimano road pedals clipping in safely tips. Having only used Shimano MTB pedals on my road bike I upgraded to 105 pedals and Lake road shoes. But on three occasions when trying to clip in always with my left foot as I use at junctions, traffic lights, roundabouts before setting off trying to clip back in my foot slips off the pedal presumably because the pedal is upside down and I cut the inside of my foot just above my ankle. Now I'm wondering whether to go back to double sided MTB cleats and considerably cheaper MTB dorica shoes which were so much easier. On the wheel front I'm liking Shimano offering like you say spare parts should be around for decades or splash the cash and go with FFWD T wheels for longevity and serviceable dtswiss hubs. As always your advice and content is invaluable. ❤

[@Mapdec]

Keep practicing. Everyone has gone through that fumble. I just switched to look pedals after decades on Shimano. Felt like a total noob for a month. Got the hang of it now. Go for the FFWD. The rim shape is better,

[@Onigure]

Great content as always. I'm a fan. Cheers! One point to consider: Tires... Not only width, but brand and type can absolutely change a set of wheels for better or worse. My grain of salt as a weekend coffee rider: Mavic Cosmic 50s: at 10.000k they have performed excelent, I have the luck to be near a LBS that can service them. Very comfortable paired with GPGT 25mm ELITE Drive 50v: I took the leap of faith when PT got a KOM with a set. They have delivered. My favorite ever set ever. They are STIFF. Too stiff for 25mm in my opinion. I have them with a pair of GP5000 28mm. I'm tempted to get a pair of Elite ENT for 400usd for my commuter. I will trust TraceVelo.

[@quarkonium3795]

I would contest the assertion that Carbon Wheels should be the first upgrade you make to your bike, at least if you bought a lower-end bike. Apart from things that don't go on the bike itself like clothes or shoes, the first upgrade I would choose would be the saddle since low-end bikes are typically fitted with below-average saddles that won't usually suit the rider. They are often below $50 and I'd look to upgrade to something in the $100-$200 range unless the saddle works well for you immediately (unlikely). Next would be tires. Tires are cheap enough and bring such an improvement to speed (more so than most wheel upgrades) that in my opinion it's worth picking up something like a pair of GP5000s as long as you can afford them. Then I would start thinking about wheels

except that most saddles in 100-200 range are shite also.

[@natursyndk]

I ride on a mix of tarmac and gravel. I got both DT Swiss GR1600 and carbon hookless rims for gravel with DT Swiss hubs. Both wheelsets are fantastic, and I would recommend both. On a low budget, I'll would go for the alloy rims.

[@JLongTom]

Smart. Bike fit (spend the money if you can't get it right on your own), saddle (keep trying until it's perfect) and tyres are all much more important than wheels. Few here will have compared wheels in a blind (and deaf) test. Many would be in for a surprise if they did.

[@ztzexplorer]

Any thoughts on the Rolf Prima Elan wheelset? I’m thinking of buying a pair. Thanks for the great video.

[@davidoliver4567]

Thanks for good content and especially for the obvious care you have for us consumers. If going for 45-55mm carbon wheels, Bitex or 350DT hubs, true tubeless rims (no access hole)...any advantage disadvantage and/or opinion on asymmetric vs symmetric rims? Thx heaps

[@Mapdec]

If you break a spoke on a true tubeless and you don’t keep the nipple in place with tape asap. Your mechanic will hate you. To fix you need to remove all the nipples up to the broken one. Then carefully thread them back together with a special magnet. Expect a large repair bill. Asy vs Sy. Helps balance spike tension on very tightly built wheels. This can help heavy riders or touring bikes.

[@martinwale3266]

I’m running Zipp 303s hookless with conti GP5000 TR 28mm tyres tubeless set up they have been amazing , I’m no wheel boffin so am a bit vague over the benefits of hooked v hookless all I know is they are super smooth

[@youloveulises]

My choice of rim, CX Ray spokes, DT 350/bitex/etc hubs shipped to my door for ~7-800 usd. I love Farsports and highly recommend them for carbon wheels. No need for more than that, my road bike set was perfect out of the box and is still rolling strong.

[@dhalbrook]

Same here. I bought Farsports Feder 45, DT 240, CX-Ray here for ~1050 USD. 1350 grams on the mark, fast rolling, plenty stiff, and super stable in crosswinds. Very happy with them. No need to spend more IMO.

[@DanTuber]

@@dhalbrook Same setup. Been good wheels. Paul telling us to spend £1500+ on wheels is unnecessary.

[@EasySteve-vi6yz]

Same here, DT 350 + CX-RAY Spokes for 740$, tax and shipping included. Since they only offer 24 spoke options for the DT 350 hub I asked if they have a 28 spoke hub as well and they sourced the 350 hub with 28 Spokes for me. Customer service great as well. Every Mail was replied to within the same day. I've a 10 kg gravel bike and I don't need super stiff, super light, super aero and I believe 95% of the customers don't need it as well, Only racers.

[@dhalbrook]

@@EasySteve-vi6yz I'm surprised you went with CX-Rays instead of a burlier spoke.

[@cccpkingu]

Wheel manufacturers aren't starting by taking a hookless design and extruding that out, so hookless isn't stronger. It is lighter, paying the price of not holding the tyre on if the pressure gets too high, which is exactly what happens when you hit stuff.

[@rg807]

I have a pair of Winspace Lun wheels on my gravel bike. They have been fantastic. I run Enve 4.5 on my roadbike and I've been riding/racing for 40 years, so I've owned a lot of wheels. Winspace and a couple of others are too big, now, to ignore. And they have a dealer program.

[@MrSzwarz]

Stiking with reputable, known brand like DT Swiss , you will not make mistaje for 1300-1600 35=40mm carbon wheelset. Bang on. Perfect hubs, spokes and durability.

[@whitebeardcycles]

I was the UK distributor for a far eastern brand. I did my research as a former sceptical product design engineer. I found there's good and bad Chinese carbon and I totally agree accountability is key. I ensured they met ISO and EN stds. Of the sales we made over two years for wheels and frames I only ever had 1 crash damaged and one warranty issue and in both cases the brand replaced without question. New UK viewer btw

[@FooFahFoeFum]

If possible respond to this... I'm 205 pounds/93kilo ...10 speed shimano ..... .looking to upgrade to carbon ..... rim brake .... want 25/27mm exterior width max ..... want to ride 28 mm clinchers ..... 30 to 36 depth .... I am a weekend rider 100k a ride ....non hilly.... not more than 500US $ ......what brand to buy? ... what model ????

[@whitebeardcycles]

@@FooFahFoeFum I would say look at Elite, Ican and Yoeleo. Elite cater for all budgets and are very good. Normally I'd say $6-700 is more likely to get something you want but with Black Friday approaching you may just get what you are looking for. Good luck

[@jaybe6188]

What was the brand?

[@whitebeardcycles]

@@jaybe6188 Yoeleo

[@christiancooper2342]

Vote for Bontrager mid range wheels (Pro 5 TLR rim brake and Pro 3v disc brake) which seem pretty decent from personal experience. Cost just over £1k with good quality rims, DT Swiss spokes, brass nips and own brand hubs. I think they have now been replaced by other models but would assume they are just as good.

[@cunning-stunt]

BTLOS Top of range wide rims with Sapim CX ray spokes and brass nipples, 32 hole rim with Hope pro 4 hubs. I have been smashing these down mountain bike non bike park black trails for almost 2 years now. Loose sharp rocky trails. No issues. Great company to deal with. Don't just listen to the brand snobs.

[@johnnyboy4711]

ProX carbon wheels for my winter CX build 400 USD,hambini has done a super review

[@johnnyboy4711]

Elite wheels 50s three years hasn't skipped a beat 400euro,so good bought TT wheels as a result,UCI approved.

[@JibbaJabber]

Token make a nice gravel ('allroad') wheelset, the Prime Roubx G33. Decent weight, superwide, superstrong and well built.

[@rejean2744]

Just ordered Roval C38 wheelset. Marked down to $825. Hopefully a decent purchase. Any tips on what my bike shop should do (look for) before putting them on ?

[@aerobrain2001]

Loving my FFWD RYOT wheels so far. I’m a larger rider (97kg) and they seem to handle my weight well! Got the 55s and no problems with cross winds as well which is a bonus. I did spend the extra for the DT 240 hubs as I’m a huge DT Swiss fan.

[@Mapdec]

Nice. Love those 55s

[@aerobrain2001]

@@Mapdec one thing though, I’m sure the RYOT wheels use DT Aerolite (think that’s the name) spokes and not CX Ray. I’m sure FFWD said they did that as although there’s a small weight penalty their testing showed they’re stronger.

[@harrymollon1376]

Hello :) I’m currently looking at the Ffwd ryot, stuck between choosing the 44 or 55s. You still happy with your 55s

[@aerobrain2001]

@@harrymollon1376 yep absolutely love them! I’m a heavier rider (90kg+) but they don’t seem bad in the wind. And they look awesome :-)

[@JFomo]

16:29 Lol I just put down an order for the 353 😅 All good, I need all the climbing and crosswind help I can get, plus Instagram Likes 👍

[@spinnetti]

If I wanted to spend a lot more, I'd probably get Zip 303 but don't want to spend that much as a normal rec rider. I got some cheapie Chinese carbons off Amazon and could pick the F/R depths I wanted. First nice bit was they spun up true, with no spoke pinging when I mounted the tires or on first ride. They were couple hundred grams lighter than my Aluminum Mavics, spin with less friction and are stiffer, wider internal width, combined with aero benefit and much snappier handling I couldn't be happier. For my wife's cheaper bike, they were a much bigger improvement - 300 grams lighter, MUCH freer spinning and she was 1.5mph faster on average on our standard 30mile loop. These are rim brake, and braking performance stinks with the included pads, but a pad switch will probably help. No intention of overspending on the big names.

[@bernieraverty4319]

Great video…can you answer which would make a better touring wheel for a 250 lb guy…DT Swiss hub and carbon rim or DT Swiss hub and DT Swiss aluminum rim? Thank you

[@1983gravestock]

Hey, great video! What are your thoughts on Fulcrum Wheels in particular fulcrum wind 57? Thank you and keep up the great work.

[@Mapdec]

Yeah they are ok. Easy to maintain and live with

[@scottwatson7844]

I’m quite tempted by the dura ace c50 wheels.

[@johnnyboy4711]

Elite SLT pro wheels 3 years no issues,440 euro.would buy again in the morning.

[@juergenzettner2523]

Giant slr2 hookless with conti gp5000/30mm tubeless make a perfect smooth ride. They hold pressure since 6weeks now. Retails for

[@WeirdFishStick]

Done 3000 km on DT Swiss ERC 1100, by far my favorite wheels with 28mm TT tyres there's literally no road buzz and I live where roads are quite bad condition. Looks good, sounds amazing with 240 hubs and quite lightweight at 1450g for 47mm depth.

[@Mapdec]

Thanks for sharing!

[@GS-pk9rd]

Highly rate Reynolds. Still using a set of their 46mm carbon tubulars since 2012! Really strong and light, with just a bearing service (DT190/240 hubs), to keep them going. Have another set of the same rim that I've built up on Tune hubs. Even lighter! Suggest for fair weather/ Sunday best riding only though as they're pretty narrow and uncompromising. Otherwise Campag Zonda AKA Fulcrum Racing 3..the absolute sweet spot of strength, stiffness, weight, price for alu rims and in recent years they've made them in wider versions.

[@SichardRamuels]

I am sorely tempted to pull the trigger on some Black Friday Roval Alpinist CLX to complete my lovely Alpe d'Huez. Any thoughts on them?

[@global_nomad.]

I'm another owner and user of the Winspace Hypers. 50mm deep for rim brakes and a set for disc too. Both sets have around 8000km on them and have been faultless, though i would like to get the disc set checked. Easy to look after - even bearings can accessed or be taken out with a simple press. Came with spare spokes. Winspace also sent out a replacement wheel with a discount and without any fuss when i cracked a rim. Happy with how they ride - another note in the comments notes how much difference tires make - i'm on veloflex and currently trying the agilist. When those feel too fragile i have michelin power road.

[@Mapdec]

Veloflex. Super nice when the conditions suit. As you say, special occasion tyre. I have never worn a set out, they always rip or delaminate before they get that far. 😞.

[@global_nomad.]

@@Mapdec i guess that raises another point - in the past with tubes i could swap tyres quickly and easily, now on tubeless its too much faff, so unless i have various wheelsets i stick to one tire until it is finished.

[@dcee604]

I own 2 pairs of Vision Metron SL's ( one set in 40 and one set in 55). Fast and smooth, haven't had any issues with them in 2 years. Also have a set of HED GC3 for my gravel bike, and these have been durable and spin up fast. And I would agree on the Campy Bora, as I have a set of them (45's) on another bike. These wheels are fast! Just coasting downhill, will pass most everyone coasting.

[@Mapdec]

Visions are solid wheels.

[@rlake349]

Roval carbon wheels have been nothing short of amazing for me.

[@ESeppOz]

Great video, thanks for sharing! Any views on wheels for heavier riders that are bit more nimble than ultra heavy duty touring wheels? Some Bontrager wheels claim to not have a weight limit (but that hub sound is annoying), also the 9Velo gravel wheels similarly claim no rider weight limit. On another note, I broke a spoke on a Shimano aluminium wheelset (GRX WH-RX570 700C), and had one heck of a time locating spare spokes where I live, so not sure if I trust Shimano wheels for getting spares.

[@Mapdec]

I would commission something custom. Some VENN or Pacenti rims. Choose a higher spoke count. A stiffer spoke and a really reliable hub.

[@dogukantosun5547]

Great Vid.

[@Mapdec]

It’s a bit easy really. Shimano, DT Swiss Kysrium, Forza, Shamal. There is not as much choice as there used to be.

[@dogukantosun5547]

@@Mapdec +Fulcrum Racing

@@Mapdec Scribe Race

[@Mapdec]

@ we did a vid on scribe …

@@Mapdec ...and? (i musta have missed it)

[@filipski595]

if you're on a budget buy yourself a set of aluminium wheels, like Dt-Swiss E1800 Spline, and you'll notice a massive difference, while having a wheels from a reliable brand, only £250!

[@Marcus-us3ws]

Feedback from personal experience with a broken wheel Fast Forward: Quick reaction at a very reasonable price even though it was a wheel purchased second-hand, with no history. I recommend !

[@Mapdec]

Thanks for sharing!

[@chrism5433]

Fantastic video. Im new to road cycling. Pretty pricey .might need to stick to aluminium. I told my wife new wheels are 1500 plus lol. I won't say what she said lol. Cheers 🍺

[@philc9305]

Bought some low end mercury carbon wheels a few years ago they are slightly better than stock aluminum wheels for weight and aero. Having to do it again I would have got something a bit better certainly wider than 19mm internal.

[@stephenbarnes5850]

Love all your videos really look forward to seeing them but could you please do a comparable video for carbon MTB wheels thanks for all your hard work

[@Mapdec]

I’ve been trying. It’s quite hard. There isn’t really the choice. Been trying to get a hold of a set of crank bro Synthisis for ages to test.

[@stephenbarnes5850]

​​​​Thanks for trying😊 really value your experience and knowledge

[@sangchuw]

Thank you for the video always enjoy watching your opinion! I am keen to buy enve ses or zipp 353 or cadex ultra. I am wondering if hookless rim would have more chance of blowing tyre off as I (92kg) will be using the higher tyre pressure almost the limit of the manufacturers recommendation.

[@Mapdec]

Those are some expensive wheels. So keeping with the video, what exactly are you wanting from your wheels? How about some filament wound Venn rims built onto some Chris King hubs. Choose a higher spoke count. And some more rigid spokes at the rear like a D-light

[@sangchuw]

@@Mapdec I saw those wheels with world tour teams and youtubes and I know it is overkill for me, a recreational cyclist, however I like this hobby and I dont mind the price. I am wondering that you as a professional mechanic, would say for heavy rider hookless rim is risky. tbh, I have not dug enough into looking at building own wheel. Thank you for the reply and video! cheers

[@rayh7094]

Great video! Can you please review the Vel+? I know you did review it on this channel before but I was wondering what’s your thought about the RSL version with DT Swiss 240 hubs.

[@Mapdec]

Same with a better hubs. It’s a bit like hanging an Ultegra groupset off an open mould frame. They are using the DT Swiss hubs to give the rims credibility. I don’t think my opinion or advice would change.

[@sventice]

I like anything with DT Swiss hubs; they're reliable, roll pretty well, and easy to maintain at home, even if, like me, you're not the most mechanically gifted person in the room.

[@Bellerophon17]

I think there is a sweet-spot just above your 2nd category, where you buy from a Chinese company and choose your own components. In my case, Light Bicycle built a sub-1400g 45mm disc wheelset with CX Ray spokes and DT Swiss 240 hubs. No issues to report after almost 2 years and 14,000 km of riding. I can understand how paying more for peace of mind makes sense. If I had a problem, maybe I would have had a different experience.

[@EmmanuelNataf]

You did well to go with CX spokes. Here's what I got with their carbon spokes: kzbin.infoyMOlqI8VYSE. I'd recommend only getting rims from them, not whole builds.

[@dhalbrook]

Totally agree. LB, Farsports, Nextie and others allow you to customize the wheel but still have a great price. The only risk you're taking is the rim, and all of those companies have tons of experience making rims and a good warranty history.