Save your money!! $500 wheel test

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[Carftymk]

stock wheels VS what most people actually upgrade to first is a fantastic comparison. thank you jeff

[acem]

The tire being wider than the rim is the reason for the result. Once the air separates from the tire (pretty much right away if the rim is smaller), you can't get it to stick to the rim again. Therefore, the aero profile of both of these wheels was functionally the same. If you were to match the tire to the rim as close as possible (but never letting the tire be wider), you'd then get a meaningful test.
As for the "expensive" vs the "cheap" carbon wheels, all that really matters, ceteris paribus, is the wheel profile. If you got a $2000 pair of wheels with the same profile and put the same tire on it, you'd be within the margin of error. (Maybe a little faster due to theoretically better bearings.)

[davidballagh]

After watching both wheel comparison videos now you got me wondering what’s the real difference between the stock aluminum wheels and the carbon wheels at the price point you’re recommending ($1000-$1500).

[duxticus]

Bruh.... this should be pinned as the top search when newbies like myself go looking for "budget carbon wheels". All the bigger UK channels more or less say the same to rather save for a decent wheelset, but with them it always feels like there's an agenda, whereas this feels like legit good advice.

[Mububban]

The stock alloy wheels on my Giant were over 2kg. Upgrading those to AUD$800 Prime carbons dropped weight to 1500g and made the bike 1-2 gears faster/easier up undulations I’d become used to on my commute and local routes. Much better hubs, no longer feel like riding through treacle as soon as the road rises even slightly. Definitely worthwhile in my case.

[Jacob]

Love this channel’s content.

If you upgrade wheels, only do it once. Save and save, and then just get the best you can get

[jaredjackson]

Best bargain for carbon wheels is getting something built from Light Bicycle. I own two sets laced to Carbon Ti hubs with Sapim CX Ray spokes. Absolutely amazing wheels for the price and since they do their own carbon lay ups they have tons of profile options and customization. I’m about to order a third set for climbing.

[mhthmusicvideos]

I have a strict 10 - 90 rule. 10% ability, 90% how you look. The Ican's just look cooler. Not particularly scientific, but there you go :)

[abfutrell]

I bought the $900 Hunt 35mm. Everything was instantly faster/better compared to my stock aluminum wheels. The speed increase was most noticeable in corners. I shaved 1 kg off the bike.

[kevinc]

I put to the test HED wheels with carbon fairing against Fulcrum Zero aluminum wheels, each over a 60km run (move time = riding time). I was shocked the the HED wheels were slower by 1.5km/h and required more watts. The HED wheels had also wider tires (25 vs 23) which should have been faster.

[MainUkraine]

Now compare those aluminum wheels to the $600 Elitewheels Edge weighing 1291 grams. I'm sure you will see a benefit on the climb going from 1800g to 1291g wheelset.

[davemoss]

Here's a thing, if you went for alu wheels around the same price point as the icans or similar carbon wheels, the hubs on the aluminium wheels are likely to be better, and the best aluminium wheels are likely to be lighter to. The rims would be easier to replace, and rim brakes would be a good option too. So, my advice would be go for good aluminium wheels and forget about expensive carbon wheels untill you good enough to be paid to race.

[rubielrodriguez]

Can't believe this video was launched so quickly after the previous one. Would love to see the difference versus those same aluminum wheels versus carbon ones that are in the $1, 500 range

[ehrenfull]

I got my rim brake bike used and bought a pair of new 35mm deep aluminium Campagnolo Scirocco wheels for it. They look fast and sound fast, because of the wind noise at ~35kph and that's all that matters for an amateur hobbyist like me :)

Carbon would probably be faster on the flats but I've had the brakes already overheat on a downhill recently and could feel the decline in braking power. Carbon wheels with a carbon rim braking surface would probably perform worse there.

[sams]

Love this mini-series, thanks Jeff (and James)!

[andrewgross]

This was great. I'd also like to see a video comparing stock wheels on a 105 level bike with after market aluminum wheels like the Boyd Altamont or Hunt alloy sl that are quite a bit lighter than the stock wheels on bikes at that level.

[wellactually]

You should do stock aluminum wheels and entry carbon wheel sprints and downhill rides, it should be noticeable in difference

[peterlenz]

one of my favorite wheels was the aluminium Campagnolo Shamal wheel. They rolled incredibly well and felt great riding. Unfortunately the bike got stolen using it to commute to work.

[RacerX]

James has jokes. Best frame sticker ever!

[theatomic]

I was considering changing from stock DT Swiss PR1600 spline wheels to carbon, won't say which company but the DT swiss have 20 mm inner width and the carbon 19 mm. I know it's just one mm but IMHO makes a difference. There is zero evidence changing to carbon and narrowing the internal rim width (and hence the tire) improves performance. There are other aluminum rims with wider internals as well, of course.