Are Expensive Carbon Bike Wheels Actually Worth it?!

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.ย. 2024

ความคิดเห็น • 108

  • @NemanjaPantelic
    @NemanjaPantelic 2 ปีที่แล้ว +35

    For anyone who is riding on public roads, I don't see a need for pro-grade equipment, unless you're super-rich and you don't even notice spending 12k on a bike. But, given the budget stated here, I'd rather choose the more affordable wheel set and use the remaining cash to go on a 5 day cyclng vacation to Tenerife :) Climbing from sea level to Teide is something to remember!

  • @ap6584
    @ap6584 2 ปีที่แล้ว +45

    Been there done that with £2-3k wheels, wouldn't bother any more. £800-£1000 50mm carbons from a decent manufacturer like Hunt/Zipp/Miche etc with some good tyres like GP5000TL's will feel amazing, beyond that it's either pro's needing all the milliseconds they can get, or vanity imo

    • @crimson177
      @crimson177 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      That you are not terrified about destroying them. That adds a degree of confidence imo.

    • @andrewcockburn7484
      @andrewcockburn7484 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      50 mm hunts have been used to win a giro stage. Even pros do ok on them!

    • @BikesKomsCRO
      @BikesKomsCRO 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Even cheaper get Lun Winspace wheels, cheaper and same quality

    • @gregor350
      @gregor350 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@BikesKomsCRO In Germany 303s and Lun Winspace are now pretty much the same price. Lun 800 USD (750 Euro) and Mantel selling Zipp for 815 Euro. Never tought Zipp would compete pricewise with Winspace one day.

  • @timowen5772
    @timowen5772 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    The 303S won both tests, but there appeared to be a need to 'explain' away time differences, so that the more expensive wheels could be justified. If the results had been reversed, and the circumstances had been the same, I wonder if they would have been mentioned? Section at the end really say it all, the reviewer finds it difficult to say that the more expensive wheels are just not justified.

    • @danihe8528
      @danihe8528 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Totally agree

  • @moonfleet9537
    @moonfleet9537 2 ปีที่แล้ว +20

    For me, difference always has been hubs quality. And more expensive wheels not always better for that. You want reliable hubs that can resist to time and rains. Hubs you dont need to clean too often.

    • @Godspeed961
      @Godspeed961 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Whats the hub's lifetime? And whats the cost for a good wheelset with quality hubs. For me the price of wheelsets are insanely high for what they offer. You can buy a wheelset with 1k or 5 wheelsets with 200 euro and hubs will last longer for sure.

  • @paulmorrison30
    @paulmorrison30 2 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    I’ve found the £500 50mm Carbon deep section Prime wheels perform well enough for me!

    • @MrTedJourney
      @MrTedJourney 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Yep, their an absolute steal

  • @jonathanzappala
    @jonathanzappala 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Your videos have been lacking for a while, but the sealant and even this one were worth watching. Good work for making it good again.

  • @Nerzyster
    @Nerzyster 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    In my 25+ years in cycling, no they are not. First of all, i'm a pro bike mechanic and i've tried every possible "premium" brand of wheels like Campagnolo, Zipp, Fast Forward, DT Swiss, Enve, Lightweight, etc... Few years ago my friend recommend me to buy Hunt wheels, 36/50 Wide Aero rim brake set. Those hubs are work of very capable enginners, the tolerance and materials are top notch. Until today i rode 25000+ km on those wheels, one time i've truing them up, and every autumn and spring clean and grease hubs. The bearings are yet the first one, classic metal EZO bearings, and spinning like madness. Never ever i'm gonna spend money on some "premium" brand set of wheels.
    PS. in my workshop still have a Campagnolo and DT Swiss two times expensive set of wheels collecting a lot of dust :D :D

  • @ahrayahisrael494
    @ahrayahisrael494 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I got me a set of ELITE SLT 60mm/28mm wide full carbon wheels $600, they are excellent wheels, no complaints.

  • @Hintonbro.
    @Hintonbro. 2 ปีที่แล้ว +30

    Was hoping this video was if carbon wheels are worth it (vs high quality alloy) … not expensive carbon wheels vs very expensive carbon wheels.

    • @Chris-de2qc
      @Chris-de2qc 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      There's already plenty of videos around that

    • @NemanjaPantelic
      @NemanjaPantelic 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I am not sure the comparison you were hoping to see is relevant today. Of course carbon wheels are worth it, especially now that we have so many more affordable options compared to 10 years ago. I even bought a set of 50mm wheels for my commuter Giant Defy Disc AL from a local producer. This video actually makes us feel better about riding on entry level or mid-range wheels :)

    • @johns3106
      @johns3106 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@NemanjaPantelic Why do you think carbon wheels are unquestionably “worth it”? Are you an upper-category racer? If so, then yeah, the extra expense of carbon MAY be worth it. Are you just someone who likes to go out and ride hard? If so, you are either fooling yourself or are quite vain to think that carbon is necessary!

    • @NemanjaPantelic
      @NemanjaPantelic 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@johns3106 Are you having a rough day, mate?

    • @xuchenglin6256
      @xuchenglin6256 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@johns3106 it’s not the “carbon” worth it, it’s the depth of the wheel. It just happens that carbon fiber is the only material today that could make a feasible deep section wheel without too much weight penalties. And carbon fiber happens to be a heavy labor industry so that makes carbon expensive, so then the carbon wheels expensive. Deep section wheels are faster, that’s simple science of aerodynamics, plus the stiffness happen to be provided by the carbon material also makes it feels less “spongy” than a alloy one. Do some googling yourself, you don’t need to be a pro to feel it, actually most of these equipment “benefits” are easier to be perceived by beginner who don’t have a lot of power. For someone with 300w 400w in their legs, the relative saving actually becomes smaller. And you don’t have to go with the fancy branded stuff, $1000 ones are just the same as $2000 and $3000. It can’t get cheaper simply because $1000 is near the manufacturing cost.

  • @MrPijus123
    @MrPijus123 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Built up a few sets of Lightbicycle rims laced with Sapim spokes to DT 350 hubs. The total comes out to about 630 euro for a set of wheels (buying a pre-built LB wheelset with similar spec would cost around 900). They've seen their fair share of crashes and potholes and still look spotless.

  • @RicardoRocha-lg1xo
    @RicardoRocha-lg1xo 2 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    So… bottom line, it’s not worth it unless you’re a pro (who would get the wheels for free, anyway) or if you really have nothing more pressing to spend that extra money on

    • @Dennis4523
      @Dennis4523 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      it's worth it if you like to race at a high local level, like cat 2 or 1

    • @user-nu5fx6en9h
      @user-nu5fx6en9h 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      It’s worth it you save more energy and going faster too ! I can cycle longer now due to these insane nsw wheel, even when handling the bike feels so much better I feel safer 😁

    • @cyclonutterd7075
      @cyclonutterd7075 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      But even if you are a pro they're slower, so what's the point. You're better off and faster on the cheaper wheelset 🤷

  • @mandopando68
    @mandopando68 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I have the zipp 303s I must say that the 353 would have to be something special for a extra 2 grand …. Which they clearly are not …. Did Zipp make the 303s wheels to good ??
    All I know I absolutely love my zipps 😎😎

  • @markrushton1516
    @markrushton1516 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Wheels from the cycle clinic, handbuilt with a great guarantee and rebuildable are prob good enough for 99% of us who v.rarely get over 18mph on a Sunday ride of 50 miles

  • @Darsithis
    @Darsithis 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I’ve got $1600 FFWD 77mm wheels on one bike and $400 88mm Elite wheels on another, and I can’t tell any difference between them. Both make me faster overall, both sound the same, both handle the same in crosswinds..

  • @DickKnorr
    @DickKnorr 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Not to be dense, but why not fit them to an electric bike and do 20km on a velodrome with each bike to actually settle it?

  • @ronradmer3573
    @ronradmer3573 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I see all these reviews of wheelsets in the "cheep" and "high" price range. But many of us aren't broke or rich... We are right in the middle. And these "Reviews" are just people reading the specs from the manufacturers websites. No real testing and opinions. Can you do a test, review and feedback of 5-10 pairs of wheelsets in the $1,000 USD range please?. And then pic your top 3 based on your actually riding test of the wheelsets. I am certain with your reputation, manufacturers would love to send you free sets of their wheels to try. An you can have three of your presenters try each wheelsets and compare notes. This would represent a true product review. This is how they do reviews in the skiing industry. They have actual pro and novice skiers trying skis and boots and then giving their feedback, opinions and tops picks at the end. Thanks

    • @Godspeed961
      @Godspeed961 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Wheel companies should rent wheelset so we can see what they offer and what we need . I cant pay 1k and dont know the pros/cons .

  • @finarollerz
    @finarollerz 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    It’s worth it (worth=totally relevant to your income) only past a certain speed, I have about 4-5 pairs of hand built alloy, and 3 sets of carbon -1 is tubular, the difference between an $800 quality hand built alloy and a $2500 carbon is small unless you race or FAST club ride, unless you are dying to spend cash, save it.

  • @gaza4543
    @gaza4543 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    TBH when you have Hunt 34 areo wides (surprisingly very little press about them considering their advanced nature) lurking in the wings for 470 quid at the same weight and depth though not quite so wide, carbon hoops such as this don't make a lot of sense with these hunts on the market.
    Now that will be an eye-opener, test the hunt 34's next to these and let's see where the marginal gains really begin.

  • @neelsahay5227
    @neelsahay5227 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    if you wanna go fast on a road bike, buy a power meter, a skinsuit, and some nice tires. everything else is aesthetics.

  • @twatts4436
    @twatts4436 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Wouldn't bother spending more than the £1k wheels.
    But if I'm honest, I'd go for a custom built set of wheels anyway!
    Spec the wheels to the riding you do!

  • @KenSmith-bv4si
    @KenSmith-bv4si 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I have the 303 firecrest wheel set, they look awesome on my Aethos. The 25mm internal rim width with 28mm skins, the ride is sooooooooo smooth.

    • @Godspeed961
      @Godspeed961 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      what your opinion about hookless?

    • @KenSmith-bv4si
      @KenSmith-bv4si 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@Godspeed961I ride at 50psi hookless works fine.

  • @LeoInterHyenaem
    @LeoInterHyenaem 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Beautiful wheels (with a lamentable load limit), both - but the x5x series are ridiculously overpriced. The Addict Advanced is a beauty, too. Matches My steel Norco Search XR (set up with a Metrea groupset, etc.) in cost, but it's a beauty. The Dogma looks like 💩 in comparison. Good job, Giant!

  • @fisharefriends598
    @fisharefriends598 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    The feeling of 303,wasn’t that bad either… I’d expect more for £1k

  • @cugi78
    @cugi78 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Expensive components are useless per almost 99% of bikers, it is only marketing!
    Average bike of any kind, road, gravel, or whatever, are the best compromise with money and quality.
    Greetings from Italy

  • @cyclonutterd7075
    @cyclonutterd7075 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    so the NSW's are a bit slower 🤷

    • @byrondixon4648
      @byrondixon4648 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Yep. They do look better at the coffee shop though 😎

    • @JayLato
      @JayLato ปีที่แล้ว

      This test turned out invalid for pure data due to traffic, but overall valuable in that there is no real world, non-race difference for the price.

  • @jsasa5668
    @jsasa5668 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I have on loan the Cannondale’s Hollogram Knot 45 (not SL) and I own BMC’s CRD351 (35mm). The biggest and most notable difference to me is the fact you can have 28-30c on the Hollogram inflated quite big and flush to the rim while the CRD351 can only accommodate a 25c remaining flush to the rim. The difference in comfort is abysmal. The 45s hold higher speeds much better as well despite being on a heavier bike. For me, I want a wide rim (outer), good hubs (240s or similar) and tubeless ready (preferably hookless) carbon wheel set with good warranty. Piece of mind, reliability, great performance and best riding experience. Obviously, wheels like these are expensive, but I’ll gladly pay for them. Enve 4.5 AR was the ticket for me but I’ll wait for their new release of wheels coming soon before I pull the trigger. If Hunt wheels had a much quieter hub I’d probably consider them as well.

  • @williamko4751
    @williamko4751 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Unless you enter tour de France, absolutely not worth it.

  • @wsbygt
    @wsbygt 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great content and nice to see Shifters inwards!
    Just for the newbies:
    Aside from rim depth and brand customer support, expend your money on high-end hubs.

    • @Godspeed961
      @Godspeed961 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Why?

    • @wsbygt
      @wsbygt 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@Godspeed961 Durability, performance and plenty choice of spare\upgrade parts.

    • @Godspeed961
      @Godspeed961 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@wsbygt Can you mention how you can improve performance with a good hub? My opinion is you dont go faster or the diff. is too low. For durability i can buy 5 wheelsets with 200 euro vs 1k with good hub. Thx in advance !

    • @wsbygt
      @wsbygt 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@Godspeed961 Stiffer, lighter along with precise machined parts for the least interference between moving parts and the shell. From my experience: 240 hubs with NTN bearings and proper maintenance.
      Top tier performance on racing events for an adequate price. Then pair them with rims of your choice.

    • @Godspeed961
      @Godspeed961 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@wsbygt Right ! Thx for the info dude :D

  • @FaiscaaaH
    @FaiscaaaH 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    In just two words FUCK NO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • @jonathanzappala
    @jonathanzappala 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Lol, c’mon man! If the dimples worked zipp would be the only brand using them.

  • @TiagoBarreira
    @TiagoBarreira 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    What handlebars was being used on the bike? Thanks

  • @fisharefriends598
    @fisharefriends598 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Hunt mason x are 400…. Weight 1.6 kg. Aero wheels good for speed on flats, for gravel or mtb. Pointless
    At 1540g for the zip 303… better save that weight elsewhere

  • @dylf14
    @dylf14 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Either wheelset is great. Zipp lifetime warranty. You cannot go wrong.

  • @db613
    @db613 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Oh no! Touching the brake surface in that picture 😱

  • @a1white
    @a1white 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Basically £1k per watt 😬

  • @leslierhodes5467
    @leslierhodes5467 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    This is how deep is your pocket i’d love to have those £3000 wheels but just cannot afford them

    • @ap6584
      @ap6584 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Once you go past about 1k there's bugger all difference imo. I've had 2.5k cosmic carbone ultimates, 2k reynolds, something like a hunt 50mm for £800 just as good for 99% of people

    • @JibbaJabber
      @JibbaJabber 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Simple - become a pro;)

  • @jack002tuber
    @jack002tuber 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    2150 pounds is what in USD? I don't live in England.

  • @JFomo
    @JFomo 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    As if the 353 are a slower wheel. Do you guys even ride?

  • @spotsill
    @spotsill 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    For that price I would just put it towards a better bicycle.

  • @markp353
    @markp353 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    A pity you could do a comparison when riding in cross winds to see if the dimples and undulating profile makes a noticeable difference.

  • @eudardopadilla7093
    @eudardopadilla7093 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Not True! I have both sets and i can give you a 1.5 minute difference any day of the week on a 25 km spread on any terrain, any condition. Go back to the wind tunnel, do not do tests that do not use equivalent settings of environment for both sets, it is a whole lot of a world of difference from one set to another.

    • @torbis75
      @torbis75 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Never 1,5minute on a 25km ride. I would not believe that. I tested my Zipps 404 against a heavy non aero set once. They came out 0,3km/h faster, and even the zips had some Vittoria corse tyres agains some sloppy training tyres on the others..

    • @byrondixon4648
      @byrondixon4648 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      You own a bike shop Eudardo?

  • @andrewlabat9963
    @andrewlabat9963 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    They worth it if you spend your own money on them, and don't won't to admit they only are marginally better. If your racing, yea, same gains do matter..

  • @gusalit5004
    @gusalit5004 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    NSW 454 all the best all around Wheelset make your more faster and so smooth for climbing ! Hub Coginition make you different experience on wheel

  • @astrayagrarian
    @astrayagrarian 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    “NO”
    Build up some custom alloy wheels and you’re set to go.

  • @bitgeist21
    @bitgeist21 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I love the new 303s. Although I'm probably more partial to Mavic SLR 45's or the ENVE Foundation 45's. I'm sure they're all very comparable wheelsets :-)

  • @henrikerdland578
    @henrikerdland578 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    We need a new flat test. The test was ruined by traffic and thereby unconcluded.

  • @DaveCM
    @DaveCM 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Wouldn't it have been more honest a comparison to have tire width appropriate for the width of the rim rather than use the wider tire on the narrower rim? Even without that, the S came out quicker and I found it amusing hearing you attempting to justify the NSW being slower. There is an independent study online and the NSW wheels perform very poorly for their depth even considering the shallowest portion of the rim as the depth. So, they are just a way overpriced marketing gimmick. Some also have argues that the dimples do nothing on the rims.

  • @jugaloo5873
    @jugaloo5873 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Trace Velo did a compatison with chinese manufactors.....same shit, vast differance in price!!

  • @markgunn6680
    @markgunn6680 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Very marginal gains...

  • @BikesKomsCRO
    @BikesKomsCRO 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    You are basically being robbed by BOTH.. get lun winspace carbon wheels for 1/4th of the price or 3/4 of the price on the cheaper version. If you are spending so much money on wheels you have cash to burn or your just not smart.

  • @gilesdunk7416
    @gilesdunk7416 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    No. The gains are very marginal and reviews like this focus on a tiny proportion of the public who can afford to spend thousands of pounds on carbon wheels. I would rather spend money getting my local bike shop to make me up a stronger longer lasting alloy wheelset.

  • @PaddleDogC5
    @PaddleDogC5 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    almost kill by car WTF

  • @izzydangerous6990
    @izzydangerous6990 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Just clutching the disc rotors in the thumbnail…

  • @BikesKomsCRO
    @BikesKomsCRO 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    500£ 60mm lun winspace are well more than enough and fraction of cost.. This is the same as the quote: stop making stupid people famous, stop making premium brands rob everyone in daylight. The amount you are paying is not justified.

  • @alanngkwanyein
    @alanngkwanyein ปีที่แล้ว

    NO

  • @dul22
    @dul22 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    yes

  • @user-nu5fx6en9h
    @user-nu5fx6en9h 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Love those 353 wheel ! I have better handling of the bike and got faster too, climbing with 353 feels like nothing I can finally use harder gear when climbing around 15-20% gradient 😁. With my old 303 firecrest I needed to use the easier gear and still struggled 😅

    • @crimson177
      @crimson177 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Its 100g between the two, that's fuck all and all in your head and certainly not the difference between a a higher gear and a lower one.

  • @ke0kie
    @ke0kie 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I guess the firecrest wasn’t avail

  • @ptkewl
    @ptkewl 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Yes.

  • @alfabethev2.074
    @alfabethev2.074 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    So...
    Maybe the title should be: - "Are expensive zipp carbon bike wheels actually worth it"!
    Since it's evidently a commercial for zipp, i mean....

  • @robotversuscyborg
    @robotversuscyborg 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Yes, next question

  • @darrinkulyk9560
    @darrinkulyk9560 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    More Fitness Less $$$

  • @abastabul9115
    @abastabul9115 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Get a more credible tester.

  • @KoreaRides
    @KoreaRides 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Pay thousands more to go slower!😂😂😂 don’t want either of those pieces of crap!

  • @jamesryan1699
    @jamesryan1699 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    What a terrible review !

    • @AndySymons
      @AndySymons 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      If I worked for Zipp, I'd be bloody furious about such a amateurish review. Why bother making it, Cycling Weekly? You do yourself no favours.

    • @Jarek.
      @Jarek. 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Why terrible? They just expressed how confused they were... I appreciate their honesty about the results and - if that was sponsored content - even how brave they were to present results which basically says "spare your money, spending more will only make you slower" 😂

  • @themax666
    @themax666 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Aero gravel bike, 303 with gravel tyres, nsw with road tyres. Boom
    Thank me later

  • @dul22
    @dul22 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    your bike looks really too small for you btw

  • @rudysfarinas3613
    @rudysfarinas3613 ปีที่แล้ว

    This review/comparison felt extremely lazy, just one run? Also knowing that traffic delayed the testers on some runs and they didn’t bother repeating the test was sad.

    • @UltraLord5850
      @UltraLord5850 5 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Seems like someone is mad, that he spend too much for the wheelsset 😂

  • @EugeneLopez-tp5hb
    @EugeneLopez-tp5hb 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    These two geeks gave a horrible video.