Buying a new bike and considering carbon wheels. I am a senior and do not race. Half the year I am in the Pacific Northwest with long nontechnical climbs. The test of the year I ride in Arizona rock. Buying an Ibis plus sized bike. Trying to decide if I should upgrade to carbon wheels
gorgebiker
A positive is carbon are nice to build with too, the stiffness makes it easier (guess a heavy duty DH ally rim would be too, but not built a ally DH wheel) no wibbly wobbly like on the lighter stans rims anyway....makes getting a true even tension wheel easy.
Here is my dilemma, and I'm in the same scenario as the original poster. No racing, just normal trail riding and maybe 1-2 bike park days per summer but I have a budget of $1500 for wheels/tires. It is for my Stumpjumper that currently is running 27.5+ wheels. I was a huge fan of the plus wheels at first but I am getting the itch to try 29er wheels, and to have the option of choosing between the two. Do I go for a higher end alloy wheel (i9 or similar) or try to stretch the budget and go for carbon? Coming from the plus with WTB i40 wheels with heavy maxxis 2.8 tires anything will feel like an improvement in weight and especially rolling weight.
$1299
Ibis 742 Logo Wheelset - Carbon Rims - Ibis Cycles Online Store
Ibis worked with the manufacture of the hubs and basically redesigned them for them to improve reliability.
Ibis 742 Logo Wheelset - Carbon Rims - Ibis Cycles Online Store
Ibis worked with the manufacture of the hubs and basically redesigned them for them to improve reliability.
Currently on i9 torch hubs and spokes laced to nox teocali rims.
29 front and 27.5 rear on my mixer. These wheels feel noticeably better then the i9 stans arch combo I was running before.
At 54 I'm not as aggressive as I used to be but the love the quicker spin up and stiffness that aids in tracking on rough terrain.
I say if you got the cash give em a try.
29 front and 27.5 rear on my mixer. These wheels feel noticeably better then the i9 stans arch combo I was running before.
At 54 I'm not as aggressive as I used to be but the love the quicker spin up and stiffness that aids in tracking on rough terrain.
I say if you got the cash give em a try.
I've never ridden carbon wheels. I doubt they would do anything for me. I've ridden different aluminum rimmed wheels. No difference. The only improvement I noticed was going from tubes to tubeless. The way I think about it is you have this pig of a bike that's pushing 30 pounds with squishy suspension and fat squishy tires. How can I expect to feel a subtle difference in rims?
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There is a difference that you can feel. The bike will turn faster and handle different. Whether this difference is worth it and the size of the change depends on your current equipment, style of riding and terrain.
LB 38mm 27.5 rims here. Very different than the alu rims they replaced. No cons for my riding. Faster, stronger, lighter, just like me when I was younger!
Every carbon wheel rides different. I personally do not like the feel of Enve rims. Even the M50 feel really harsh to me. WAY too stiff. I tried the M90 on a DH bike and really hated the ride.
I personally run the Roval Traverse carbon wheels and I love them. They have a low spoke count and were designed to flex and have an amazing feel. When cornering and jumping it feels almost like they store the energy and give it right back to you. You pop out of corners and off jumps with an energetic feel. Kind of like the rebound feel you get from nice running shoes.
I personally run the Roval Traverse carbon wheels and I love them. They have a low spoke count and were designed to flex and have an amazing feel. When cornering and jumping it feels almost like they store the energy and give it right back to you. You pop out of corners and off jumps with an energetic feel. Kind of like the rebound feel you get from nice running shoes.
Pros: Lighter, stronger, stiffness (less flex and more precise)
Cons: Price, susceptible to cracks if you ride in rocky, rooty technical terrain, stiffness (they can ride harsher than aluminum).
Stiffness is pro and a con because while it has very little flex and are very precise, they can feel a bit harsh at times in really technical terrain.
Cons: Price, susceptible to cracks if you ride in rocky, rooty technical terrain, stiffness (they can ride harsher than aluminum).
Stiffness is pro and a con because while it has very little flex and are very precise, they can feel a bit harsh at times in really technical terrain.
I'm assuming you're getting them spec'd on your new Ibis, so the con of price is not an issue. I have three friends with the Ibis rims who swear by them. I've been running Atomix for two years without a single true. I cracked the rear after a year during some very aggressive riding. Atomix replaced it no questions asked. My LBS loaned me a wheel.
The stiffness and acceleration will reveal themselves to you in your driveway. It's a paradigm shift. Someone mentioned the elimination of small corrections in turns. This was immediately noticeable.
It's a no brainer. Based on your honest description of your ability and riding preference, the Ibis rims will suit you perfectly and be hassle free.
The stiffness and acceleration will reveal themselves to you in your driveway. It's a paradigm shift. Someone mentioned the elimination of small corrections in turns. This was immediately noticeable.
It's a no brainer. Based on your honest description of your ability and riding preference, the Ibis rims will suit you perfectly and be hassle free.
I can push my bike through turns, especially berms, much harder, with carbon wheels. It's hard to describe, but there was a lower limit with aluminum rims where when you pushed the bike into a turn, it just didn't "hold", it would kind of flop over and the bike wouldn't track. Riding with carbon wheels through the same turns, it's like it's on rails and simply holds the line much better.
I agree with Jayem. I upgraded from from aluminum to carbon two years ago. I've never looked back or regretted it. I weigh 140lbs geared up and ride aggressively but don't race. I always felt "flex" in the aluminum wheels in turns and also landing jumps. The best way I can describe riding aluminum wheels in aggressive turns and jumps is a roll and yaw feeling with respect to the vertical axis when pushing really hard. I got used to it and was able to compensate with body position and steering correction. I certainly learned to anticipate it. With carbon, as Jayem said, the bike tracks much better and holds the line. I can definitely push the carbon wheels harder in turns and off camber terrain where the only limitation is tire traction (and my skill set).
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