A first Carbon wheel-set……

[T4tomo]

The Hunts have, some would say deliberately, very loud freehubs. There is an argument that they spend more on marketing than the components, but there are also a lot of happy customers.

In the vein of small UK builders, I bought from here, a fellow cyclechatter recommendation
https://zedbikewheels.com/
They do a lifetime crash warranty.

Obviously all these small UK builders are sourcing hubs and rims from the Far East, before someone decides to point that out.

 

[Sea of vapours]

For good value, hand-built wheels, have a look at DCR Wheels web site: https://dcrwheels.co.uk/

They make wheels very well indeed (at least, the two pairs I have have covered about 30,000 km each with no issues), and their 'signature' offerings are priced for quality rather than marketing, plus you can customise as much as you wish.

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

Hunt generate a fair bit of debate. I bought a set some time back and returned them straight off as they just seemed underbuilt. They certainly used to keep the cost down by utilising some fairly bog standard components, nothing wrong with that, but there is better out there IMO.

With a £600-700 budget, I would actually be looking at China now. I am going to take a punt on my next set from 9velo as I have heard a lot of good things about the component and build quality. Both Hambini and Peak Torque on Youtube have done long term testing on them and rate them very highly and I would be inclined to take them at their word. You can pick up a set delivered for around US1000, but I have a 10% discount code somewhere so with the current exchange rate they would be about £650 all in I believe.

https://www.9velo.com/

 

[Elybazza61]

I had some Hunt wheels and had a spoke go and have also seen some when I worked in the shop with damaged nipples and spokes this was a few years ago though and you do see a lot of people using them.

Personally I'd always go hand-built as all the ones I've used have hardly ever needed touching after lots of use; the only ones that had an issue was a Hope/DT Swiss gravel rear that bust a spoke but that was after an off on a long ride.

Nicest wheels I've had were from here;

wheelsmith wheels

Had a set of Zipp dimple look-alike rim-brake carbon rims on Hope hubs with Sapim spokes, did lots of 100k+ rides on them (including a crash!) with zero issues and were still true when I sold them (only because I wasn't really using the road bike much).

 

[Elybazza61]

Actually just seen these;

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/pair-...-compatible-carbon-wheels/361347/c258m8930434

Built with DT hubs too; only 35 high but that's what I had and seemed a good compromise between aero and weight and didn't get caught with the fen cross-winds.

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

I had some Hunt wheels and had a spoke go and have also seen some when I worked in the shop with damaged nipples and spokes this was a few years ago though and you do see a lot of people using them.

Personally I'd always go hand-built as all the ones I've used have hardly ever needed touching after lots of use; the only ones that had an issue was a Hope/DT Swiss gravel rear that bust a spoke but that was after an off on a long ride.

Nicest wheels I've had were from here;

wheelsmith wheels

Had a set of Zipp dimple look-alike rim-brake carbon rims on Hope hubs with Sapim spokes, did lots of 100k+ rides on them (including a crash!) with zero issues and were still true when I sold them (only because I wasn't really using the road bike much).

I have had two sets made by Derek up at Wheelsmith, both excellent and I still use my 38mm carbon rim brake wheels today.

 

[Animo]

https://serenadebikes.net/carbon-fi...t-SR312C-hub-aero-carbon-spokes-p6929580.html

I have a set of these. Very pleased so far. 50mm deep, 23mm internal. Carbon spokes. 1200g for the set. Came in under £500 with duty pre-paid to the UK.

If you're looking at Chinese direct to customer wheels there is masses on info on the Weight Weenies forum. Zen and XMCS are also well regarded, just bear in mind you probably have to WhatsApp someone (Zara and Peter respectively) to ask questions and order.

Plenty of the Chinese brands are now well established and pretty reliable, but you can end up spending a bit more - can personally recommend Farsports and Light Bicycle. Elite also got a decent rep and Particle are a fairly new company that look decent.

 

[sevenfourate]

Thanks to everyone who contributed 🙏

It’s unusual to ask a question on tinternet and get such unanimous agreement (On the fact ‘cheap’ Carbon wheels are worthwhile investing in; and will provide some pain-free mileage).

The only offset: is so many Brands have been suggested / so many good experiences shared: I’m now slightly confused which to go for……

No-one has suggested anything bad about any posted. And most (All ?) get great reviews. Are we literally tossing a coin / pinning the tail on the Donkey to decide……🤷‍♂️🤣

 

[teeonethousand]

Are we literally tossing a coin / pinning the tail on the Donkey to decide……🤷‍♂️🤣

Spinning a wheel surely😂😂

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

Thanks to everyone who contributed 🙏

It’s unusual to ask a question on tinternet and get such unanimous agreement (On the fact ‘cheap’ Carbon wheels are worthwhile investing in; and will provide some pain-free mileage).

The only offset: is so many Brands have been suggested / so many good experiences shared: I’m now slightly confused which to go for……

No-one has suggested anything bad about any posted. And most (All ?) get great reviews. Are we literally tossing a coin / pinning the tail on the Donkey to decide……🤷‍♂️🤣

I think so. They are all very similar weight, price, aesthetics and so on. I would probably go on which decals you like the best, probably as good a deciding factor as you can get!

 

[sevenfourate]

I think so. They are all very similar weight, price, aesthetics and so on. I would probably go on which decals you like the best, probably as good a deciding factor as you can get!

Ha 🤣 About as scientific as I’d got the deciding factor down to !

I’ve in essence got fairly top end Chinese hubs already on one bike now. And I’ve had experience of Far Eastern Carbon in another hobby. And probably elsewhere I’m not directly aware of. So I’m not afraid of the Eastern manufacture / assembly Element.

I do definitely want to run 38mm rubber. That does narrow (sic) my choice of models within brands a little. I need to narrow it down, list a few Pros / Cons and make a choice………

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

Ha 🤣 About as scientific as I’d got the deciding factor down to !

I’ve in essence got fairly top end Chinese hubs already on one bike now. And I’ve had experience of Far Eastern Carbon in another hobby. And probably elsewhere I’m not directly aware of. So I’m not afraid of the Eastern manufacture / assembly Element.

I do definitely want to run 38mm rubber. That does narrow (sic) my choice of models within brands a little. I need to narrow it down, list a few Pros / Cons and make a choice………

Yeah, I think the quality of the carbon and its construction is pretty top end with most of the well established brands now. Let us know what you end up going with.

 

[T4tomo]

I’ve in essence got fairly top end Chinese hubs already on one bike now. And I’ve had experience of Far Eastern Carbon in another hobby. And probably elsewhere I’m not directly aware of. So I’m not afraid of the Eastern manufacture / assembly Element.

If you have any issues/ warranty claims, there is an advantage to having bought from someone in the UK assembling the Far East sourced parts.

 

[sevenfourate]

If you have any issues/ warranty claims, there is an advantage to having bought from someone in the UK assembling the Far East sourced parts.

Agreed. I have considered paying slightly more - to hopefully make future life easier ! And am very likely too. Because any issue with a wheel; then timescale / language problems etc later - effectively makes the wheels unuseable for some time no doubt......