Carbon disc wheels - £1K budget - recommendations welcome...

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djw1

Regular
Hi,

I've just bought a discounted 2020 Cervelo S5 and I'm due to collect in a week or so from my local bike shop. The wheels are pretty mediocre and let the whole package down a little.

The shop recommend Hunt Aero 50s at £800 a set. I've read that although they're not bad, they're nothing more than Chinese rims with decent hubs and Hunt have done a great job at marketing them as something far superior. And other comments that the brand owner has essentially admitted as much. How much truth there is in that I don't know!

I'm looking for something with around a 50mm profile, low maintenance hubs and above all, reliable!

I'd appreciate your recommendations.

Thanks.
 

T.M.H.N.E.T

Rainbows aren't just for world champions
Location
Northern Ireland
Scribe or prime? Is there a Mavic Cosmic disc version around that £?
 
Just took delivery of some Scribe 50mm 'Aero wide 50+', 28mm GP5000's TL fitted and pumped up £960 delivered.

A pal has the Hunt 50mm rim brake on a Spesh Roubaix and mine are on a 2016 Defy advanced pro 3.

His are very slightly louder on the freewheel than mine and both far louder than the Zonda's I have just taken off.

Can't comment on reliability obviously for mine but he's done over 1000 mls without problems although it's pretty much dry riding.

I would say they both roll about the same.

Hope this helps.
 
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djw1

Regular
Thank you.

What are both like in terms of getting up to speed / acceleration? I've not had deeper rims before.
 
Pretty good but they're the most expensive wheels I've ever had so not really able to compare to more expensive one's, I would say no better than my Zonda's in that respect and I'm a bit nippier off the mark than my pal so not really able to compare.

Loads better than the original wheels but you would expect that, they are definitely quicker on the flat once up to speed over the Zonda's and where my mate would run away on a long fast downhill freewheel, he's a couple of stone heavier than I am, I now stay with him so again increased speed there.

Crosswinds affect the steering though so just be aware, nothing major but it's there.
 

YellowV2

Veteran
Location
Kent
I'd look at the cycleclinic or similar handbuilt wheel specialist. As you said Hunt are a marketing masterpiece!
 

Will Spin

Über Member
I'd talk to a handbuild wheel specialist, you'll end up with something optimised for your requirements and budget, that's been my experience so far.
 

StuAff

Silencing his legs regularly
Location
Portsmouth
There's a lot of inverse snobbery about Hunt wheels, when their business model is no different from practically every other wheel builder/brand. They all assemble a set of components from the same choice of suppliers. If Hunt have something that suits at a price you like, go for it. All my set have needed is a freehub service, in nearly five years and many miles. There are a lot of excellent competing products, no need to rush or cast too small a net…and remember, carbon bike wheels weren't created by 'artisan craftsmen', but a bloke working with carbon off-cuts in a garage, curing the carbon with an old lorry heater pumping heat into a cardboard box, using insulating foam from a DIY store, and some old resin that he got for free.
 
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I noticed Merlin cycles have launched a carbon disc wheel set - which looks great for £599.

The weight isn't great - but not bad either. And of course you would get a warranty...coming from Merlin probably be a half decent warranty as well.
 
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djw1

Regular
Many thanks for the input everyone. Appreciated.

After looking through the reviews etc of what was recommended I decided to go for something with a slightly shallower profile.

I've ordered a set of these on the basis:

They've got the ideal profile. Not too deep that wind should be an issue

No rider weight limit (not exactly important to me personally, but it says something about their faith in the product whereas every other manufacturer has a limit)

Lifetime warranty. And free repair/replacement in the first 2 years if damaged in an accident

DT Swiss 350 hub internals, spokes and nipples which are tried and tested

Light for their profile - 1475g a pair

Lots of very decent reviews etc

They're more than I wanted to spend but I'm happy with my choice.

https://www.trekbikes.com/gb/en_GB/...er-aeolus-pro-37-tlr-disc-road-wheel/p/31547/
 

si_c

Guru
Location
Wirral
I've got the Aeolus Pro 50s and am very very happy with them. The warranty is outstanding which is what swayed it away from a pair of Mavics.

The rim width is perfect for 28mm tyres - I'm using a set of Bontrager AW2s the shop threw in and they measure 28.5mm wide on the 27.5mm rim width at 90psi. They look pretty much perfectly flush.
 
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djw1

Regular
Cheers. Glad it's not just me who picked them for that reason too. DT Swiss hub internals, spokes and nipples etc, so should be bullet proof.

Mine will run 28s without a problem, the limitation in my case is the Cervelo S5 frame will likely cause tyre rub with anything greater than a 25.
 
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