Far Eastern (China) Carbon Clincher sellers! Recommend plz

[SR7492]

Team PH

Anyone bought deep rim CC from eBay sellers out of China? if so had a good experience and set of wheels can you recommend the seller?

Looking for 50mm clinchers for my CAAD10 as the first real upgrade (I have 105 Groupset)

Anything to look out for?

Assuming I put them on myself or take the box to the LBS to fit, yeh?

Thanks in advance!

[nammynake]

Far Sports seem to get decent reviews.

http://www.farsports.com/product/index.php/type_id...

http://road.cc/content/blog/110047-chinese-revolut...

Looking at these myself at the moment.

[Dr Imran T]

Have a look at carbon zone on ebay. Loads of feedback on them.

[anonymous-user]

2011cycling2011 on ebay have a good rep too

[JEA1K]

I emailed Farsports in early April a couple of times with my requirements and I didn't get a response. I decided against sending my money there way as I can imagine any warranty issues would be dealt with with even less haste!

[Ponk]

I ordered a set of wheels from 2011cycling2011 a few weeks ago. Currently waiting on payment details from customs but the seller has been a pleasure to deal with. Good contact before and after sale.

There are the wheels I've ordered.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221386273129

[TSCfree]

Can't help with clinchers but I'm happy with the carbon tubs from 2011cycling2011.

[bakerstreet]

I have a friend who has some Farsports and so far they have been fine. I don't know how many miles hes done on them.

With something like that any warranty issues are going to be expensive and take a long time and I'd almost consider the warranty pointless.

Shipping the wheel;s back will set you back £80 to £100 and it would take two weeks to get there and then another week whilst they manufacturer faffs about. After that, you'd then have to wait for another two weeks for the wheels to bet back you and all that is without any shipping issues.

However, I will be taking a punt on a set of carbon clinchers from Ebay or similar for my CX bike, but it won't be until the end of this year.

[Matt_N]

Farsports have a decent reputation as they have a basalt braking sufrace which is better for overall braking performance and heat dissipation - something to consider with clinchers.

Wheelsmith use Gigantex rims, but I'm unsure what the braking surface is, the cheaper set they do (still £700ish) uses Novatec hubs I believe which is what most of the wheelsets on eBay seem to get built up on.

If you already have a decent set of hubs why not just get some rims and get your LBS to build some up?

Quite a few rim options out there, Halo, Dymag, Farsports.

[SR7492]

Awesome - thank you all; will take a deep dive into all the sellers that have been recommended.

[SR7492]

Q?

What is the difference between 23mm and 27mm wide clincher from a riding point?

Better to stick to 23mm?

[anonymous-user]

SR7492 said:

Q?

What is the difference between 23mm and 27mm wide clincher from a riding point?

Better to stick to 23mm?

Current thinking (see, eg Zipp) is that a wider wheel is more aerodynamic. Also should pair the wheel width to the tyre width - eg run 700cx23 on a 23mm wide rim, 700cx27 on a 27mm wide rim.

[madzo14]

Been looking and reading up on chinese carbon clinchers for a while now. There seems to be a fair few more positive experiences than negative ones. Farsports seem the way to go.

I suppose I would be be better going for the new U shape clinchers but the choice of hub is a sticking point. Theres various novatech & edhub hubs and a DT hub as well. Any ideas which hub is the best to go for?

[Some Gump]

I'm also looking at chinese carbons. Before OKGO starts, it's because I like the look of them - I know it won't make me faster than him.

The question I have is - would it be better to get carbon with an ally brake track and use them more often, or go all carbon and avoid em if doing big descents / the weather looks naff. Dead difficult to get honest opinions, because the only reviews tend to be from owners - and not many people go on forums to say "hey, I wasted my money, and I should have bought something else"...

[anonymous-user]

Some Gump said:

The question I have is - would it be better to get carbon with an ally brake track and use them more often, or go all carbon and avoid em if doing big descents / the weather looks naff.

IMO, the latter. The former tend to weigh as much as boat anchors, and often have a carbon fairing over what is basically an alu box rim.

The drawback though to a carbon brake track is the need to use the carbon specific pads that will come with the wheels. If you use your regular pads, you may get poor modulation, but more importantly you'll have little flecks of alu embedded in the pads which will quite happily munch your carbon brake tracks...

Carbon brake tracks are fine on long descents as long as you don't drag the brakes. And you're really talking about alpine descents in summer before you're into difficult areas, IME. In the wet, the right pads will help a lot. You tend to need to anticipate a bit more than usual, that's (sort of but not really) all.

[Pat Cash]

Also check out www.light-bicycle.com - Just looking into them myself.
A colleague has a set of wheels and has just ordered another set of rims to build up. He's very happy so far.

But remember, you're effectively buying from the manufacturer, not a reseller with a warehouse full of stock, so don't expect them to be sent out next day. Once the order is placed, the factory is informed...

[Dixie]

Some Gump said:

I'm also looking at chinese carbons. Before OKGO starts, it's because I like the look of them - I know it won't make me faster than him.

The question I have is - would it be better to get carbon with an ally brake track and use them more often, or go all carbon and avoid em if doing big descents / the weather looks naff. Dead difficult to get honest opinions, because the only reviews tend to be from owners - and not many people go on forums to say "hey, I wasted my money, and I should have bought something else"...

They'll be fine. my rides are normally 1000ft per 10 miles and my carbon rims are just fine. I change them over (along with the pads) for winter. The standard pads are so great so I'd factor in a set of Swissstops or Reynolds pads.

If you really didn't like them they will pretty much fetch what you paid for them on ebay! You'll love them though.

[SR7492]

Right then, after the wisdom advice and pointers by you lot; the choice is between the main 2 suppliers: Far Sport and 2011Cycling2011.

I'm looking at the below from Far Sport:
http://www.wheelsfar.com/road-wheels/clincher/24cn...

Compared to the below from 2011Cycling2011:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

What's the difference?
The Far Sport ones are more expensive with BitEx Hub($519 total inc shipping) but they say their Carbon wheel is light @ 1555g compared to the 1680g from 2C2!

The 2C2 price comes in at $430 all in including the shipping on a Novatec hub; so that is about 255 compared to 306.

What do you reckon guys; which one would you go for?

PS I emailed Far Sport and got same day response back on every communication I sent, so their CS seems pretty good.

[Ponk]

Mine turned up today. Described as ultralight 50mm clinchers by 2011cycling2011. More importantly for me is that they have the u shaped toroidal profile rather than a straight vee. They took about two weeks in total, at least a week of which was spent with customs!

Weight for the pair is 1700g inc tape, skewers and cassette spacer. That's actual weight rather than claimed btw. Not ridden them yet but impressed so far.

[Barchettaman]

Planet X CT45?

You get a warranty
Cheap
Aero
Alu brake track
Available
Proven marque