CES Sport RC50 Clincher Wheelset

You normally don't see much change from a grand after purchasing a set of carbon fibre wheels, so CES Sport has priced its RC50s very competitively at just £600. Value isn't the only quality either, it's a solid set of wheels that'll stand up to daily riding in a range of terrains.

• Pros: Good build quality, great value, awesome braking surface
• Cons: Cheap looking logos, nondescript ride feel

Value is the main driving force behind the CES Sport RC range, with the company "on a quest to bring to market a product for the 'Joe Bloggs' of the triathlon and cycling world, whilst maintaining high quality and without cutting corners".

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It's done a very good job delivering a set of wheels that are just as at home on the club run or recovery bimble as they are in the middle of the peloton. They aren't quite the best performing, the fastest or the lightest, but when you looking at the complete package there is little to dislike.

Build and quality

At 1,580g (without rim tape and quick releases) they aren't the lightest, matching that of alloy rims of around £250 to £500, but obviously here you are getting the slight aerodynamic advantage of the 50mm rim depths without the added weight. They also tip the scales at exactly the same place as the very good Deda Elementi SL38s which are more than double the price at £1,444.99.

Like most other wheels on the market currently, CES Sport has chosen to go with a wider rim width than we used to see three or four seasons ago. Across the brake tracks the RC50s measure 25.71mm according to the digital verniers, which stretches out the 25mm Continental GP4000 tyres used for testing to 26.8mm.

I've ridden a lot of carbon fibre wheels both through testing and racing on my own over the last 10 or so years and just like bike frames they all feel different with their own characteristics.

The aforementioned Deda Elementis, for instance, had a lovely shock-absorbing feel to the carbon that seemed to take out the tiny road vibrations. The Cole C40 Lites were very stiff and buzzy over tarmac surfaces and it's worth bearing in mind that all of these wheels were ridden on the same bike with the same tyres at the same pressures.

In comparison, the RC50s don't really offer any feedback; just like some carbon fibre frames, they have a 'dead' feel. It's not a deal breaker, because it takes very little away from the ride – and nothing from the performance – but it was noticeable by its absence. This is my only real criticism of them.

That aside, the way they deal with everything else is very good for the money. The hubs run very smoothly and have stood up to the snow and wet roads we've experienced recently.

The rear engages quickly enough from a standing start, and if you like a noisy freehub then you won't be disappointed with the RC50s.

The front wheel uses a 20 aero spoke setup laced radially and the rear has 24 in a radial pattern on the non-drive side and crossed on the opposite side.

This, along with the rims, has created a strong and stiff wheel build, great for sprinting and climbing. I never really noticed any flex at the brake blocks.

Speed

At this weight the acceleration doesn't feel quite as quick as the lighter and sprightly Hunt 3650 Aero Wide wheelset or the 1,430g Cole C40 Lites I mentioned above, but it is still well within what I'd expect for a wheel of this type.

Speed is what 50mm-deep rims are all about, though, and the u-shaped rim feels fast on the flats, especially once the speed starts to increase above 25mph or so. At 76kg I noticed a bit of buffeting from a keen crosswind, but not to the point that I found the bike difficult to handle.

Braking

One thing that is very impressive is the braking performance in the wet and dry. The brake tracks have basalt added to the mix, which is used to help resist the high temperatures caused by continuous or persistent braking, like when you're in a race or descending.

Braking was very progressive right from the start, both with the included pads and my favourite Swissstop Yellows. Wet or dry, the rims braked very much like an alloy rim, with a really good bite between the surfaces of wheel and pad.

Plus, there was no squealing and no grabbing from the pads as the temperatures increased, something that can be a big problem on some carbon rims.

Value

When it comes to value we already know that the RC50s are impressive. They are cheaper than virtually any other carbon fibre wheelset we've tested to date but are no way the worst.

All three wheelsets I've mentioned above are more expensive and not much lighter, and even though the Hunts are some of my favourites thanks to their ride and build quality, they are still almost £400 more expensive. The Coles are £1,700 and I'd say the CES Sports offer a very similar ride.

If you shop around on the likes of eBay there are various options direct from the Far East, but never having physically seen or ridden them it's hard for me to offer a comparison.

> Buyer's Guide: 27 of the best road bike wheelsets

CES hasn't scrimped on the quality to hit the price point, with decent components and a solid feel to them straight out of the box. They come with UCI approval to be used in the pro races, plus the build will take a rider of up to 120kg.

When it comes to finishing, the decals could be seen as a bit cheap looking, but that's a personal thing. Red is the standard, but you can have them customised from a selection of colours from the website, though it'll cost you an extra 25 quid.

On the whole I'd say that the RC50s are a decent package for the amateur racer and rider, doing pretty much everything you'd want for the majority of riding. If you want something lighter or with a bit more zing, you might want to spend a little bit more, but for the money these are very good.

Verdict

Decent quality wheelset that offers impressive value for money and all-round performance