log in
register

Carbon Wheels Through Winter

  • Creator
    Topic
  • October 7, 2021 at 3:14 pm #31802
    bighairydel

    Thinking of keeping my good carbon wheels on through winter, they’re rim braked.
    Will I or my wheels die?? 
    Anyone any experiences of doing this? 

  • Creator
    Topic
Viewing 11 replies - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)
  • Author
    Replies
  • November 23, 2021 at 12:29 am #985101
    0
    Pilot Pete

    Just buy a disc braked bike

    Just buy a disc braked bike for the winter. I’ve had mine for 10yrs now. I have upgraded to Shimano 105 hydraulic disc (from SRAM Apex with BB5 mechanical disc, where the brake calipers had corroded to seizure).

    I also put my old (four year old) carbon summer wheels on it when I upgraded to centrelock Freeza rotors with wider rims on my summer bike. They’ve done 3 winters now and are still like new.

     

    https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/4B4B56DB-57B0-4E39-946C-34533A3C84D1.jpeg

    November 22, 2021 at 3:34 pm #985099
    0
    brooksby

    Just make sure to keep them

    Just make sure to keep them away from any parrots 😉

    November 22, 2021 at 1:50 pm #985097
    0
    Richard_pics

    As the roads are purpetually

    As the roads are purpetually wet and dirty in the winter months in Suffolk/Norfolk, I always change to alloy rims, purely to aid braking efficiency. Thats the priorty for me over wear!

    October 9, 2021 at 8:51 am #985095
    0
    mtbtomo

    Not that I necessarily
    Not that I necessarily believe this, but I read somewhere that carbon rims wear better than alloy. I think it probably depends as much on what brake pads you use and how often you pick out the shards of rim material (the metal splinters you can clearly see in the case of alloy rims) that get embedded in the pads.

    The braking on more recent carbon rims is fine in the wet.

    October 8, 2021 at 2:42 pm #985093
    0
    bobbinogs

    Yepp, agree with this.  A

    Yepp, agree with this.  A decent set of carbon rim wheels will be fine in the winter…but why ride them when the weather is crap, the rims are getting destroyed with a perfect grinding paste and you won’t feel any benefit anyway.  Let’s face it, winter miles are usually about getting some base endurance in and keeping the breeze flowing through your locks (to blow away the blues).  So forget about average speed or PBs, get the winter bike out (aka, the cheap hack) with mudguards and handbuilts…and ride. When the sun is out, ride the nice bike/wheels and you will feel like you are flying.

    Some nice handbuilts can ride really well in any case, and £400 will get a decent set that can get regularly rebuilt when the rims are shot (as they will be).

    As an aside, don’t forget to change the pads, embedded alu will destroy your carbon hoops if you swap one without the other.

    October 8, 2021 at 10:00 am #985091
    0
    OnYerBike

    Aside from braking

    Aside from braking performance, riding through the winter does tend to lead to rims being worn away pretty fast. I would therefore advise against using expensive wheels, as you’ll only end up needing to replace them soon! Ideally buy some wheels built with off the shelf parts, so when the rims inevitably become worn out, the wheel can simply be re-built with a replacement rim. 

    October 8, 2021 at 9:29 am #985089
    0
    bighairydel

    I’m in Scotland so I’ve

    I’m in Scotland so I’ve plenty hills, plenty of rain and plenty of cack filled roads. Probably best going alloy given the responses. I kinda thought that but I was just having lazy thoughts as couldn’t be arsed changing over ??

    October 8, 2021 at 6:22 am #985087
    0
    Chris Hayes

    Not all carbon wheels are

    Not all carbon wheels are created equal when it comes to braking in wet weather….so it depends. It also kind of depends where you live. For example I’d consider using mine in Norfolk where it’s relatively flat and roads are reasonably straight, but would avoid using them on the Sussex – Kent borders where it’s hilly and there are bends where emergency braking might be needed.

    If you’re in doubt I’d avoid it.  You can get some decent sub 1450g wide rimmed alloy wheels for GPB 300 – 350 from a wheelbuilder that weigh less than most carbon wheels if that’s an issue…though good carbon wheels have many advantages over good alloy wheels. 

    October 7, 2021 at 10:08 pm #985085
    0
    Anonymous

    Getting caught in the rain

    Getting caught in the rain while on my summer carbon-wheeled rim brake bike and having to brake sharply was enough to put me off ever riding carbon wheels in anything other than guaranteed dry weather.

    Seeing the mucky paste I cleaned off them just compounded that and started the search for a disc brake bike.

    In summary, IMO it’s not worth it financially or more importantly not worth it from a safety aspect. As an accidental one-off yes, but not as a first choice. 

    October 7, 2021 at 3:33 pm #985083
    0
    bighairydel

    The first split second is

    The first split second is terrifying but it’s not bad after that. I’m used to it now tbh. 
    Would love a disc braked bike but funds / wife don’t allow ??

    October 7, 2021 at 3:31 pm #985081
    0
    Sniffer

    How is your wet braking? I

    How is your wet braking? I wouldn’t do it on my rim brake carbon wheels for that reason.

    Then again I will ride a disc braked bike this winter.

  • Author
    Replies
Viewing 11 replies - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.