Re: Carbon wheels – what should I look for?

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Tony Farrelly

Do you really need carbon?

 Sounds to me like what you are after is light wheels, which doesn’t necessarily mean going the carbon route. A really good set of handbuilts might just do the job just as well and be a lot easier to look after.

For climbing you don’t need to go the aero route either, going up you’re not really going to be going fast enough to get an aero advantage, in fact the extra material may be a hindrance both because of the extra weight, but also because it is going to catch any gusts of wind hitting you from the side.

I’m no expert on wheels, but if you do choose to go the carbon route I was impressed by the latest Dura Ace hoops from Shimano, light and stiff, and you should never have any trouble getting spares or having them serviced. If you want to go the Italian route don’t think you’d go wrong with a set of Fulcrums and those Gipiemmes at the show looked pretty good too.