Power Tap Wheel Set - Aluminum vs Carbon Clincher

tcattri

I am ready to take the plunge on the PT G3 and have 2 options on the wheels. I want to get the experts to weigh in. If you had this choice, which would you choose and why? Are there any disadvantages to the carbon rim? I have done a lot of research on the aluminum options but not as familiar with carbon options. Let me know. Thanks!

HED Belgium C2 Clincher Wheel set
http://www.wheelbuilder.com/hed-powertap-package.html

Versus

PowerTap factory built Reynolds 46 Carbon Clincher Wheel set
http://www.powertap.com/products/powertap-g3-46mm-carbon-wheelset

tim cronk

I have a set of Reynolds CC 46/66.... At first I absolutely loved them ... The pro's are they are light, fast, and tires are very easy to put on and take off.... The con's THEY DONT STOP and specially when wet.... This is a common complaint of carbon clincher wheels.... You will read lots of comments about use the right brake pads, adjust your brakes , etc (if you do all that correctly they are acceptable in the dry but not the wet)... My experience is they just don't like to stop like an aluminum brake track wheel... Switched to FLO wheels and am very happy with my braking performance.... My 2 cents worth...

harrast

Life is complicated; I can't keep track of more that 5 +/- 2 things. I only run wheels with aluminum brake tracks. No swapping shoes, no adjusting, no thinking (that's the part I really appreciate). I probably take a hit of a couple seconds because I can't run the latest carbon clincher Zipp wheels (couldn't afford them anyway). I am running a Hed clincher disk on the back and, when the wind in calm, a Hed 9 on the front. Both have aluminum brake tracks. If I were shopping for wheels today, I would have to flip a coin over a used Hed clincher or a Flo wheel. Both have aluminum brake tracks.

Peter Noyes

I like the aluminum braking surface. I just got Zipp 101s with PowerTap from WheelBuilder. I will put a disc cover on when racing.

John Withrow

The bang for the buck way to do it is to buy the HED's (nice wheels btw) and slap a wheelbuilder disc cover on for races. These will be a little sturdier and you won't be as worried about them while training. Bu I know a lot of people who do 100% of their training on carbon clinchers without a problem. You can also put a disc cover on the carbon wheels for races and will have the advantage of the aero front wheel for the races.

I you decide on the Carbon Clinchers, I have a barely used set of Zipp Firecrest 404's with a Powertap SL+ hanging in my basement that I would sell you for a good price.

William Jenks

I would go with the HED as the (relatively) cost effective solution. You can ride it every day. If you somehow bomb out the rim (which would be hard), you don't have a ridiculously high priced rim to replace. With the disc cover, you're good to race. This is the exact setup I have. I have a Zipp front wheel, but I wouldn't want to ride on it every day because of the risk of breaking it.

Al Truscott

I have the Hed Belgiums on my road bike, and have found them to be bomb proof. Add a disc cover, and it's a great set of wheels for al round use. OTOH, on my TT bike, I have Zipp 404s, with carbon rims in the front, and aluminum rims in the back. I ride a lot in the wet Pac NW, but I have not found braking to be an issue, even considering that the front wheel bears the brunt of the stopping force. I use a disc cover on the rear for races. I ride that bike probably 3-4000 miles a year, and that is my only set of wheels for it, whether on the trainer, outdoors, or whatever. I'm on my second set since 2005; I changed first the rear to get a PT hub, then the front to get dimples and the new profile. But I've never had a problem with wheel damage, despite a lot of potholes, and one serious straight-on encounter at 25 mph with the rear end of a pick up - I got pretty messed up, the bike's fork and head tube got bent out of shape, but the wheel didn't even need to be re-trued, and the tire lost no air pressure!

tcattri

Thanks everybody. I am going to go ahead with the HED training wheel set with the disk cover for this season. I will look at an upgraded front wheel next time around. Thanks again!