Discerning Wheel User Needed for Testing....
Folks, EN is being serenaded by Karbon Speed, an offshoot of the Xterra wetsuit brand looking to bring high quality wheels to the market at a low price. The price $$$$$s are nice (think more $$ than $$$$), however I am just a doode who rides a bike. No idea whether or not these things are good or what.
The wheels they send me are carbon clincher, deeper rims....I can get more specs for whoever steps up....but here's what I am looking for you to do:
- Test ride the wheels in multiple scenarios: climbing/ descending/ TT-ing/ braking/ etc.
- Give us some feedback on what you like / didn't like / etc.
Basically I don't want to start pushing these wheels unless you guys like them!
So who's in?
Patrick
0
Comments
Currently have:
HED Stinger 6 and 9 tubular set (60mm / 90mm structural carbon- hoping to get rid of these)
Flo Cycling Flo 60 set and briefly have/had a Flo Disc that I think is going back to them. These are aluminum box clinchers with bonded carbon fairings.
Several sets of training clinchers of varying quality.
I also have access to pretty varied terrain, including long flat fast stretches up the coast and contrasting coastal mountain ranges with some hearty climbs and tricky descents. But, for all that I've only been at this for <5 years so I probably lack the discerning eye of some of our more experienced members. <br />
So you know me, if there's one thing I love it's talking about gadgets and aero widgets. Count me in until you find someone better
Probably a 99% chance you will be fine with your Disc, I didn't send it back because of any inherent problems with the design or ride of the disc, I just unfortunately got a dud.
I had a pretty candid discussion with Jon and Chris (the founders) on the phone last night and it seems that they are having some issues with quality on the discs, but I still don't think it's a huge number. I think he said that they shipped 100+ discs in the last pre-order and me + one other person had issues. The specific issue was the carbon fairing was banging on the spokes on the drive-side like a drum. It still rode fine but just made an unbearable racket.
I reported this to Flo last night after my first ride on them and Jon literally called me within 20 minutes and laid out my options. I would have gladly taken another disc, but they only had a Clydesdale disc available in stock (and my bike ships to tremblant on Monday). So instead he overnighted me a Flo 60 rear and hooked me up with a disc cover. Honestly, that is the route I should have gone to start with... but I was sort of swept up in the sexyness of the disc.
So long story short on Flo, they, like anyone else who deals with China/Taiwan, definetly have to be extremely proactive about ensuring their suppliers step up to the plate as far as quality goes. However, those guys have an incredible commitment to making sure their customers are taken care of, so I think you will be happy with your purchase decision all the same.
BTW, the build quality on the 60's at least are suberb.
Trevor,
Thanks for the info, hoping mine will be a good one. I just couldn't justify the expense of a Zipp disc. I like what these guys are doing and how they communicate with their customer.
Coach P, I am happy to test them out as well. Let me know.
We have it all here in Colorado. Tough climbs, breakneck descents, rolling hills, and super flat plains. I'm done with triathlon for the year, and am now working on State Road Race championships in two weeks, hill climb TT in September, and doing a boatload of riding. Happy to test anything you'd like.