If racing bikes have separated themselves from real-world
riding, racing wheels have spun into a whole different universe.
MAVIC, a rim maker whose products I used for decades,
recently introduced carbon clincher wheels, with a sticker price of $2,750 for the pair.
And for this, you get a wheel that, according to one review
in a racing magazine, has finally gotten braking effectiveness to the point
where aluminum rims have been for at least half a century.
The deep section carbon rim does provide a lot of
aerodynamic effect, which is great at speeds above 23 mph or so. Serious
competitors may need that kind of advantage. But for the rest of us, I’m not so
sure.
There seems to be a weight advantage, at least from the
stock Earle Wheels I weighed. The MAVIC set weighs 1545 grams (without skewers
or rubber), a pair of stock PBP EarleWheels weighs 1950 grams. Not a negligible
difference, but hardly impressive when you consider the cost of the Earle
Wheels. PBP rims on Velo Orange Grand Cru hubs are $379.
For $2,371, the rest of us, the serious riders who are not
serious competitors, can buy a whole lot of fenders, lights and foul weather
gear to broaden our ability to ride our bikes more.
Granted there are differences that may be measurable, but the gains in performance are insignificant compared to those in price. Plus, this year's trick wheels are next year's old-tech cast-offs. A set of Earle's Wheels or other craftsman handbuilts are a joy for years and years and....
ReplyDelete