Regarding the price advantage of Chinese wheels: my latest set of wheels comes from a good local wheel builder. This set has cost me a fair bit less than really good Chinese wheels. With component-wise only the rims being a bit different and a 30gr heavier a piece, but still very modern and robust. In return I got local service, a free checkup, more warranty…
So, imho, it is worth investigating both paths, aside from the usual large brands.
How have they generally lead the move to wider rims? I can think of one mainstream brand that’s had 25 internal width rims for almost 4 years and 2 mainstream brands that had them well before that. Now there are quite a few mainstream brands and Chinese brands that have 'em. IMHO, the leadership claim is both dubious and unnecessary given how easy it is to find aero road rims with wide internal widths.
Perhaps entertain the warranty differences and issues you might experience with Light Bicycle compared to Reserves.
I have no issue with what you’re saying, and it great that you’re happy with them. My response was questioning the possible warranty experience and differences between Light Bicycle (LB) compared to the Reserves since they were suggested earlier. The Light Bicycle Standard Warranty is 3 years and the Reserves are Lifetime. But my understanding that LB imposed some push back on warranties because of who maintained them was not an Authorized Technician. I have not seen a disclosure like this before, but it’s there.
The revered NOBl’s. That brings up another interesting point. Why are LB Standard warranty 3 years and NOBL hoops are lifetime?
I have maintained several wheels with NOBL hoops. I-9’s and 350’s. The hoops have been a non-issue from my perspective.
LightBicycle also offers an option to buy lifetime warranty.
Don’t know if they then deliver another quality of wheels, or just make you pay for extra reassurance and insurance.
(My car is a rebadged car from another brand. The other car gets 10 years of warranty. Mine has only 6. So yes, if something happens, an owner of the original brand will be better off. But both cars come from the same production line. So chances on failure are the same, and probably very low, as the original brand dares to give 10 years of warranty. And my car costs less in the first place.)
Maybe I am miss-remembering re who was at the head of the wider rim movement, but could have sworn I was seeing Chinese brands introducing ever wider rims ahead of many others. There are are some pretty conservative Asian wheel brands too though.
Chinese brands have certainly led the way in taking carbon spokes mainstream (pretty sure they have the patents for the common ones now widely used), and pushing forward with the crazy lightweight wheelsets those spokes allow.
Absolutely this. While I was plugging the Asian brands, it was more to highlight that they are not necessarily a poor alternative, but certainly …
one word: campagnolo
Or Fulcrum!
There are usually some good deals flying around on Fulcrum.
The hub design provides a great sensation of speed. I don’t know how they stack up for aero, but they usually feel quick and look good, and running costs are low if you remember to service the bearings occasionally.