Hello, this is ICAN. "I want to replace my road bike wheels with disc brake wheels at a lower price" and "I want something cheap, but with the best possible specs." Today, we'll answer those questions. This article will answer those questions and introduce disc brake wheels with good specs. By the time you finish reading, you'll understand the types of wheels available and how to choose them.

There are two types of disc brake wheels: hydraulic and mechanical.

There are two types of disc brake wheels: hydraulic and mechanical. The biggest difference between these two types is that hydraulic wheel cables are less prone to rust. It's recommended to clarify the differences between each before making a purchase.

Features of hydraulic wheels

Hydraulic disc brake wheels are recommended for people who frequently use their brakes, want to grip the brakes with less effort, or want cables that are less likely to rust even in the rain. As the name suggests, hydraulic systems use oil pressure to push the pads and stop the disc brake wheels. While there's almost no difference in braking power between mechanical and hydraulic systems, hydraulic systems allow you to apply the brakes with less effort. If you want to ride your road bike in the rain and take advantage of disc brake wheels, hydraulic is the only way to go.

Features of mechanical wheels

Mechanical disc brake wheels are recommended for those who want to get wheels at a lower cost or are looking for something with easy brake adjustment. Mechanical systems apply the brakes by pulling a cable to move the pads. Therefore, if the brakes malfunction, you can resolve the issue by simply adjusting the cable. Also, there's no significant difference in braking power between mechanical and hydraulic systems, so you don't need to overthink this. For solo cyclists, mechanical disc brake wheels might be a good choice.

The performance of disc brake wheels is proportional to their price.

The performance of wheels is proportional to their price. Therefore, choosing cheap wheels will result in lower performance. Conversely, choosing expensive wheels will give your road bike higher performance.

Features of wheels costing 200,000 yen

There are countless wheels costing over 200,000 yen out there, but this time we'll look at the features of wheels just under 200,000 yen. At this price range, you can ride all-around, from flats to hills, and achieve faster, more efficient riding. Therefore, riding a steep hill with wheels costing a few tens of thousands of yen compared to riding with 200,000 yen wheels will be, conservatively speaking, twice as fast. This is not an exaggeration; it's true. Whether you believe it or not is up to you.

If you're replacing wheels for the first time, choose something around 100,000 yen.

If you're replacing wheels for the first time, wheels around 100,000 yen are recommended. This is because, for example, if you buy a complete road bike for 100,000 yen, it will almost always come with wheels costing a few tens of thousands of yen. While you could certainly upgrade your road bike wheels significantly in one go, starting with more affordable wheels around 100,000 yen is likely to make riding your road bike more manageable, considering both performance and your peace of mind.

Precautions when choosing disc brake wheels

When purchasing disc brake wheels, always double-check if they are "compatible" with disc brakes. Once compatibility is confirmed, the selection process is the same as choosing any other wheel.

How to choose wheels

Now, let's look at how to choose wheels. The reason for changing wheels is likely to change the way your road bike rides. Even just replacing the wheels can significantly alter the ride.

How to choose wheels ① Choose wheels weighing around 1500-1600g

The first way to choose wheels is to select those weighing around 1500-1600g. By doing so, you'll feel a significant change when you replace your wheels. This is because most road bike wheels weigh around 2kg. Nevertheless, not only will you feel the difference, but it will also significantly change your riding experience.

How to choose wheels ② Choose wheels with a shallow rim

The second way to choose wheels is to select those with a shallow rim. While a deep rim increases rigidity, it can make the road bike ride less comfortably. This is because the impact is stronger when going over bumps and the like. In other words, the vibration absorption is inferior. Therefore, for road bike beginners, shallow-rimmed disc brake wheels will suffice for now. However, once you get used to riding a road bike, deep-rimmed wheels reduce air resistance, and the power from your pedaling is transmitted directly forward. If you can transmit pedaling power directly to the wheels, maintaining speed is easy. For intermediate and advanced road bike riders, deep-rimmed disc brake wheels are recommended.

How to choose wheels ③ Choose based on whether they use carbon fiber

While wheels with shallow rims offer a pretty good ride (vibration absorption), for those who desire even more comfort from their road bike, disc brake wheels made with carbon fiber are recommended. However, the price will be higher accordingly, so this depends on your budget.

Recommended Disc Brake Wheels

2020 50cm 87,000 yen

The 2020 50cm wheel is the disc brake wheel we've thoroughly examined this time. Designed with a combination of T700 and T800 carbon fiber for the rim, it offers exceptional comfort and impressive weight. While most wheels costing several tens of thousands of yen exceed 2kg, this wheel weighs 1574g. It might be the only wheel that offers a 1.5kg disc brake wheel for 80,000 yen.

AERO 50 Disc 79,620 yen

The AERO 50 Disc wheel was known as the lightest disc brake wheel in 2019. It uses T700 carbon material, which is suitable for creating strong and durable wheels. The combined weight of the front and rear wheels is an impressive 1450g. If you want to keep both weight and price down, this is a good option to consider.

Summary: Buy disc brake wheels around 100,000 yen.

That concludes our guide on how to choose road bike wheels (disc brake wheels). While cheaper wheels might be fine if you only ride occasionally, the fact that you're reading this article suggests otherwise. Therefore, it's advisable to opt for slightly more expensive disc brake wheels, just under 100,000 yen.

Recommended related articles

ICAN Article List

Chinese Carbon Wheel Buying Guide

2020 Bicycle Rim Buying Guide

Smart Choice for Road Bike Carbon

Thorough Explanation of Bicycle Spoke Assembly [For Beginners]

The current state of V-brakes equipped on gravel road bikes!!