At ICAN, we have covered many articles on carbon road bike wheels. Here, we've taken a slightly different approach and compiled some common questions you might have. We hope this information is helpful.

 What is the relationship between rim depth and carbon road bike wheels?

For road bike riders, wheels with high rim depths, where the rim appears thick, are a cool and aspirational item. This is primarily for aerodynamic effect, and you can clearly feel the difference in speed when riding at high speeds. In fact, this shape was only made possible by the carbonization of wheels. Previously, wheels were mainly made of aluminum, and it was too heavy to create aero-type rims.

Currently, wheels with a rim depth of 35-40mm or more are called aero wheels, but the current wheel market largely consists of aluminum for those below that height and carbon for those above it.

Differences between wheels suited for climbing and wheels suited for high speeds

　　　　2020 35mm Road Bike Carbon Wheel　Learn More

For climbing, the absolute lightest wheels are required. Even with carbon, significant aerodynamic enhancements add weight, making them unsuitable for mountain roads. A rim depth of 35mm can be considered the dividing line. In contrast, riders who want to gain even a little speed on straightaways will choose aerodynamics, even if it means a bit more weight. Weight reduction is effective on climbs and during starting/accelerating. Once up to speed, weight becomes less of a factor.

If you're primarily touring and looking for an all-around option, you can choose something in the middle of these two, or prioritize your preferences based on these considerations. As you probably know, it's important to remember that the higher the rim depth, the more susceptible it is to crosswinds.

Are aluminum wheels stiffer?

　　　　　　Alu 27 Black Aluminum Wheels　Learn More

Wheel stiffness varies depending on the rim material, design, structure, spoke material, and lacing. Therefore, it's not possible to make a blanket statement, but it's true that aluminum generally makes it easier to achieve stiffness. In contrast, carbon wheels achieve increased stiffness by having higher rim depths.

While aluminum directly transmits input to the ground, carbon tends to transmit it with a unique flex. This flex is likely why carbon is said to provide a comfortable ride. It's not simply a matter of which is better; there's also the subtle art of matching, such as a stiff wheel for a soft frame or a wheel with some flex for a rigid frame, which makes the world of road bikes so profound.

Road bike carbon wheels and brake heat

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When carbon wheels first appeared, it was a hot topic that carbon melted due to heat during braking! While melting might be an exaggeration, it's true that carbon is vulnerable to heat. Nowadays, this has become common knowledge among cyclists, and it's understood that carbon wheels require a specific riding style. Specifically, continuous braking on descents is a no-go for carbon rim brakes, even though it's perfectly fine for aluminum rims. Whether you consider this "difficult to handle" or "interesting, I'll give it a try" is up to the individual.

However, one thing is certain: a road bike is not a bicycle for errands. It's something enjoyed by those who understand how to ride it, within the realm of hobbies. In that case, even if special braking techniques are required as a trade-off for weight reduction, it can even become a source of joy in mastering the ride.

How to prepare for disc brakes?

A9 Road Bike equipped with disc brake wheels　Learn More

The shift to disc brakes is related to the previous point about "carbon being vulnerable to heat." In the early days of carbon wheels, road bike riders learned proper braking techniques. At the same time, they explored whether there were brakes better suited for carbon wheels. It's natural that disc brakes, which were already developed at that time, were chosen.

Manufacturers then began converting carbon wheels to disc brakes. The problem here is that disc brakes cannot simply be retrofitted to conventional frames. Both the wheels and the frame need to be specifically designed for disc brakes. This means that disc brakes are only feasible when it's time to replace the entire road bike. This might be one of the reasons why the transition to disc wheels has been slow. Many cyclists are currently facing a difficult choice.

However, rim brakes are not going away. Even today, more than half of commercially available road bikes use rim brakes. If you hesitate, thinking "let's see how disc brakes fare," you'll delay experiencing the performance of carbon wheels.

Durability of road bike carbon wheels

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Regarding durability, the results of the aluminum vs. carbon contest are already in. It's a draw, or carbon might even have a slight edge. The estimated lifespan is 20,000 km. This means that even if you ride 200 km a month, it would last approximately 8 years.

Spoke issues also affect wheel lifespan. When spokes stretch and tension drops, wheel performance decreases. When you switch to new wheels, they feel incredibly high-performing, and this is one of the reasons why. Of course, this problem can be solved by asking a bike shop that can adjust spokes.

What about the current "Chinese wheels" that are gaining attention?

When it comes to product development, production technology, testing departments, and sales departments, recent "Chinese wheels" are not to be underestimated. What ICAN, a Chinese bicycle manufacturer, struggles with is that "Chinese wheels" are often discussed as a monolithic entity. We at ICAN are a manufacturer started by bike enthusiasts. We are not a profit-first company. We are passionate about providing high-quality products that are recognized worldwide at affordable prices.

There are other such manufacturers in China. We have a great vision of ambitious manufacturers coming together to boost the Chinese bicycle industry. Our 2-year warranty is a testament to ICAN's confidence.

For articles on Chinese carbon wheels, please refer to the Chinese Carbon Wheel Buyer's Guide.

ICAN Road Bike Carbon Wheel Lineup

You can see all products on ICAN's website. Click here for the homepage ICAN

CBW　Learn More

The popular Classic series, an entry-level class for carbon wheels.　

Alpha　Learn More

A new series launched in 2019. It also has perfect heat resistance.

FL　Learn More

The "Fast & Light" FL series. Disc-compatible models and G3 models are also available.

AERO　Learn More

An aggressive series in the upper-mid range, a lighter version of the FL.

DT　Learn More

The best products at a reasonable price. This is ICAN's flagship series.

Conclusion

How was it? I hope you've gained some understanding of how the world of road bikes is undergoing a significant transformation due to carbonization. There's still so much more to talk about. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask. Thank you for reading to the end.

Recommended related road bike wheel articles

Chinese Carbon Wheel Buyer's Guide

Basic Knowledge of Bicycle Wheels

Are cheap disc brake wheels good? [Reasons why you should avoid cheap ones]