TWE Carbon Wheels

[Rex]

Has anyone had experience with TWE Carbon Clinchers?
What are their hubs like? Last through winter ok?

Looking for something as light and strong as possible around the 30-40mm depth range.
I'm 80-85kg during a typical 12month period.

[KGB]

I know that Greg is a very skilled wheel builder so wouldn't hesitate to have him build me some wheels if I was going custom.

As far as the hubs go, I believe he sources generic hubs and either specifies his own bearings or replaces the stock ones with his own preference prior to building/selling them. I could be wrong on the bearings though - give him a call and ask him about them. Of course you'd expect him to tell you they're fantastic but ask him things like what grade and brands of bearings he uses and importantly, how easy the hubs are to rebuild and what the availability of spare parts (bearings, axles, pawls, shim/campag freewheel bodies) is like. Changing bearings on a cartridge bearing hub is often just a 10min job but anything more serious and you want to be confident that spare parts are available and you won't require any specialist tools etc.

[open roader]

I rode for just over a year on a pair of TWE 50mm carbon clinchers quite a while back. They were very good wheels 1285 grams the pair if I recall - but I should have opted for a higher spoke count in the rear (I opted for 24 in the rear - I weighed 78kg at th time) as I was able to flex the rear rim enough to cause regular brake rubbing.

The hubs on these wheels were the best TWE had to offer - Greg's 'Premier' hubs as he called them back then, and were impressive, very smooth and free spinning from the beginning and just got better with use. After 13-14 months constant use they were operating perfectly and as smoothly as any other fancy brand hub that I've ridden on (Campag, DT Swiss, Tune, White Industries etc) I believe those 'Premier' hubs back then were Novatec hub shells with best avail. bearings fitted and simply branded TWE but don't quote me on that point.

I also still ride on a couple of pairs of custom TWE alloy MTB wheels which are equally excellent in quality and function. Greg Ryan comes across as uber laid back / cool bananas which could be mistaken for being uniterested, however, he is a very good listener, answers questions honestly and his knowledge and wheels making skills are world class.

End of free plug.........

[Rex]

Thanks guys.
I'll admit the possible rebranded Novatec hubs concern me for durability and longevity.

[foo on patrol]

There is a base model and then there is the premium model in Novatec.

Foo

[trailgumby]

I have a 29er wheel of his sitting in my garage. Straight as a die. However, the reason I have it is the previous owner got fed up with pawls breaking multple times. Once I'm out of the woods with busy season at work I'll pay him a visit and see if I can get a more robust replacement.

[softy]

I ran lightweight wheels, low spoke count and i am over 80kg and carry a back pack as well.

Keep your cadence high, no low cadence out of the seat riding and you will hardly notice any wheel flex.

[Duck!]

Thanks guys.
I'll admit the possible rebranded Novatec hubs concern me for durability and longevity.

Don't worry. Novatech are like the Giant of hubs - they manufacture for many other "name" brands as well as under their own name.

[Rex]

Oh I didn't realise that Duck, cheers. Greg told me has 2 options of hubs, one with bigger bearings so that is good enough for me!

Just can't find any negative feedback on TWE wheels (which is saying something on the internet!) so I reckon these are a goer.

[frankn]

I have a 29er wheel of his sitting in my garage. Straight as a die. However, the reason I have it is the previous owner got fed up with pawls breaking multple times. Once I'm out of the woods with busy season at work I'll pay him a visit and see if I can get a more robust replacement.

I also have TWE carbon 29r wheels, I had my rear wheel laced to a DT240. Never had a problem with this combo. I would like Greg to market a wider rim for MTB. Mine is ~19mm internal width which is narrow.

[dodge]

I have a set of gregs wheels on my 29er(not carbon though)..The only time I have touched them with tools was when I installed the cassette when I got them..Have had them for over 3.5years and still going strong.

[nickdos]

I recently enquirer about some 29er wheels (Alu) and he now has some 23mm int. diameter rims at 1700g full wheelset. Price seems really good for light hand built wheels. But my LBS recommends I spend the extra $300 and get LB carbon wheels.

[trailgumby]

My LB carbon 29r wheels are sub-1500g and cost me $1,100 to get built up locally from parts I supplied. The build used a Hope Pro II rear hub, Lefty front, CX-Ray spokes and brass nipples. Spokes and nipples were sourced from BikeHubStore in the US, whose service was excellent. I would have got LB to build them with Pillar bladed spokes, which would have saved me a couple of hundred, but they would only spec alloy nips at the time. Alloy nips corrode and don't last long at all in carbon rims when using ammonia-based sealant.

My rims are 22mm wide internally, and hookless. Have never burped them. http://www.light-bicycle.com/beadless-c ... -wide.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Unfortunately FX rates have deteriorated since then, so you would be looking at $1300-1400 now, or $1200 if you can get LB to build with brass nipples.

[Duck!]

The set I built for myself recently cost me about $1000 to get the bits, although I got the rims a while ago when the exchange rate was good, so would cost more now. Carbonal rims, Shimano XTR hubs & DT Aerolite spokes with brass nipples. I'd build & sell that spec for around $1400.

[Rex]

Yep.
I priced a set of LB clincher rims with DT Swiss hubs, locally built = $1400

Sums didn't add up considering the terrain theses wheels will be on over the next few months (cobbles)