Cheap Carbon Wheels vs Reality — What a Pro Mechanic Really Thinks
Cus Baker
21 giugno 2026
I bought a set of 1,300g carbon wheels for £330 — after 1500 miles of riding them I took them to Jon at The Cycle Workshop (a channel with nearly 50K subscribers) to find out if they're any good… and importantly, are they safe?
In this video, Jon gives the wheels a proper inspection — checking spoke tension, bearing quality, rim true, and overall build safety. He finds a couple of genuine concerns you NEED to know about if you're considering budget carbon wheels. But it's not all bad news. He also shares some brilliant maintenance tips that apply to ANY wheels you're riding, no matter the brand or price.This isn't just a review — it's a bike mechanic's honest verdict on whether cheap carbon wheels are worth the risk.
Video Chapters:
00:00 The £330 carbon wheel gamble
01:38 Visiting John at The Cycle Workshop
02:42 First impressions: Rim design and weight
03:49 The danger of "side entry" spoke holes
04:05 Identifying galvanic corrosion
04:48 Testing the front hub bearings (The crunch!)
06:00 Lateral and radial trueness test
08:08 Front wheel inspection summary
09:40 Dealing with "cassette bite" on the rear wheel
10:17 The benefits of Star Ratchet hub systems
12:01 DIY Maintenance: How to service your freehub
13:51 Are cheap bearings the weak point?
15:11 Why "fully captive" spoke holes are safer
16:24 Easy pro tips for new wheels (Check your grease!)
17:09 Side-by-side: Riot Wheels vs. Elite ENT Wheels
21:11 Checking the rear wheel trueness (1cm buckle?)
22:14 How to check spoke tension at home
25:25 The final verdict: Would a pro mechanic buy these?
26:42 Key takeaways for buying wheels online
🔧 The Cycle Workshop: Check out Jon's channel for more expert bike maintenance - https://www.youtube.com/@UCvIi60vlumaXAVacf1AM_0g
🚴♂️ Subscribe for weekly cycling vlogs, budget tech reviews, and honest opinions from the road and gravel: https://www.youtube.com/@UC8so7O1vEKiD3atxj243UjA
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RuoteRYET Road Carbon Wheelset Sinusoidal Bicycle Rimsets 22mm Tubeless Clincher Disc Brake 36T Ratchet Hub Ultralight Bike Wheels
Creato: 29 giugno 2026L'acquirente ha comprato un set di ruote in carbonio RYET da AliExpress per £330, del peso di 1.300 g. Ha fatto ispezionare le ruote da un esperto e ha trovato risultati contrastanti: i cerchi e i raggi erano di buona qualità, ma il design del mozzo presentava problemi di sicurezza e i cuscinetti erano scadenti.
Riepilogo IA
Pros
- Leggero a 1.300 g
- Il design ondulato del cerchio in carbonio sembra moderno ed è simile a design su ruote molto più costose
- Usa raggi sottili a pilastro, che sono leggeri
- Il mozzo posteriore utilizza un sistema a stella dentata (come DT Swiss), che è riparabile e facile da trovare pezzi di ricambio
- I cerchi sono agganciati (non hookless), cosa che l'esperto preferisce
- La ruota anteriore era vera (laterale e radiale entro 0,3 mm)
- La tensione dei raggi sulla ruota posteriore era uniforme tra i raggi
- I tappi terminali del mozzo hanno doppie tenute a labirinto e tenute in gomma per proteggere i cuscinetti
Cons
- Il design del mozzo ha raggi con entrata laterale che potrebbero potenzialmente saltare fuori sotto impatto, un problema di sicurezza
- Corrosione galvanica presente su tutti i raggi all'interfaccia del mozzo
- I cuscinetti sono economici e già arrugginiti dopo 1.500 miglia, nonostante un buon design di tenuta
- I cuscinetti della ruota anteriore sembravano granulosi
- La ruota posteriore è arrivata svergolata (fuori di circa 1 cm lateralmente e radialmente)
- Nessun grasso applicato ai cuscinetti dalla fabbrica
- Il risparmio di peso è stato in parte ottenuto usando raggi molto sottili e rimuovendo materiale dal mozzo, compromettendo la durata
Dove acquistare
