GCN’s “Elite” Wheels suck. Do BikeAheads as well?
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- Опубликовано: 9 июл 2024
- So for context, the BikeAhead wheels were supplied to me by an old sponsor, but I am in no way affiliated with BikeAhead. Nor, for that matter, am I linked to Caden wheels, though Ben, the owner, is a friend. However, they WILL be my next wheel purchase because I trust the brand and they're quality wheels (ridden by Stefan Küng in the tour TT btw).
Link to a good wheel manufacturer: carbonbikewheels.com.au/en
***it is important to note I tested the Legends with tyres on so they appeared to move closer to the frame then they actually did. The wheel at full pressure was close to touching, but the rim was comparable to the BiTurbos 
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Those 3 - 6 spoke wheels should really just
be used on the velodromes. It is where it
comes from and where it should stay. You
need give on road wheels to put up with
roads and to give good compliance, overly
stiff wheels will give you the opposite on
standard roads.
I love "Burgess roasts GCN" videos 😂
Haha I feel like Trace roasted GCN and I just called it what it is.
Great insight and input to this conversation Burgess, and at the same time Kudos to Luke for providing his honest input as well. From what I've seen of his content, it's usually easy to watch his videos and walk away with enough information to take my own calculated risks.
I think for the case of these funky 6 spoke wheels, Elite got it wrong. My only data being the visual appearance of the BikeAhead's spoke design vs Elite's, the Bikeahead appear far less aerodynamic. The spokes are much wider; at their center they have a sort of spine that sticks out towards the outside of the hubs all the way to the outside of the rim, which is crucial because it forms the triangle truss found on conventional spokes that Luke was talking about. Which leads me to believe Elite was aiming purely for aerodynamics, and believed they could get away with a narrower, more blade shaped spoke profile while still retaining lateral stiffness thanks to their carbon construction. They didn't get away with it, as Luke demonstrated quite clearly.
I wouldn't go so far as to making a blanket statement that Elite wheels suck though. Luke does thoroughly test the different models he uses and I was satisfied enough with his results (and other youtuber's) to take a chance on a newer (visually different) version of his cheapest ever set (Elite ENT disc). I also asked Elite to upgrade my spokes to Sapim CX Ray's, so basically for about $500 I get to say I had a company overseas build custom wheels just for me, that's pretty neat I think. 😎
More importantly though, even if I only got them this spring, and have only ridden them about 1000km, they have been flawless so far and a significant improvement to the alloy wheels they replaced. I'm quite sure I would have spent more locally on alloy wheels that wouldn't ride anywhere near as good as these and I don't have any reason to believe they won't last either.
Hey @elitewheelscycles send Burgess a set of Drive's built to his specifications for review please?
It is certainly not my intention to shit on Elite Wheels in general, just this specific wheel and these wheels in general. Until the UCI approves them there are faster wheels for triathlon (three-bladed wheels for example) and so I don’t know the real market for these outside of wanting your bike to look cool, which let’s be real, works.
If Elite Wheels want to send me something I’ll run it through its paces. I’d love to have a set of wheels I can stress test. Take them to the skate park or something.
Also, thanks for taking the time to write this whopper comment. There’s a lot of RUclips out there and don’t think it goes unnoticed or unappreciated that you took the time on my channel 🤙
Maybe, but maybe not. I'm holding out for peak torque's aero tests. If these are fast aerodynamically, I couldn't care less about lateral stiffness for TTs.
Yeah fair play. For TT it probably works. I’d just be scared with that flex.
hmm. I saw the Trace Velo video and didn't think of something until seeing yours. Some of that lateral deflection could be from the hub itself, hub axel interface, hub to wheel interface, etc. It would be interesting to see what amount of flex there is from the 6 spoke carbon design itself vs with the hub and if it would be possible to separate hub and hub/wheel interface play from wheel flex. Would also be interesting to see some wind tunnel data on the 6 spoke as they don't look aero to me.
Do you mean that cheaper hubs cause more wobble? I can’t see them causing that much movement though. As for whether they’re aero, I don’t think it matters. You can’t race them legally under UCI rules so it’s really just a flex.
No pun intended.
How did you crack the carbon setting them up tubeless, would really like to know.
I used a Co2 canister to pop the bead on and the tyre blew off and the rim cracked parallel to the hook
Honestly, user error but you’d think they could take that
I just got my hands on a pair of used bikeahead Road wheels….happy to hear your comment
Dude do you want a spare rear? Haha. I loved the BikeAheads tbh but I just found them excessive. I race so I was constantly having to swap wheels out and just ended up not using them, leaving my race wheels on instead.
@@burgess_and_his_bike Regards from the north of Switzerland. Bikeahead is producing 3 hours away in Germany. Since I do not race it is no issue for me. Just put your wheel on marketplace…sure you will get it out for good money
Lateral stiffness is important for cornering and out of plane stuff but maybe gcn guy was talking about torsional stiffness which is harder to test but makes wheels feel good accelerating
Perhaps, but I feel it’s on GCN to be specific about that seeing as they’re basically creating an ad for these wheels and people trust what they say.
@@burgess_and_his_bike yeah, i would be upset if I bought them and found out they had no lateral stiffness
@@Chazz4804 totally. Can you imagine sprinting out of a corner with that flex?
Great vid mate
Thanks Lewis. Appreciate it
Bikeahead spokes look way less aero though :(
I think we think we know what aero looks like but it’s all about clean vs dirty air. I reckon you’d get quite a bit of dirty air coming off the back edge of the Elite Wheels spokes. Think about what water looks like after you drag your hand through. The BikeAhead ones are small with a sharp back edge to keep it clean.
Monocoque wheels are always going to beat spoked for maintenance. All the issues with truing, corrosion, and all the broken spoke, rounded nipple issues are just gone. For a general riding wheel or commuting, any monocoque wheel is better. (And if you want lateral stiffness, just run a disc wheel)
Unpopular opinion, but lateral stiffness is almost irrelevant so long as the wheel/tire isn't rubbing on the frame.
If you even feel the wheel flexing when you ride, you need to improve your technique and reduce your own lateral inefficiency of movement.
Depends on your riding and these aren’t race wheels so fair enough, but how often do you actually have those issues?
@@burgess_and_his_bike I don't have many issues anymore, wheels have gotten better. But metal spokes are the last major issue. I just had to rebuild my front enve wheel from a couple siezed nipples.
Great vid dude.. man I gotta say kudos for testing the flex of the wheels I was cringing.. lol.. I wouldn’t go with those elite 6 spoke wheels not for me 🚴🏻👍Pete
They’re caache build wheels and why would you get a caache build and then whack cheap wheels on it. You run the wheels to show off. These Elite wheels flop about way too much haha
As for testing flex, it helps that the BA wheels are part of a broken set so I only have the rear wheel left.
Awesome Vid! Those Caden wheels look Niiiiiiiiiiice as Borat would say 😉 The six spoke jobbies though........ not so much 😕
Thanks man. They’re pretty decent. Have seen them getting built up and he’s got an awesome organisation there.
Yup just buy Caden wheels. I cannot recommend these things enough, serviceability, price & performance.
There's really no other brand that can compete.
Elves do a set. There is also many others making them.
Further to that I am running a set of Elite wheels and they have been flawless. They are the older wavey version. BWT I think they are.
Good to hear they’re good. Again, this is just based off TraceVelo’s review but you’d think they’d send him a tested set so I think it’s fair to assume they are representative of the product.
@@burgess_and_his_bike 100%. Would be interesting to see another review. Plus a review on the ones from Elves.
@@burgess_and_his_bike Sorry further to that i believe they stopped selling these spoke wheels at some point. Cant remember what for.
@@Squizzy05 I’ll put my hand up and say I won’t complain if people send me wheels 😉
From the UK 🇬🇧🇬🇧🖖🖖
Hey dude!
@@burgess_and_his_bike Hey Dude 🤙 Keep Up the Vids, was interesting to see the amount of flex on that carbon wheel.
@@RoadBikeCC thanks dude. I’m excited for the next one. I think it’ll be good.
I would never buy bladed wheels...
Fair
Just buy another pair its made in china and cheapo, thats the whole point. Even chinese do not buy their own products but save up to invest in quality.
🤙
100%. Elite Wheels are not a good company to deal with. Keep away from them and stick to the proper brands.
Is this from experience? Would love to hear the story.
@@burgess_and_his_bike I judge them on their poor business practices. A while back I tried to leave a comment on one of their intagram posts I stumbled upon, the comments wasn't negative nor was it trolling, if anything it was positive as the comment was regarding the new logo style placement on their new wheels. Elite took it negatively and accused me of engagement farming. That left a soil taste. Shortly afterwards news drop about them stealing hub designs. They can't do anything right. Best to avoid them and let them bury themselves.