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Broke my rear Lightbicycle rim at BPW last week. I am completely unstressed and undisappointed about this, as it was at least 5 years old and has been great- absolutely covered in scars, scrapes and dings and has shrugged it all off til now. For a 400g-ish rim it's done brilliant.
But, now I need a new rim. And I want another logo-less UD matte carbon mostly just to match the front, as I'm a tart. Lightbicycle don't make the exact same rim any more but they're looking at comparisons for me, I'd be pretty happy to go with them again. Anything else I should consider though? 30mm-ish wide is fine, same sort of weight would be good, if I can get a little more width or strength without too much penalty that'd be nice but the old one was the right sort of overall spec.
(I have a spare set of wheels with full dh tyres on for special occasions but this will do probably 95%+ of all my riding just like the last one did. And probably worth adding that I weigh 10 stone and it's going in a long travel #enduro bike and will do general long travel #enduro bike things.)
Quick update, Lightbicycle have offered me a discount (which is nice of them, for a 6-year-old rim) and it turns out that their cheaper Recon range is literally the same old rim, which is why they're cheap. So that works out at a bit under £170 inc postage and taxes.
So it's not pocket money but it's not bad either, is there anything else to compete? I was thinking of a Recon Pro but that does add a fair bit to the price
Obviously I could buy 2 and a bit EX471s for the same price, but I'm pretty comfortable saying that there's no 420g, 30mm wide alu rim that'll do this job and I do like light wheels so I'm still inclined towards carbon...
I'll be using new spokes anyway just because the old ones are pretty battered so no advantage to keeping the same ERD.
If weight is critical, you’re not going to do better than LB’s offer. If you can live with another 100-150g, EX471/511 would be the obvious answer(s).
Great price for the LB that you had good experience with!
Obviously I could buy 2 and a bit EX471s for the same price, but I’m pretty comfortable saying that there’s no 420g, 30mm wide alu rim that’ll do this job and I do like light wheels so I’m still inclined towards carbon
Which is what I would do. Little bit of extra weight & enjoy a wheel that has outlasted any carbon rims I have used by a huge margin.
And more importantly, ride significantly better too.
Depending on how hard you are on wheels, the XM481 might be a better bet. I'm a good 1.5 stone heavier than you and mine have survived 2.5 years of battering through rocks in the Peak & Lakes, I'm by no means fast but I'm not slow either.
I'd just take the lightbicycles offer, you're used to carbon so the feel isn't an issue, it'll match up better so easier to shift if you go after other wheels later on, plus if same ERD you might save some of the spokes as spares.
If you were happy with that rim and you’re happy with the price just take the carbon I reckon.
I have xm481’s that are pretty decent - I’ve had them a couple of years and they’re quite scruffy now in terms of scratches / scuffs. No dings or out of true though - I’d say your 6 years is very decent mileage out of a rim that gets good usage. But they are heavier than your carbon even in the 650b size I’ve got.
I did the same a year or so back - broke a rim, which was 4+ years old. They gave me a discount on a replacement, but this time I went for the slightly heavier duty rim, the EN (Pro) version
https://www.lightbicycle.com/EN932-asymmetric-rim-profile-carbon-29er-carbon-rims-mtb.html
Hob-Nob
Free MemberAnd more importantly, ride significantly better too.
OK so, what difference do you actually expect between the two?