Shaving off a few grams from the scale is becoming an increasingly common obsession among cyclists and bikers. Especially among the latter, for whom 300 grams more or less in the total weight seems more than enough reason to buy one bike model over another. Certainly, lighter components offer an advantage when it comes to riding in terms of weight, flex, stiffness, and comfort. However, they also force us to make a greater effort with our wallets. For example, the difference between choosing a carbon frame or an aluminum frame on the same bike model can amount to a difference of €1,500. Is it worth it?
>>> Should I buy an aluminum bike or a carbon bike?
Before buying a mountain bike, you should know that you can save yourself a kilo of weight and many hundreds of euros if, instead of investing your money in a carbon frame, you invest it in a good set of wheels.
The wheels are one of the most important elements to reduce the weight of a bike. In addition, they have a direct impact on maneuverability, acceleration, braking, and absorption of terrain irregularities. The €1,500 difference that can exist between a mountain bike with an aluminum frame and its same version with a carbon frame, you can spend on a good set of wheels. You’ll have money left over, the total weight of the bike will be less and its performance will be greater.
How to choose the right wheels
There are some details you should keep in mind when choosing the wheel-bike combination that will help you lighten the weight and improve performance. The first key point is the width. A wider tire offers better traction, while a narrower tire allows you to ride faster. Normally, a wider tire is used on the front rim and a narrower one on the rear. To improve your performance on the bike, look for the combination of tires that best suits your riding style.
This is related to the second key point when choosing MTB wheels: the use you are going to give your bike. It is not the same to practice enduro as it is to ride on dusty tracks. Nor is it the same to do long routes on muddy terrain as it is to go out on arid trails. There is no tire that works equally well on all types of surfaces, so you should look for the wheel that best suits your type of use within mountain biking. If you practice enduro or downhill, you will need a wheel that offers more grip. And if you do marathon or cross country, you should opt for a tire with greater rolling capacity. To choose a lightweight tire, make sure it has a kevlar bead instead of steel . They are easy to distinguish because steel bead tires always maintain their original circumference, while Kevlar bead tires can be folded easily. In addition, they are also easier to mount on the rim precisely because of their greater flexibility.
Start by lightening the outside
If the wheel-bike combination is important to reduce the overall weight of your MTB, the rim-tire combination is also important for improving handling. It’s very simple: the combination of the rim, tube (or tubeless), and tire directly affects acceleration, braking, and pedaling. The less inertia this set has, the faster you can change direction and speed. To reduce wheel inertia, you should lighten these components from the outside in. That is, the order of influence of these elements begins with the tire. Choose a tire that is as light as possible. The difference in tire weight is more important than that of the hub, since the former is located on the outermost part and the latter on the innermost. The more weight there is on the outer area of the wheels, the more effort you’ll need to pedal and get them spinning.
The advantages of carbon wheels
The main advantage of carbon wheels is obvious: their weight. Some models are under 1,300 grams. The less weight, the less force you have to exert to cover more distance. But it’s not just a matter of the scale. Carbon wheels for mountain bikes also offer a higher degree of stiffness per unit of weight than aluminum ones and promote a smoother ride, as they absorb terrain irregularities with greater flexibility. In short, if you want to put your bike on a diet, before opting for a carbon frame you should consider buying a set of wheels made from this material. You’ll reduce the overall weight, increase your bike’s performance, and save money.