What does it take to design and build the best carbon wheels? Knowledge, experience, skills, and creative innovation – plus top-quality components. A good starting point is rim design – and manufacture, using Toray T700 and T800 fiber layups. Chinese companies combine these light, strong carbon hoops with suitable nipples, spokes, lacing patterns, hubs and tires into many superb combinations.
A good wheel is a tensegrity structure – it is held together by tension so that the whole thing has properties greater than the sum of its parts. A top-class wheelset is made in China for every mountain bike activity under the sun – and every budget. And for MTB riders worldwide, the cherry on top is the price – thanks to highly competitive marketing and distribution strategies. These include direct factory-to-customer sales. Customers may be sure that they’re getting the best if they choose a product with a guarantee, which comes with the Union Cycliste Internationale's (UCI) approval.
A good Chinese carbon wheel has been compared to “a circular harp, with 28 strings all tuned to the same note.” These strings are the spokes, which come in several types and weights, designed for various types of riding. They can be laced in patterns where every spoke crosses two or three others. A good quality, long-lasting hub completes the wheel. It becomes one half of a light, strong combination – a wheelset that drastically improves the performance of any MTB. The rider who changes from conventional alloy-rimmed wheels to carbon experiences a quantum leap in performance.
Chinese MTB wheelsets may be ordered for fast delivery as models from a standard range – or on a custom parts basis, where customers select every item, from spoke nipples and gauges to internal rim profiles to free hubs and brake discs used by professionals. With a Chinese guarantee, the customer is assured that manufacture and assembly are under strict quality control. The wheelset will be relieved of stress and is unlikely to need truing for a long time, even after continued abuse in the mountains. Now it’s time to mention a few pillars of the Chinese cycling world – firms that produce some of Planet Earth's best and most reliable MTB wheelsets.
How to manufacture the rim of MTB wheels
The Top Carbon Mountain Bike Wheels Brand In China
FARSPORTS. Founded in 2007, this company is based on research and committed to innovation. It ticks all the boxes for a leading Chinese factory and has made interesting progress on special rim brake designs – and carbon fiber spokes. There’s a very exciting range of 29ers (with asymmetric Sapim spokes and DT Swiss 350 hubs) for US$ 1099.
ICAN. This notable firm has a wide range of products, with direct factory sales on three continents. It offers state-of-the-art frames for every discipline and carbon wheels galore. Regarding MTB wheelsets, ICAN has something for all seasons and every type of MTB rider. The online catalog offers dozens of wheelsets, including a tasty range of 29ers to suit all budgets, from beginner to hardened pro.
Light Carbon (Xiamen Light Carbon Composite Technology). If you’ve fallen in love with a trispoke 650b carbon wheelset, this is the brand you need. Or, if you fancy a carbon-rimmed wheelset with six carbon spokes for your 29er. These are sexy as all hell – and look like chariot wheels from Ancient Egypt. They take a thru-axle and disc brakes. And Light Carbon also has a full range of conventional carbon MTB wheelset builds.
Elite Wheels. This young company based in Zhangzhou is expanding with MTB wheelsets that meet all the criteria for good value. Of note is the range of PRO 29er wheelsets for US$1269, designed for Cross-Country, Trail and Enduro. This article is about MTB wheelsets, but it must be said that the China Glory Cycle Team uses Elite wheels. In April, they began their 2022 international professional campaign with the Tour of Turkey.
