74 Main Street Middlebury Vermont (802) 388-6666

Test the carbon/kevlar spoke alloy clinchers, Topolino CX2.0 1350gm/pair, made in Connecticut, $1,200. 

Which is better, tubular or clincher?

I want a 15 pound bike, but I don't want to use tubulars!

If you're a weekend warrior who always seeks an edge in equipment, especially for climbs, you've just handed the advantage to a fellow rider who's willing to glue on his tires.  It's impossible to build a clincher rim as light as a tubular, because the U shape of a clincher requires more material than the box shape of a tubular.

You won't have much luck finding a light tubular aluminum rim in the U.S.  Even manufacturers like Bontrager and Mavic fail to take full advantage of the inherent strength of the tubular rim.  Instead, they just build tubular versions of their best clincher rims.

With carbon it's another story.  1,200gm is the benchmark for a really light wheel set, and that's 3/4 pound less than a set of Mavic Kysriums.  1,000gm is the benchmark for an ultra-light wheel set.  The latter tend to cost as much as most of us would pay for a whole bike, but the former are available for less than $2,000/pair.

Still don't want to use tubulars?  Check out the Topolino CX2.0, a clincher wheel set that weighs 1350gm/pair, a new customer favorite.