Elitewheels EDGE 50mm Review: Cheap and Lightweight but Soft

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Elitewheels EDGE are among the many best-selling carbon wheels on Aliexpress. Throughout Black Friday gross sales, I purchased them for an unbelievable value of round $470. Nonetheless, I made a mistake when selecting transport, which resulted in excessive import charges. However extra about this later.

I additionally purchased and examined the cheaper Elitewheels ENT to learn the way they carry out. Aside from these low-cost carbon wheels, I’ve additionally reviewed Elitewheels DRIVE (Elitewheels’ flagship wheelset) and have expertise with many standard Chinese language street bike wheels.

So, how did the EDGE maintain up and evaluate to them? On this assessment, one can find out!

My EDGE wheels scoring at a look:Crosswind Stability 4/5 | Stiffness 3/5 | Using Consolation 4/5 | Velocity Upkeep 3/5 | Tire On 3/5 | Trueness 3/5 | Spoke Pressure 5/5 | Dishing 4/5 | Worth 5/5 | OVERALL 3.8/5More about this street wheels scoring.

Elitewheels EDGE Primary Options

Here’s a fast abstract of the options and specs of the Elitewheels EDGE 50mm wheels.

Transport and Import Charges from China Defined

Guess which possibility I selected. Effectively, I needed to play it secure initially, however then I had a mind change off and didn’t pay the pre-paid transport. I may have a worry-free customs course of, however now I used to be afraid customs officers would apply anti-dumping customs, which might double the worth.

Ultimately, I paid an additional $155* for import charges. That is greater than double the worth of pay as you go transport. Effectively, this was an costly mistake. In whole, nonetheless, the wheels solely price me $625.

*Customs $24.5 + TAX $117.5 + Customs declaration companies clearance $13.

Anyway, Elitewheels will contact you immediately on Aliexpress and ask you which ones possibility you wish to select earlier than transport your order. Even throughout Black Friday, they replied inside a day.

I positioned my order on 25/11/2023, and the bundle was shipped on 19/12/2023. Bear in mind, this was through the Black Friday procuring frenzy when Elitewheels had loopy large offers.

Because of the bundle being held at customs and a delay in customs clearance, it arrived on 12/02/2023. I may in all probability have obtained it a lot sooner if I had pay as you go the DPD transport. At the least now you received’t must repeat my mistake.

First Impressions and Unboxing

The unboxing was commonplace. The wheels had been well-packaged and undamaged. The bundle didn’t embrace spare spokes or tubeless valves. Tubeless rim tape was included however not pre-applied, which is a disgrace. However I perceive they’ve to save lots of prices someplace.

Nonetheless, I heard one thing rattling within the entrance wheel. I figured a bit of plastic wrap had one way or the other gotten into it. I hunted for it with tweezers for about 5 minutes earlier than I managed to tug it out.

Surprisingly, the Elitewheels EDGE are nearly indistinguishable from the Elitewheels ENT. I solely seen the totally different weights and barely totally different rim profiles when holding them.

In-Home Checks

Lateral and Radial Trueness

Earlier than I began driving, I put each wheels on a truing stand and double-checked their lateral and radial trueness. Neither wheel was centered very properly in comparison with the opposite wheels I examined. There was a transparent deviation within the entrance and rear. On later examination of the spoke stress, I discovered it was pretty constant (extra about this under). So, I assume that the edges will not be made to excessive tolerances. In any other case, with constant spoke stress, there must also be near-perfect centering.

Spoke Pressure

After measuring all spokes, I came upon that the entrance wheel had a lot worse spoke stress consistency than the rear wheel. A number of spokes had been outdoors the 5% spoke stress restrict. That is nonetheless not such a giant deal. I simply wish to exhibit the extent of expertise of those inexpensive carbon wheels. See the next charts for reference.

Rim Centering (Dishing)

The dishing (measuring how well-centered the hub is) ended properly. Solely the entrance wheel confirmed a spot of about 0.5mm between the device and the top cap. The rear hub was completely centered.

A Look Inside

After wanting inside the edges, I discovered that the interior construction of the carbon is smoother than, for instance, cheaper ENT wheels. Whereas this isn’t the smoothest doable end, as I discovered occasional wrinkles, it’s a stable end result on this value vary.

The Issue of Placing the Tire On

Regardless of their low value, EDGE wheels are tubeless-ready. So, as all the time, I attempted to place my Tufo Comtura 4 TR 28mm tires on as soon as I utilized the rim tape.

I couldn’t get the tires on with out utilizing tire levers, though they had been already a number of hundred miles previous. Older (stretched) tires are all the time simpler to placed on. Nonetheless, seating with the assistance of a compressor was not an issue. If in case you have the choice, I like to recommend getting a compressor. It would prevent a variety of time. Nonetheless, regardless of the tighter match of the tires, I couldn’t seat it utilizing the ground pump.

The desk under reveals the person standards of all wheels I examined and my score.

Using Expertise

Under, I share my trip expertise and some ideas on their practicality and upkeep.

The extra wheels I take a look at, the smaller the variations between them I discover. I rode the Elitewheels EDGE for about 1000 km through the winter. Primarily based on the specs, I anticipated a cushty trip and excessive responsivity.

Whereas I discovered these wheels equally snug to most steel-spoked-based wheels, such because the YOELEO SAT PRO 2022 or Farsports Wave, I used to be mistaken in regards to the responsiveness. In truth, it fell far in need of the Elitewheels DRIVE 45mm, which I contemplate to be probably the most “energetic” wheels I’ve examined. Using uphill, it didn’t really feel like I used to be driving solely 1350g wheels. That is as a result of weight distribution and decrease total stiffness. The spokes and rims are literally heavier than the Elitewheels DRIVE. So, the burden is distributed extra on the surface of the wheel than within the middle, leading to decrease responsiveness.

I don’t have too many complaints about trip consolation. I’ve ridden the wheels through the winter and on bumpy roads. Resulting from their decrease stiffness, they’re able to take up extra vibration than tremendous stiff wheels such because the Lún MEGA. So, for those who’re in search of snug coaching wheels, the EDGE could be value your consideration.

Throughout winter, we had been typically troubled by robust winds. Nonetheless, this was the proper alternative to check the steadiness of those wheels. I contemplate it good; it’s mainly corresponding to costlier wheels. EDGE wheels behave predictably. Nonetheless, as a result of 50mm depth, I like to recommend paying further consideration to robust wind gusts, which may throw you off steadiness.

Let’s discuss in regards to the really feel of driving on flats and rolling terrain. Right here, the EDGE wheels are a minor disappointment, as they don’t keep pace in addition to heavier wheels. Permitting for the truth that they don’t really feel as energetic because the lighter wheels both, I’m questioning the place their major added worth truly is, aside from the paper-light weight. For me, it’s in all probability a mixture of low value and first rate high quality, however I’ll focus on this additional in My Verdict.

Elitewheels EDGEs use Pillar Wing 20 metal spokes, that are comparatively straightforward to search out. Should you break one of many spokes, changing it shouldn’t be an issue.

The hubs are from Elitewheels and use the 36T ratchet system. The freehub sound is fairly noisy, however I just like the sound of the ENT hub higher. I can’t fee the hub’s sturdiness due to the mileage. Nonetheless, after my expertise with the Superteam All-Carbon Extremely, I made a decision to place it via an influence interval on a hill (sluggish cadence and heavy gearing). The hub/freehub dealt with the load with no issues.

Elitewheels EDGE Alternate options

My Verdict

The Elitewheels EDGE are good wheels for newbies or those that need snug coaching wheels at a great value. The value is a giant attraction, particularly for those who purchase them at a reduction, e.g., on Black Friday, as I did. They typically promote for round $600, which is a reduction from the worth of round $1,000. Nonetheless, that is only a advertising and marketing trick. Their actual value is certainly not $1000. Intention for a value under $600 and use low cost coupons if obtainable.

Their weight can be impressively low. Sadly, nonetheless, the burden distribution doesn’t have a lot impact on agility and responsiveness. For instance, the Elitewheels DRIVE are way more responsive.

On the identical time, EDGE wheels don’t have nearly as good momentum as heavier wheels, in order that they’re not as quick on flats or rolling terrain. Nonetheless, they’ve good crosswind stability and are straightforward to service as a consequence of the usage of standard spokes and prolonged hub kind.

Total, I now perceive why they’re so standard on Aliexpress and may suggest them primarily to newbies, much less performance-oriented riders, or those that need light-weight and cozy wheels. However, you need to keep away from them in order for you quick and stiff wheels for driving on flats and regular efforts.

Elitewheels Wheels FAQ

The product for this assessment was kindly supplied by the producer. This didn’t affect my total verdict or my opinion in regards to the product.