At $1550, the Reynolds Cycle TR309 S carbon wheels hit that sweet spot of price and performance for an after market carbon wheelset. For a lot of riders, carbon fiber wheels are seen as the most ultimate aftermarket upgrade. However, price and concerns with durability are the two major sticking points that hold back many purchases.
I’d also argue that depending on the terrain you ride, desired riding experience and riding style, carbon as a material might not be the most viable purchase. If you’re the kind of rider that is hard on equipment, regularly flat spots rims and generally breaks a lot of parts, you’re better off sticking with a less expensive alloy option. There’s also the topic of waste. Unlike alloy rims, if a carbon wheel is trashed, it isn’t recyclable, so unless you’re the crafty type that likes to upcycle, a damaged rim is going to the landfill.
This spring marks the beginning of a second season on the TR 309 S carbon wheels Reynolds set over for a review, and seeing as we’re still in possession of these loaner wheels, it seems the right time to report in with a long term test of how these wheels have been holding up.
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From Bermstyle
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