Gram for Gram-Best Value Carbon Wheels
Very happy with my 60mm deep RCX Ultralight wheelset with SR1 hubs, TPI ceramic bearings, and 4th generation carbon spokes. The weights of the taped rear and front wheels is 605 and 540 grams. Yes, you read that correctly.
Wheels are bang on true and round.
These wheels make even a chunkier performance specific aero bike frame feel like a lightweight climber. (Running Conti GP 5000 S TR 28mm tires with TPU tubes.) I can only imagine that Particle’s Ultralight shallow rims make a true climbing bike feel like it’s full of helium, lol.
The wheels gain and maintain speed well. Immediate engagement and power transfer. Super snappy on the jump and out of the saddle sprinting.
The unique rim profile seems to handle crosswinds better than other similar depth wheels I’ve owned.
The wheels are surprisingly comfortable for 60mm rims with carbon spokes. Particle says the ride feel of their 4th generation carbon spokes falls between steel and their gen 3 traditional carbon spokes (the latter being an option at checkout).
Working with Patrick, the founder of Particle Wheels, was a pleasure. Super responsive and helpful with detailed answers to questions. Read his and the company’s backstory on the Particle website.
After a ton of research into / shopping carbon wheels and direct-to-consumer (DTC) sellers a few things are crystal clear: 1) anyone buying name brand carbon wheels for 2-3 times the cost of DTC is doing it for the comfort and status of the name plate, 2) nearly 100% of all brand and DTC wheels are made in the same pacific rim factories, 3) there are numerous DTC sellers producing wheels with equal or better quality and features at a far lower price point than the brand sellers.
Ounce for ounce, the Particle value is nearly impossible to match.
By the way, the wheels look beautiful: slate black-dark gray with “Particle” and “RCX Ultralight 60” etched on the sidewalls.
P.S. For those who care, hub ratchet noise is pretty much comparable to other wheels, neither quiet nor overly loud.