LO my dEr fRnds & wlcm 2 my L8st review. n DIS modern wrld we R bombRded w aL maNR of txt spk & totes ridic's acronyms. For those of you unfamiliar with 'text speak' or less down with the kids than I am, please forgive my rather idiosyncratic introduction. Do not worry, your computer is not broken and you have not just suffered a bilateral spontaneous hemianopia.
In this progressive digital age we are inundated with acronyms and abbreviations for words because we simply do not have time or energy to finish a senten... This slovenliness irritates me as I am subjected to it on a daily basis. For those of you that don't know what I am on about, firstly; I am in awe you have managed to survive for so long without experiencing this malignant corruption of our language. Secondly; I am about to introduce it to your vernacular... sorry, LOL!
- LOL = Laugh Out Loud; fairly simple and not to be mistaken for 'Lots of Love'.
- LSHMBH = Laughing So Hard My Belly Hurts; again a bit long winded but makes sense.
- ROFL = Rolling On Floor Laughing; apart from in cartoons how often does this happen?
- ROFLMAO = Rolling On The Floor Laughing My Ass Off; even less so than the above.
- ROFLMAOASTC = Rolling On The Floor Laughing My Ass Off And Scaring The Cat???
- FUBAR = F**ked Up Beyond All Recognition; cited in the epic war film Saving Private Ryan.
- WTF = What The F**k; used frequently by people from Joey Essex to Stephen Fry.
For those readers familiar with my reviews and style of writing, you will recognise my now standard early meanderings and will be at the point where you are about to stop reading as you really can't work out how I am going to crowbar any cycling information into this; or be at the stage where I have lulled you into complete submission and have lost the will to live and have chosen to read on anyway! Either way, friends: lend me your eyes and all will become apparent. Usually at Sportive.com we are very lucky to receive all manner of clothing and kit to review, however just the other week the holy grail arrived; I received some deep section carbon fibre wheels... Ooooooo, shiny!
WTF: A double-edged advertising sword
The wheels in question were provided to me by a Sheffield-based outfit called WTF Cycling (can you see what I did there?). I guarantee in your head you have just uttered the exact same thing I did on re-ceiving them...What The F**k?
Surely that cannot be the name of a beautiful looking pair of deep sections?! You're right it can't be, and don't call me Shirley (sorry, Airplane joke). In fact the 'WTF' here stands for 'Wheels That Fly'. A very clever, 'double-edged advertising sword' has been unsheathed; 'WTF' immediately makes you utter the text abbreviation which then makes you question what you are seeing and then makes you clarify this with the owner of said wheels, who then elucidates further, thereby striking up a conversation about the wheels, their benefits and enticing the fellow into a possible purchase. Hook, line and sinker.
As mentioned, WTF wheels are hand built in Sheffield in the heart of the Peaks and classic Yorkshire riding country. In fact the three chaps behind WTF Cycling are no strangers to turning a pedal or two. Steve, Simon and Tony have all had illustrious cycling palmarés over the years including racing all manner of road, time trials and track races at elite level both in the UK and abroad. Steve has even knocked out a 19-minute 10 mile TT, obviously on WTF wheels! Rapid.
There seems to be a productive balance of talents in the team and a wealth of knowledge that can't be taught and is only picked up through years of being involved in cycling and the dark art. Obviously, having an Aerospace Engineer working for Rolls Royce helps with the design, aerodynamics and build though! With a combined 70 years of experience it is apparent that WTF Cycling is more than a get rich quick scheme, and actually what you have are three passionate enthusiasts wanting to pass on their knowledge the best way they know how.
'WTF Cycling is a new partnership of old friends,' says Simon. 'The company was conceived through frustration at the proliferation of wheels hitting the market purporting to be developed in the UK, and the difficulty in affording quality, locally built, high end racing wheels.'
Steve, who is an interior designer by trade, agrees: 'For me WTF Cycling combines my passions for good design and great cycling.'
It is widely acknowledged in cycling circles that the most cost-effective way to upgrade your bike and gain better results is to invest in a decent pair of wheels. The benefits are well documented, from reducing weight, better aerodynamics, reduction of rolling resistance, greater strength/durability, improved quality, and the most important factor: how they look. Having a fantastically, outrageously sexy looking pair of wheels gives you at least an extra 10% increase in all-round riding ability; I would go so far as to say possibly even 12%.
In all seriousness though, good wheels really do make a difference. By cutting down on the rolling resistance you create, you will travel further with less effort. This means that it is not only the rims that are important; probably most important are the hubs that the wheel is built around. WTF Cycling have chosen DT Swiss 240S hubs for their wheels. DT Swiss have a good heritage. They have been used for several years in the pro peloton in all the Grand Tours, and are currently providing moving parts for the IAM Cycling team, headed by the French champion and Classics/Time Trial animal Sylvain Chavanel. Arguing which is the best hub is like opening a can of worms, but DT Swiss come out high on most people's lists.
The DT Swiss hubs are laced to full carbon clincher rims with a 55mm aero profile. The rims are not the classic 'V-shaped' design and have more of a bulged, wider profile which is increasingly seen in top-end rims from the likes of Zipp and HED. This rationale is that this 'toroidal' shape decreases drag and increases control, especially in windy conditions, while also maintaining the strength of the wheel. The spokes used are Sapim's CX-Ray bladed aero version; they are 30% lighter than a standard double butted spoke and are claimed to offer three times the strength of any other spoke on the market.
Armstrong-esque demolition on the cafe run
Riding the WTFs is remarkable. In the peloton of riders I ride with I am somewhere towards the middle to bottom of the pack. There are several reasons for this; I ride with some very good cyclists, I am 2-3 stone heavier than a lot of them, and I don't like hills. On the last Saturday morning cafe run I set off as usual up the early initial drags and found that, instead of being out of breath, I could actually hold a conversation. On a couple of the hills I could go to the front and set the pace; not an Armstrong-esque EPO-fuelled demolition, but nonetheless a good pace.
However, it was on the run in to the cafe and the run for home that I saw the biggest benefit. Both sections are rolling and had a slight cross/head and then cross/tail wind. For a rouleur, this is your time to shine. I joined the chaingang line and pulled through effortlessly on every turn. When we encountered any rises which caused an occasional rider to let a wheel go and a gap to open, I was able to zip across easily whereas before I would have to dig deep into the red. The wheels were responsive and seemed to surge and lurch forward with every pedal stroke, eager to press on and advance.
Several comments were made by my fellow riders both during and after the ride pertaining to my increase in form. Now, although I have been training hard, the difference between this week and last week was staggering. Objectively the only differences were that I had the WTFs in and I was wearing a new long-sleeve jersey. Occam's Razor would point to the wheels being responsible, and I would have to agree with Mr Razor...although it is a very nice new jersey too!
As embarrassing as it is, I feel I should come clean with you at this point and admit I had a fairly low speed 'off' on a particularly greasy bend whilst testing. As I was going down towards the tarmac all I could think of was, 'Save the wheels, save the wheels!' I managed to use my knee and face as a makeshift braking system and ground to a halt. I quickly checked the wheels; not a scratch. I checked the true of both wheels and the tension of the spokes; perfect, not a wobble in sight (except perhaps from my lycra-shaped 'muffin tops'!). This is the reassuring quality you get from individually hand-built wheels.
As for pricing, the RRP is £999, so under £1000 (excellent marketing!). A search 'on-the-line' to see what wheels are out there and what options a consumer has, revealed the following. Of the high-end big hitters, i.e. Mavic, Zipp, Fast Forward, Campag and DT Swiss, I looked at cost and weight:
You can see from the comparisons that none of the wheels are as light as the WTFs, nor do they come close in price.'We developed the wheels which weigh in at a competitive 1400g. We don't see ourselves in competition with anyone in particular, we set out to build a set of wheels that would achieve what we wanted from years of experience of racing; affordable, aspirational but not cheap' confirms Steve.
Let's face it though, you can get deep section carbon fibre wheels for under £1000; like the Planet X 52 Clincher Wheelset for example. But these weigh in at a whopping 1800g, and although you are saving £500 there would appear to be little difference in weight between these wheels and an entry level pair of low profile wheels from Shimano, Fulcrum or Mavic, which would only set you back around £200. These wheels would be much more practical for all conditions than deep sections. Also, the hubs the wheels are built around are likely to be of lesser quality ito those used in the high-end wheels in the table.
I do not usually like pointing the finger, unless it is about myself, but I own a pair of Planet X Carbon Tubular 80/50 wheels which I have on my time trial bike, and while they do the job they are definitely lacking in all the benefits I have listed of the WTFs.
So, in summary, I have been very impressed with the WTFs. They have given this 'fat lad' a moment in the cafe run spotlight again, and if this only happens once in a blue moon that's enough to keep him riding! I liked the wheels so much that I have put my existing carbon tubulars on eBay and am in negotiation with 'she who must be obeyed', aka the boss, as to raising the rest of the money! Happy days.
So untl NXT tym hav som sAf riding & I'll c U reel s%n. L8trs.
All wheels are sold with WTF wheel bags and branded skewers. The lads at WTF will be happy to answer any queries to make sure you get the wheels you want; email [email protected]. WTF wheels will also soon be available from La Bicicletta.
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