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Re: AX Lightness Ultra
Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2023 5:54 am
by UpFromOne
Thanks everyone for the encouragement!
I took them to my local shop today, and after verifying the weight we even dropped them from shoulder high onto a thin mat. The sound was like an orchestra tuning up
Just because the pieces are light in weight doesn't make them weak. These carbon spokes are definitely UniDirectional and can take more tension than steel.
The practical point is that these components open up alot more options. You may not want a carbon nipple for whatever subjective reason, but alloy ones are about .15g heavier.
Same for going with ti spokes, the carbon spokes shave about 4-5 g per wheel depending on count, but you may like the durability of ti even though they should be re-tensioned after a build.
Re: AX Lightness Ultra
Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2023 4:26 am
by UpFromOne
This thread has been about the AX-Lightness "Ultra" series rims, which IMO are simply the best in the world.
And for one last wheel photo (pardon my shop lighting not good for pics), I completed my mods, and my pair now weighs 663g.
The AX-L rims are stock, the front 195g and the rear 193g.
The spokes are EIE carbon oval spokes, just arrived from China, and weigh in the 2.3g range each.
The nipples are also carbon composite (but prototypes).
And the Extralite hubs run Omni + Ceramicspeed bearings, and my latest custom carbon axles.
Finally I will glue these up and go ride them (when the weather is right).
I hereby lay claim the world's lightest 24/20 spoke wheelset (that I know of).
Re: AX Lightness Ultra
Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2023 4:26 am
by Weenie
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Re: AX Lightness Ultra
Posted: Sun May 21, 2023 2:01 am
by UpFromOne
It's May and I've had the immense pleasure of riding these wheels.
They really seem to just float up the hills.
And yet they feel as stiff as any wheel I've ever been on.
All credit to the EIE carbon spokes.
Plus, every time I check them on the wheelstand, there's nothing to do. Haven't moved a tenth of a millimeter out of true.
I'm just giddy over these.
Re: AX Lightness Ultra
Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2023 12:12 pm
by arcadia
Would you be able to advice me so I can build a similar wheel set?
where to buy rims, carbon spokes and hubs?
I want to build a set to mount with XDR cassette.
Re: AX Lightness Ultra
Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2023 4:38 pm
by UpFromOne
arcadia wrote: ↑Thu Sep 21, 2023 12:12 pm
Would you be able to advice me so I can build a similar wheel set?
where to buy rims, carbon spokes and hubs?
I want to build a set to mount with XDR cassette.
Extralite's web site sells their goods direct. Plus dealers such as Starbike here can get the hubs. And they offer a XDR freehub for road hubs.
EIE Carbon's web site sells their carbon spokes direct. Any 14g nipple works.
The difficult part is sourcing AX Lightness rims. They have been sticklers for only selling wheelsets, but a few wheelbuilders over the years have been able to obtain rims.
I think today with the reduced demand (for non-aero wheels) it would be a miracle to find just the rims.
Older Edge Composites rims were also at 200g, but those are long gone.
Beyond this, you have to do your own research and generate your own experience just like everyone (except the super rich of course).
Re: AX Lightness Ultra
Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2023 12:33 pm
by stermyx
UpFromOne wrote: ↑Sat Sep 23, 2023 4:38 pm
arcadia wrote: ↑Thu Sep 21, 2023 12:12 pm
Would you be able to advice me so I can build a similar wheel set?
where to buy rims, carbon spokes and hubs?
I want to build a set to mount with XDR cassette.
Extralite's web site sells their goods direct. Plus dealers such as Starbike here can get the hubs. And they offer a XDR freehub for road hubs.
EIE Carbon's web site sells their carbon spokes direct. Any 14g nipple works.
The difficult part is sourcing AX Lightness rims. They have been sticklers for only selling wheelsets, but a few wheelbuilders over the years have been able to obtain rims.
I think today with the reduced demand (for non-aero wheels) it would be a miracle to find just the rims.
Older Edge Composites rims were also at 200g, but those are long gone.
Beyond this, you have to do your own research and generate your own experience just like everyone (except the super rich of course).
Hello! Any tips or recommendations for building wheels with carbon spokes??
Thanks.
Re: AX Lightness Ultra
Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2023 9:09 pm
by UpFromOne
The most interesting thing about carbon spokes is that as you tension them, there is a very immediate point where they go from loose to tight, because of zero stretch.
So you have to stay ahead of the tension curve, and plan that in the next 1/4 turn or so, the spoke set will become tight enough that only finishing adjustments can be had.
In other words, once tight without play, they will likely not take another full turn of the nipples (e.g. to remove any runout or hop).
So at that point the rim has to pretty much be there already with room for only the smallest adjustments.
The other thing for me is that I won't cross carbon spokes. The pattern cross is still there of course, but the spokes should not contact each opther IMO.
Carbon rubbing on carbon will not last anywhere near as long as metal contact. Carbon spokes are stiff enough that you don't need that contact anyway.
Re: AX Lightness Ultra
Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2023 10:52 pm
by stermyx
UpFromOne wrote: ↑Mon Oct 09, 2023 9:09 pm
The most interesting thing about carbon spokes is that as you tension them, there is a very immediate point where they go from loose to tight, because of zero stretch.
So you have to stay ahead of the tension curve, and plan that in the next 1/4 turn or so, the spoke set will become tight enough that only finishing adjustments can be had.
In other words, once tight without play, they will likely not take another full turn of the nipples (e.g. to remove any runout or hop).
So at that point the rim has to pretty much be there already with room for only the smallest adjustments.
The other thing for me is that I won't cross carbon spokes. The pattern cross is still there of course, but the spokes should not contact each opther IMO.
Carbon rubbing on carbon will not last anywhere near as long as metal contact. Carbon spokes are stiff enough that you don't need that contact anyway.
Thank you!!