If they drop those parts of the name and simply call it the Scribe Aero D, they’d have a name that better describes this wheelset’s performance. So the Wide+ and 50 in their name might suggest a different type of performer than what we found. Measuring 29.6mm externally near the tire edge of the rim, 30.2mm at their widest point, and 21.1mm internally, these wheels are wider than some but not nearly as wide as many that provide the kind of handling and comfort these Scribes can. the claimed 1448 grams) and 50.5 mm depth, they spec out more like an all-around wheelset than an aero one. The specs and most of the “Aero Wide+ 50-D” name suggest very little about how we found that these wheels perform.Īt 1529 grams measured with pre-installed tape but without the valves (vs. That certainly made sense for this wheelset. That usually turns out for the best as not knowing the specs limits the performance bias we might bring into our test riding. I measure and weigh wheels when they first arrive, share none of that info with my fellow testers, and forget most of it myself with all the gear traffic coming through my door. The Contis at the lowest inflation pressure was the most comfortable combination. We tested them with both 28mm Schwalbe Pro One TLE and 28mm Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR tires at pressures ranging from 55psi/3.8bar to 65psi/4.5bar for our 148lb/67kg to 155lb/70kg body weight. With a good set of supple, tubeless tires inflated lower than you might normally set them, the Scribes can be quite a comfortable wheelset on good roads and bad. While we weigh more or less the same, the winds were highly variable during our spring testing perhaps leading to our different reactions. Miles had a better experience, finding the sidewinds didn’t affect him much, and performed better than others he’s tested. When I got hit by gusts, I couldn’t hold it. Short kickers of 7-10% really slow you down.įor me, the aero wheelset analogy extends to my need to also lean these Scribes into steady sidewinds to stay on my line. Rolling courses with long yet modest hills make you work hard on the Scribe Aero. When the road pitches up, both of us found the wheels struggled, as do many aero wheelsets. For me, more of a B group rider without the turbo boost power of a racer like Miles, their response felt more like a slower reacting, more typical aero wheelset. If you’ve got the watts of a racer like Miles, these Scribes are responsive and fast enough to cover most any accelerations. They are also plenty stiff enough to give you the confidence to lean into a corner, ride through it, and power out at high speeds. Miles and I found these Scribe wheels hold their momentum well at speed on straight sections. Related: You can compare my review of the Scribe Aero Wide+ 50-D with other value-carbon wheelsets in this review of The Best Value Carbon Wheelset. If none of that bothers you, or you prefer loud freehubs as I know some do, the Scribe Aero Wide+ 50-D is a great value-priced, carbon wheelset option for fast riding and racing on flat and modestly rolling terrain. I go into this first and in some detail because it’s the most distinctive characteristic of this wheelset. My fellow tester Miles heard the comments too from those in his group when free coasting on fast downhill sections.Īnd yes, I tried to quiet the hub using the grease and video instructions Scribe sent me for that purpose. Other riders told me not to coast near them, based on their hand motions because I couldn’t hear them, at least until I started pedaling again. No, the Scribe freehub is a far louder, lower pitch noise that almost sounds angry. I’m not talking about what you hear coming out of the latest generation DT Swiss 240 freehub or the louder yet distinctive chordal sound of a Chris King R45 freehub. If you really don’t like the sound of a really loud freehub when coasting, the Scribe Aero Wide+ 50-D wheelset really isn’t for you.
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