SaddleDrive 17: Whisky Parts Co. introduces 41w carbon rims for 27.5 & 29″

Written by Zach Overholt Aug 07, 2017 4:00 p.m. ET

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There’s been a lot of talk about the proper rim width for wider tires recently. Too narrow and you’ll end up with an unstable balloon, but too wide and you’ll have a slow, square block of a tire. It should be no surprise then that companies like Whisky Parts Co. are introducing new rim sizes to accommodate the various tire subsets. Their latest rim, the 41w slots in below the 50w for a narrower option that is ideal for the smaller side of plus or the larger side of normal…

Keeping with their naming structure, the 41w features a 41mm external width with a 35mm internal width. Whisky says that puts it in the sweet spot for 2.4 – 2.8″ rubber. The full carbon rim is tubeless ready with their own tape, runs a hookless bead, and is available only in 32h drilling.

Available in 27.5 or 29″ versions, the 41w is available as a rim only for $499, but it will also be available as a complete wheel through Quality Wheels (QBP’s custom wheel program for dealers). Available now.

whiskyparts.co

Zach Overholt

5,630 articles

Zach Overholt is the Editor in Chief of Bikerumor. He has been writing about what’s new in the bicycle world for 12+ years. Prior to that, Zach spent many years in the back of a bicycle shop building and repairing nearly every type of bike, while figuring out how to (occasionally) ride them.

Based in Ohio, Zach is now slowly introducing a new generation to cycling and still trying to figure out how to fit the most rides into a busy schedule as a new dad.

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14 Comments

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Zoso

6 years ago

Isn’t this essentially the Ibis 742?

ELEVEN_g

6 years ago

Reply to Zoso

Shh!

TomM

6 years ago

Reply to Zoso

Same internal and external widths. Coincidence?

Steve

6 years ago

I think if a company is going to give a number as a name for the rim, it should be the internal width. That’s what matters.

gringo

6 years ago

Reply to Steve

↑↑↑ what he said ↑↑↑

Cliff Leonard

6 years ago

Reply to Steve

External width is irrelevant, confusing and deceiving.

Jeff

6 years ago

$500 bucks for just the rim. I will give LightBicycle a call and get 2 rims and then a beer with my change left over.

Frank

6 years ago

Reply to Jeff

Legit question here though: For (over) double the price are we getting the same thing really? Are we getting better materials, QC, safety testing, customer service? Or just piece of mind and name recognition?

AngryBikeWrench

6 years ago

Reply to Frank

I can’t speak to materials, but yes to QC, testing, and customer service. QBP is a big company, they test their products extensively to comply with all safety standards, including international ones which are often more stringent than domestic standards, and they have customer service that’s as good as any and better than most. All that said, only you can decide if that’s worth it.

Jeff

6 years ago

Reply to AngryBikeWrench

i would be willing to bet that a company like LB, located in a similar city (aka China) is actually producing, testing and doing QC on whiskey’s rims. which bring us back to Frank’s question of actual value. LB also has a US office and comparable warranty. to each there own.

Thor29

6 years ago

Or you could just buy Stans Flow MK3 rim for 20% of the cost. Not quite as wide, but will work just fine. Oh, but it’s not made of plastic…. I think some of you people have a very bizarre fetish for this carbon stuff and will pay insane amounts of money for very tiny weight reductions. Why? Do the math: rider plus bike = what? Compare percentages and tell me your money is well spent.

rodegeek

6 years ago

Reply to Thor29

Thor29, point taken, but carbon rims ride really nice and are tougher than aluminum. It’s not just about weight reduction.

AngryBikeWrench

6 years ago

Reply to Thor29

This is an old logic fallacy – you don’t drag 5% to the top of the climb, you drag X grams or pounds, which takes a certain amount of energy. Doesn’t matter the percentage, the additional energy needed is the same. That’s physics. A better argument is if you really want to save that energy, go to the bathroom before the ride.

Marty

6 years ago

Reply to Thor29

At the end of a loooooong ride, the lighter weight is more than noticed(or not noticed as it were). grinding out those last few climbs with a lighter, stiffer wheel is noticeably easier.