AliExpress Carbon Wheels: One Year Later

I was a bit worried when I first ordered I won't lie!

In June 2024 I bought the EliteWheels 50mm carbon wheels from AliExpress for £244.49. A year on, including a 30mph crash, they’re still on my bike. Still turning heads. Here’s whether they were actually worth it and what a year of real riding looks like.

1. Why these?

Mostly YouTube. TraceVelo’s reviews are solid, and seeing EliteWheels sponsor GCN gave me peace of mind. They looked good, the specs were there, and the price was wild.

2. Setup

Straight onto my Tiban. No weird compatibility headaches. I already had GP5000s so those were a joy to transfer(!).

3. First ride

That swoosh!!! If you’re a cyclist you already know the one. It’s the noise and the feel at the same time, and it hits the moment you roll out. Plus a loud, angry freehub? Yes please. The whole bike felt stiffer overnight, cornering and sprinting felt sharper, and people started assuming my bike was worth 5x what it actually is. Noice.

4. On the flats? Eh

Not a huge difference in holding speed on flat sections or group rides. Aero helps, but don’t expect miracles.

5. Crash-tested

Had a 30mph crash. Needed a quick true and walked away with a few cosmetic scuffs. No cracks. Still true now. Honestly super impressed.

6. Hubs: loud and proud

No issues. Bearings still smooth, still noisy in all the right ways.

7. In the crosswind

Yep, you’ll feel it. They’re 50mm deep, so crosswinds do push a bit. On fast descents it can twitch, but that’s what makes it fun right?

8. Everyday riding

Wet, dry, whatever. They’ve been low maintenance. No brake rub. Nothing to report. Just solid.

9. Anything bad?

Genuinely no. I wanted to find something but I couldn’t. Shipping was fast, no import duties, and they arrived in one piece. For £244 that’s kind of ridiculous.

10. Would I buy again?

Yeah. They make the bike look like it costs a grand more, they feel stiffer, the ride is fantastic, and they swoosh. What else do you want?

£244 for full carbon wheels sounded sketchy but a year later, I’m still riding them hard. If you’re tempted, I say go for it.

Here’s the exact pair I bought (not sponsored. Just sharing the plug that worked for me).