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Road 2.0 – Mad Fiber Revamps Carbon Wheels

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When Mad Fiber wheels were first introduced, they certainly got a lot of attention. Their construction and the fact that they are made in the US even attracted the interest of the Discovery Channel for one of their How It’s Made segments. Building on the success of the original Mad Fiber wheel, the next generation Road 2.0 is here with a host of impressive improvements.

The new wheels are more polished, more colorful, stiffer, stronger and more.

MadFiber_Hub_Rear_Drive_Side_249-LOW

While the front sees a few changes, most of the structural changes have been applied to the rear. Instead of the previous alternating spoke pattern, the rear spokes now intersect at the rim which improves on radial strength, and lateral stiffness (+15%) of the already impressive original wheel. The new design is said to improve dish, true, and roundness – which due to the design of the wheels once the rim is set, it can’t go out of true.

MadFiber_Clincher_Rear_NonDrive_Side_405-LOW

The rear hub also sees the introduction of a new freehub moving to an 11 speed compatible aluminum model rather than the Ti White Industries model used previously. Not only is the new freehub 10/11 speed compatible, but it is interchangeable with Campy freehub bodies as well. Both front and rear wheels will now include aluminum axles instead of the ChroMo steel axles along with locking bearing preload adjusters. To keep the wheels rolling smooth the hubs have a new Garolite bearing seat, which is a fiber reinforced plastic which will bond better to the hub shell and offer better durability. Mad Fiber wheels will still be offered in steel or ceramic bearing options, though Ceramic Speed bearings will be used thanks to a partnership with the company.

Due to refinements in their carbon processes, the finish of the actual carbon work has been improved as well. Purely cosmetic, the rear hub and backs of the spokes in particular now have improved finishes with a smoother look.

Colors

As another request from consumers and bike shops, the new wheels are now offered in all black/stealth, gray/red, gray/blue, and gray/orange graphics with stock options remaining white for tubular wheels and gray/white for clinchers. The rims remain at 60/66mm front and rear weigh in at 1050g for tubulars and 1280g for clinchers per pair.

MadFiber_SkewerSet_CrMo_335-LOW

The quick release skewers are improved as well, going to an internal cam design for better clamping power. Now feating a hollow steel shaft instead of Ti, and a carbon skewer blade, the 79g skewers are still light but are stronger than the previous models increasing clamping force, and improving the handling due to reduced lateral flex. Ti skewers will still be available for lighter riders and weight weenies.

Road 2.0 wheels will be offered in Shimano/Sram or Campy hub options in both clincher and tubie form with your choice of graphics. Steel bearings will run you $2999, while the upgrade to Ceramics will push it up to $3199. Wheels are available now, and include a 2 year warranty that also includes a 2 year crash replacement program. There is still no rider weight restriction.

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dale
dale
10 years ago

Do want. I love my 404 tubs but I want to try these mad fibers.

Pancakes
Pancakes
10 years ago

It’s interesting how back in the day, pros would relabel Lightweights, ADAs, and Spinergys with sponsor logos but nobody does that with these or RZRs.

Would too many people notice? Is the gap between the sponsor product and these offerings too small to be worth it?

Ck
Ck
10 years ago

Pancakes – Well, pictures show me that Jelly Belly Pro Cycling runs 3T wheels, but Freddie ran Mad Fibers for his recent nats win.

D
D
10 years ago

ASSEMBLED IN THE USA!!! not made in the USA.

D
D
10 years ago

ASSEMBLED IN THE USA! does not mean MADE IN USA!

DZ
DZ
10 years ago

Yeah.. Fast Freddie loooves his Mad Fibers!

Pancakes
Pancakes
10 years ago

Ck-Fair point, but I think he has his own contract with MF. I’m thinking the scenario where he runs MFs labelled 3T.

Happy
Happy
10 years ago

@D: They are indeed made in Seattle. I used to have beers with one of their carbon-layup fellows. Obviously we have all gotten a bit jaded at the “wording out there: “assembled in the US, designed in the US, etc…”, so no harm in thinking that might be the case, but they really, truly are a NW manufacturer. Gotta love home-grown gear! 🙂

Ventruck
Ventruck
10 years ago

Wheels are sadly out of my price range, but those skewers are interesting…$70 for 79g. Only lighter and cheaper steel skewer I know out there is the KCNC Z6, but it’s not internal cam – not that it totally matters for most bikes now, but I’m one who does like having a fundamentally better mech design. Carbon lever is a little bit of a bling bonus.

BFM
BFM
10 years ago

The MF 1 clinchers were originally thought to be able to run road tubeless but on testing were found to make unusual noises because of unanticipated “stresses”. I’m using that generically not as a pure engineering term. I believe this issue was discovered by a local shop in Seattle and reported to MF. I looked on the MF website to see if the MF 2 clinchers can run road tubeless and they say the 2’s are not compatible. Don’t know if that is because they do not meet the specific RT design requirements or because they actually have problems running RT’s. I have been running Hutchinson Fusions, first on HED alu wheels and now in ZIPP 303 clinchers W/O problem and would not go back to tubed clinchers. Would be nice to know what MF’s plans are with road to road tubeless, if any. Thanks for your report.

velorider
velorider
10 years ago

At this price point they have to be able to afford some wind tunnel time, yeah? What kind of speed is my $3k+ buying?

Ajax
Ajax
10 years ago

Do a search n google. Madfiber has some really bad reviews from people who’ve tried to get warranty service.

Don
Don
10 years ago

I have toured their facility…..they are 100% Seattle made and assembled. I their factory is actually an old bakery if you want irony around the layup and baking of these. Great wheels for sure!

Chris
Chris
10 years ago

What is the width of the rim?

tarek
tarek
10 years ago

Warranty issues have now been resolved ever since Louis Chan has been hired at Madfiber!

Felix
Felix
10 years ago

The wheels look really cool on their own but I have yet to see a bike that looks good with Mad Fiber wheels.

Major Tom
Major Tom
10 years ago

I love these wheels (clinchers)! I had a freewheel/pawl issue with my rear wheel, sent it back to them on Wednesday and had a new wheel Friday! More recently I had a delamination bubble on the rear braking surface and they replaced the wheel again. These issues happened during my first year of ownership, maybe 3-4k miles. I bought these because of my size 6’4″ 250lbs and their no weight limit four (now two) year warranty.

zero interest
zero interest
10 years ago

at first, mad fiber was a fine place to work. people with a vision and passion for bicycling were at the helm of nearly every aspect of production. Then came the allure of big money so tolerences were widened in order to make it appear that we had alot of product going out the door, thus luring investors. I personally saw (and pointed out) many substandard elements to the wheels on many occasions…poorly cured wheels, out of true wheels all went out the door to people. Many wheelsets were returned for various reasons, cosmetic and otherwise. I suffered a hernia working there, as well as a herniated disk before I was fired prior to my back surgery. Gradually the other bike enthusiasts were systematically fired as well. I hear they closed their doors the other day…sold out to China…I’ve also heard of at least 1 catastrophic failure of a wheel. such potential…down the toilet.

wallabii
wallabii
10 years ago

There is warranty issues!!!
Do not buy these clincher. Mine delaminating while going down 45 miles an hour
Should’ve just get the zipps

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