R88 Review: Fayde, The Custom 1X Specialized Shiv

Over a period of 4 months, Ms. Koko Yang from Light Bicycle has assisted me throughout the whole process of selecting the parts for the wheelset. Any queries that I had would receive prompt replies almost within 24hrs via email.

We discussed at length on the customizations of the barcode decals, the valve logo colors, the best rim width for the frame, the recommended tyre width, etc. Koko had excellent knowledge of the product and could provide valuable advice and recommendations in response to my needs and requirements. She even went the extra mile to obtain mock-up images of the wheelset with the eventual decals so that I could see how the wheels would look. This level of customer service and professionalism was truly top-notch and pleasantly unexpected. It gave me the confidence to finally confirm my order.

Ultimately, I went with the 88mm depth rims and Sapim aero spokes for maximum aerodynamics, together with DT Swiss 350 hubs which were known for their ease of maintenance and durability. Groove graphene brake track option was also chosen for the added confidence of better braking.

The failed QC check showed the seriousness Light Bicycle takes.

Each stage of the wheel fabrication could be tracked via the link provided by Light Bicycle. Somewhere into the 3rd week, I was informed that one of the rims did not pass their internal quality check and a new rim was being fabricated. That update was unexpected but much appreciated. It showed the seriousness that Light Bicycle takes in their quality control.

Once the fabrication was completed, photos of the rims were emailed to me for reference, before the final wheel building proceeded. Within a day, the wheelset was completed and shipped out from China. To my great surprise, it arrived at my doorstep in Singapore mere 4 days after shipping out, and about four weeks after the order was confirmed.

The finish on the wheels was great with no visible imperfections.

Although there were signs of damage on the external box for shipping, the wheels arrived undamaged thanks to the meticulously secure packing with ample protection from multiple foam paddings within the box. In the box were also a pair of tubeless valves, a roll of rim tape, a pair of standard skewers & three pairs of ‘Gold’ valve decals. The valve decals were specially included. As I was worried that these decals would look too small on the deep rims during the purchasing process, Light Bicycle sent them separately so that I can try them on and/or remove them if I did not like how they look.

The finish on the wheels was great with no visible imperfection on the rim surfaces. Visually inspecting the edges and form of the wheel well, they were straight and true. The grooved brake tracks were defined with distinct clean edges.

It was a struggle initially mounting a pair of 28mm width Vittoria Corsa tyres on these wheels. However, after taking a quick look at the tyre mounting instruction video on Light Bicycle's website, the tyres popped on easily per the instructions/tips without a hitch. It was mentioned in the video, that this was due to the tight tolerance of the rims as they were manufactured to be tubeless-ready. I also made the dumb mistake of installing the 1st wheel without rim tape, which resulted in a puncture due to the spoke holes in the wheelwell. This was easily resolved using the included rim tape.

When inflated to 75-80psi, the tyres were approximately 31mm wide, almost matching the 30mm external width of the rims. They fit onto the Shiv frame without any issues and left an 8-10mm gap between the tyres and the seat tube cut-off, so no worries on frame rub. A quick spin with the tyres and tubes mounted also confirmed that the wheels spun true.

The 88mm wheels held speed quite easily.

Prior to my Light Bicycle wheels, I rode exclusively on a set of 60mm carbon wheels from another known Chinese manufacturer with Novatec hubs & alloy brake tracks for more than four years. When the rear hub was destroyed due to a misplaced seal during servicing, I moved on to a set of 55mm unbranded OEM carbon wheels with Powerway hubs & carbon brake tracks for about a year.

At 88mm deep, these were never meant as weight weenie wheels. Although there was a discernible weight when launching from a standstill or riding up long upslopes; once moving, they held their speed well. The DT Swiss hubs also felt more instantaneous and silent compared to the paw engagement of the previous Novatec and Powerway hubs.

On the open road, twitches could only be felt when heavy vehicles pass by. However, these were always predictable. They were easy enough to keep in control even in my aero position. Surprisingly, the overall stability and tracking of these wheels did not feel too far off from my previous wheels which were shallower.

One major difference I could feel was the cushier ride over bumpy/uneven road surfaces. With the wide rims (&tyres), the ride was definitely more compliant. Rolling over small potholes was effortless and the sudden joints through the saddle or cockpit normally felt were minimized. I also felt less road buzz and vibrations coming through the frame.

Slowing down and stopping with the grooved brake tracks was good (even in the wet). They were on par with the alloy tracks on my Yoeleos and definitely better than the full carbon OEM wheels. There was a confident bite when the brakes were applied. The brake feel was predictable, smooth, and consistent throughout the braking period with no intermittent bumps or interruptions.

With about 450km on these wheels to date, the wheels feel stiff, smooth, and exude a sense of sturdiness which I believe stems from their impressive build quality. The brake tracks look as good as new even though I have had two rides in the rain or on wet grimey roads. I am looking forward to putting in more miles on them and racing on them when events resume hopefully next year.

Thanks for a great set of wheels Light Bicycle!

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