Aluminum rims bend, carbon rims break. That said, I have some carbon wheels on my mountain bike and have put them through utter hell. They're still like brand new. I've had the wheels for 12 or so years and the only thing I've had to do is replace the bearings in the rear hub. You can't buy them any more:
Bling Bling!!! I want a set of these SO BAD, but they are more expensive than Marchesini's. They are carbon fiber overlaid on aluminum and are tubeless.
I posed the same question on that thread and got no answer, so I thought I would ask here. I just didn't see the need for the aluminum backing unless there is an actual need for it. The composite panels on the airplanes at work have a backing, but it's almost foil like in thickness
At least on the MTB wheels, the aluminum is there to provide a braking surface. The aluminum hoops are also replaceable, if you ding one. I'd bet if Spin was still making those wheels, they'd have a disc version by now. They're also pretty flexy. On the street, I can feel the gaps between those spokes. You can even see the vibration in my arms. I use regular wire spoked wheels on the street because the vibration is kind of annoying. In the dirt you can't feel it.
For a spoke wheel you'd have to have the aluminum backing because the spokes would pull through the carbon, let alone trying to spoon on a tire. It would be interesting to know if they actually weigh much less than a standard aluminum rims. If I win the loto I'll get a set to try.
There better be some sort of coating or separator between the carbon and aluminum otherwise the aluminum will corrode. The two materials don't like each other and require some kind of barrier between the two of them. I will admit that they are pretty though.
Dymag did a prototype Carbon spoke rim,saw them a few years back on the web,they have gone broke now though
well anyways, when i win the big lottery it may need further looking into, right after the pork chop toaster, and the all u can eat bacon buffet
