In my previous post, I wrote that the aero concave shape on the F6R rim's sidewall was
an original FFWD element,
but I received multiple corrections pointing out that
this shape already exists on the manufacturer's rim (non-FFWD).
I had a feeling that might be the case too,
but since I couldn't find any "F6R rim without stickers"
in my brief research, I wrote it that way.
Thank you for the corrections.
So this means that what FFWD calls the "DARC Technology"
aero shape on the rim sidewall isn't actually a signature FFWD technique,
but rather more like "we happened to buy a rim that was already shaped that way,
so let's make a selling point out of it."
To offer one defense,
the actual measured weights of the F2R and F6R rims are 266g and 385g respectively,
which are actually on the lighter side
compared to other manufacturers' rims in the 20mm and 60mm depth range.
ENVE's 25mm is 254g and their 68mm is about 374g,
so for comparison.
Even when built up, these aren't weak rims,
and as a rim material component of a wheel, they're not bad at all.
Actually, they're quite good.
If FFWD truly cared about protecting their brand,
they could either contract with Manufacturer X to keep the same-shaped rim
from being sold under other brands,
or they could incorporate abundant FFWD technical innovations
while still having Manufacturer X handle the actual production.
If you look at FFWD wheels without bias,
they're just "hand-built wheels with off-the-shelf rims
where only the finish details and stickers are slightly customized,
assembled with standard hubs like DT"—nothing more.
But these "off-the-shelf rims" are extremely good material,
and nearly identical versions are available from other brands.
With butted spokes in hand-built wheels and mass-market hubs,
FFWD doesn't really have any technical features grand enough to call "design."
"Design" should only be used when there's fundamental involvement
in how the materials themselves are created.
Now that the F6R rim sidewall shape isn't FFWD's "design,"
the only original element left is basically "hand-built in the Netherlands."
an original FFWD element,
but I received multiple corrections pointing out that
this shape already exists on the manufacturer's rim (non-FFWD).
I had a feeling that might be the case too,
but since I couldn't find any "F6R rim without stickers"
in my brief research, I wrote it that way.
Thank you for the corrections.
So this means that what FFWD calls the "DARC Technology"
aero shape on the rim sidewall isn't actually a signature FFWD technique,
but rather more like "we happened to buy a rim that was already shaped that way,
so let's make a selling point out of it."
To offer one defense,
the actual measured weights of the F2R and F6R rims are 266g and 385g respectively,
which are actually on the lighter side
compared to other manufacturers' rims in the 20mm and 60mm depth range.
ENVE's 25mm is 254g and their 68mm is about 374g,
so for comparison.
Even when built up, these aren't weak rims,
and as a rim material component of a wheel, they're not bad at all.
Actually, they're quite good.
If FFWD truly cared about protecting their brand,
they could either contract with Manufacturer X to keep the same-shaped rim
from being sold under other brands,
or they could incorporate abundant FFWD technical innovations
while still having Manufacturer X handle the actual production.
If you look at FFWD wheels without bias,
they're just "hand-built wheels with off-the-shelf rims
where only the finish details and stickers are slightly customized,
assembled with standard hubs like DT"—nothing more.
But these "off-the-shelf rims" are extremely good material,
and nearly identical versions are available from other brands.
With butted spokes in hand-built wheels and mass-market hubs,
FFWD doesn't really have any technical features grand enough to call "design."
"Design" should only be used when there's fundamental involvement
in how the materials themselves are created.
Now that the F6R rim sidewall shape isn't FFWD's "design,"
the only original element left is basically "hand-built in the Netherlands."