One of the most fun aspects of being a triathlete for me has been buying all the cool gear including a fast triathlon bike (Diamondback Andean), a power meter (Quarq), bike computer (Garmin 830), super shoes (Saucony Endorphin Pro), TT helmet (POC Cerebel), the list goes on. I appreciate that all of this gear can get pretty costly, but I work hard, triathlon is my passion, and I’m a really frugal guy about everything else in my life. And, just so you don’t think I’ve gone completely overboard, I didn’t pay retail for my tri-bike (way beyond my pay grade; I bought the frameset and then bought all of the components on ebay and had built) and still use a dumb trainer (Cyclops Fluid 2).

But, over the last few years in which I’ve re-immersed myself in triathlon after an 11-year hiatus, the one piece of equipment that I have coveted was a disc rear wheel. I have ridden an 85mm rear wheel the last two seasons, but I experienced wheel envy whenever I saw another age-grouper with a disc rear wheel. I also have to admit that the allure is partly psychological as a disc wheel just makes people look faster and I wanted that look.

I’m sorry, though, I do have my limits on what I’m willing to spend to satisfy my tri-jones (I still have two daughters to put through college and a well-funded retirement plan would be nice too). And I just can’t justify spending upward of $2500 for a wheel that might save me an extra minute on an Olympic-distance bike course.

I scoured the internet looking for a reasonably priced disc rear wheel. I looked on ebay and the usual cycling-commerce websites for used wheels, but there were no deals to be had and I’m always a little skittish about buying such an essential part of a bike used.

Then I discovered ICAN cycling, a Chinese manufacturer of off-brand bikes and components. And I saw that ICAN makes a TT disc rear wheel for less than $800. Now that I can wrap my arms (and wallet) around!!

At the same time, like many others, I was skeptical because the Chinese (with all due respect) are known for their inferior knock-offs of all kinds of products. Of course, to be fair, they are also known for making many high-quality products we use in most areas of our lives.

I decided to do my research to see if ICAN was legit. ICAN wheels are highly rated on amazon. I found a number of reviews attesting to their quality (here’s a great Youtube video review). And my tri-coach told me that just about all name-brand disc wheels are made in a few factories in China. The dealmaker was learning that some of their wheels are UCI approved!

So, I decided to order an ICAN disc rear wheel (model: DC04) for my triathlon bike. The wheel arrived well packaged within a month. My first vote of confidence came from my bike mechanic who said that the wheel was nicely constructed with quality materials. I have since ridden the wheel on many training rides and in five races (two triathlons and three Aquabikes) so far this season.

I was a bit anxious about riding the wheel for the first time because people have always told me that disc rear wheels can feel sluggish to ride and unstable in crosswinds. But I was pleasantly surprised to learn firsthand that the wheel felt the same as my old deep-dish wheel (I’ve since learned that the issue of instability in crosswinds is a myth that doesn’t stand up under scrutiny). The wheel is lightweight and rolls great. In fact, I haven’t used my old 85mm wheel since I bought this ICAN disc rear wheel and use it both outdoors and on my indoor trainer.

So, if you’ve been jonesing for a disc rear wheel for your triathlon or TT bike, but couldn’t plunk down the big Benjamins for a name-brand wheel, there is now nothing to hold you back. Get on line and order your ICAN disc rear wheel now! I’m confident you’ll have no regrets and you’ll enjoy your wheel as much as I have.

Disclaimer: I receive requests to review cycling and other products all the time. My consistent answer is “no.” When I do write a review a product, it’s always unsolicited. I write reviews because I have bought products that I love and believe in, and want others to enjoy them as well.