Farsports Ventoux S 50: The Ultimate Lightweight at 1,190g

In the lightweight carbon wheel race, Farsports from Shenzhen, China, has dropped a bombshell with the Ventoux S 50—50mm rim depth, carbon spokes, and just 1,190g. This figure not only leads the pack among Chinese carbon wheel brands but also holds its own against top-tier brands like ENVE and CADEX. Let’s take a deep dive into this ultra-lightweight carbon wheelset.

Product Specifications

Item	Specification
Rim Depth	50mm
External Rim Width	28mm
Internal Rim Width	21mm
Weight (Front + Rear)	1,190g (Disc Brake Version)
Hubs	Farsports In-House Carbon Shell Hubs
Engagement Mechanism	Pawl-Type 54T
Spokes	Carbon Fiber Bladed Spokes
Spoke Count	Front 20 / Rear 24
Tire Compatibility	Tubeless Ready (Hooked Rim)
Suggested Retail Price	NT$28,000-35,000

What 1,190g Means

Let’s put this weight into the global carbon wheel landscape:

Wheelset	Rim Depth	Spokes	Weight	Price (NT$)
Farsports Ventoux S 50	50mm	Carbon Fiber	1,190g	28,000-35,000
CADEX 50 Ultra	50mm	Carbon Fiber	1,198g	95,000-110,000
ENVE SES 4.5 Carbon Spoke	45/49mm	Carbon Fiber	1,150g	150,000+
Zipp 303 Firecrest	40mm	Steel	1,355g	45,000-55,000

The striking part: Farsports achieves nearly the same weight at one-third the price of CADEX.

Farsports Brand Background

Farsports is a carbon fiber wheelset brand from Shenzhen, China, primarily targeting overseas markets. It has built considerable recognition and reputation within the cycling community in Europe and the US. Like many Chinese carbon wheel brands, Farsports’ advantage lies in directly controlling the carbon fiber manufacturing process, allowing it to deliver high-quality products at highly competitive prices.

Carbon Spoke Details

The Ventoux S carbon spokes feature a flat aero profile, weighing approximately 4g each. Key characteristics of these spokes include:

Manufacturing Process

• Uses high-modulus carbon fiber (T800 grade)
• Pultrusion process
• High-precision surface grinding
• Dedicated spoke nipple design

Installation Method

Carbon spokes are mounted to the rim via dedicated spoke nipples. Unlike traditional threaded adjustment methods, carbon spoke tension is fixed at the factory and cannot be fine-tuned afterward. This means that if the wheelset develops trueness deviations during use, adjustment options are very limited.

Hub Quality

Farsports’ in-house carbon shell hubs feature a 54T pawl design with approximately 6.67 degrees of engagement, offering responsive pickup. The carbon shell effectively reduces hub weight, while the bearings are sourced from Japan’s EZO or top-tier Chinese manufacturers.

Overall hub quality is outstanding at this price point, with smooth rotation and satisfying engagement. However, long-term durability still requires more time to verify.

Real-World Riding Experience

Acceleration Thrill from Lightweight

The acceleration from 1,190g is pure joy. Whether it’s launching from a red light, accelerating through gear changes on climbs, or sprinting hard, the Ventoux S 50 responds with remarkable immediacy. On long climbs like the Wuling East Approach, the lightweight advantage makes every pedal stroke more efficient.

Aero Efficiency

The 50mm rim depth paired with the low-drag design of carbon spokes delivers impressive efficiency when cruising on flat roads. Carbon spokes generate significantly less wind resistance at high rotational speeds compared to steel spokes—an advantage that becomes especially noticeable above 35 km/h.

Ride Quality

The damping characteristics of carbon spokes effectively absorb road vibration. On Taiwan’s typical rough asphalt surfaces, the Ventoux S 50 offers noticeably better comfort than comparable wheelsets with steel spokes.

Stiffness Concerns

To achieve extreme lightweight, the carbon fiber layup in the rim is necessarily controlled. At high power outputs (such as sprints exceeding 800W), a slight torsional flex can be felt in the rim. This isn’t an issue for most amateur riders, but heavier riders or those producing very high power may want to consider a stiffer option.

Braking Performance

The disc brake version performs reliably and predictably, with the carbon rim free from brake heat loads. The mounting precision of the disc brake mounts is also satisfactory.

Direct Comparison with CADEX 50 Ultra

As fellow lightweight carbon wheels with carbon spokes and 50mm rim depth, a comparison between the Ventoux S 50 and CADEX 50 Ultra is inevitable:

Feature	Farsports Ventoux S 50	CADEX 50 Ultra
Weight	1,190g	1,198g
Internal Rim Width	21mm	22.4mm
Hubs	In-House Carbon Shell 54T	R3-C Carbon Shell 36T
Price	NT$30,000	NT$100,000
Brand Support	Limited	Giant Dealers Nationwide
Quality Control	Good	Premium

On paper, Farsports is nearly on par with CADEX, but at one-third the price. The differences lie mainly in brand trust, after-sales service, and long-term quality assurance.

Pros and Cons Analysis

Pros

• 1,190g extreme lightweight, unmatched at this price point
• Carbon spokes deliver excellent ride quality
• 54T hub engagement is superb
• Highly competitive pricing
• Hooked rim design offers broad compatibility
• Extensive customization options

Cons

• Carbon spokes cannot be tension-adjusted, making repairs difficult
• Short brand history; long-term durability yet to be proven
• No physical retail presence in Taiwan
• Extreme weight reduction may compromise some stiffness
• Low brand recognition, making resale difficult
• Warranty requires shipping back to China

Buying Guide for Taiwan

Purchase Channels

• Farsports official website (English)
• Tmall flagship store (Chinese)
• Group buys through Taiwan cycling communities

Duties and Total Cost

Import duties on carbon wheels are approximately 10%, plus 5% business tax. Ordering directly from the official website brings the total cost to roughly NT$32,000-40,000 (including shipping and taxes)—still far below equivalent big-brand carbon wheels.

Who Is It For?

• Climbers and riders highly sensitive to weight
• Rational buyers seeking extreme value for money
• Advanced riders capable of self-maintenance
• Riders wanting to experience carbon spoke wheelsets on a budget

Conclusion

With its jaw-dropping 1,190g weight and a price under NT$35,000, the Farsports Ventoux S 50 declares to the world: extreme lightweight carbon wheels are no longer the exclusive privilege of affluent riders. Of course, brand service and long-term quality assurance remain its weaknesses compared to established brands, but in terms of pure product capability, the Ventoux S 50 is undoubtedly one of the highest value-for-money carbon spoke wheelsets on the market today.

Related Reading

• Farsports Wheelsets: 20 Years of Carbon Fiber Expertise Coming to Fruition
• CADEX 50 Ultra: The Carbon Fiber Jewel of the Giant Family
• Winspace HYPER 50: The Performance Ceiling of Chinese Carbon Wheels
• Chinese Carbon Wheels Showdown: A Horizontal Comparison of Six Major Brands