Princeton CarbonWorks (PCW) is a boutique American carbon wheel manufacturer based in Mystic, Connecticut, founded in 2012 by Marty Crotty, Harrison Macris, and Brad Werntz. The brand's tagline, "Fast All Ways," captures its single-minded focus: building the fastest carbon wheels possible, for road, time trial, and gravel.
Origin story
PCW's founding is unusual in the wheel category. Crotty, Macris, and Werntz weren't cycling-industry veterans — they were competitive rowers and mechanical/aerospace engineers who moved into triathlon and cycling. Crotty had also served as head coach of Princeton University's rowing program, which is where the brand's name and its founding insight both come from: rowing shells have used advanced carbon fiber construction for decades, and the founders saw an opportunity to bring that same manufacturing rigor into bicycle wheels. That "outsider engineering" origin is the core of PCW's credibility story — the brand isn't a marketing operation that outsources wheel design, it's an engineering team that happens to sell wheels.
Brand philosophy
PCW positions itself against marketing-led claims in the wheel category, favoring wind-tunnel data and structural engineering over spin. The stated focus areas are aerodynamics, weight, and speed, with an emphasis on building products for athletes chasing records, championships, and medals rather than general consumer volume. Wheels use a distinctive sinusoidal (wave-form) rim profile, broadly comparable in concept to Zipp's NSW line, intended to deliver aerodynamic gains without the crosswind instability typically associated with deep-section rims.
Proof points and credibility
- Wheels have been used by Team INEOS Grenadiers, including riders such as Filippo Ganna, Geraint Thomas, and Chris Froome.
- Ganna's UCI Hour Record (56.79 km) was set on Princeton CarbonWorks wheels.
- PCW wheels were on the start line at the Paris Olympics.
- The brand supplies wheels used by triathletes and endurance athletes competing at world-championship level, including Casper Stornes.
These results are the backbone of PCW's authority: rather than leading with lifestyle imagery, the brand leads with a short list of the most demanding, verifiable outcomes in the sport (world records, Olympic starts, WorldTour sponsorship).
Product range
The range of depth options is built around the "Evolution" platform all with multiple finish and Hub optionsfor all types of road and gravel riding.
- Mach 7580 Evolution (TT / Tri)
- Wake 6560 Evolution (II)
- Peak 4550 Evolution (II)
- Dual 5550 Evolution
- Grit 4540 Evolution (endurance and gravel-oriented)
- Alta 3532 (Climbing)