New wheels? - Shimano RS80 C50

[lejogger]

I'm after a little advice from you helpful people if that's ok?

I've been a club rider for a little while now, and because I'll be entering a time trial or two this season I fancy a new wheelset. My Boardman Team Carbon is great, but the entry level Ritchey Pro wheels are perhaps a little on the basic side, and certainly offer little in the way of aero benefit.
I also find myself a little envious of some of the kit the other guys arrive on week in week out, so I'd also like something that looks and performs well on the club ride and possibly in a road race.

I've found a new set of these above mentioned wheels for approx £500. I know I'll still need to get tyres, rim tape, a cassette and a chain, but they look tremendous value for a budget aero wheelset.

So... are they any good? Are there any others I should be considering?

 

[Andrew_P]

Firstly you can get them a lot cheaper than that I bought mine for £310 + 7.50 delivery they are £299 @ Plant X at the moment , secondly I upgraded from Mavic Askiums to the RS80. Didn't notice a huge difference. The main downside I have had is that they are low volume flat spoked wheels, if you snap one spoke it is an instant bad buckle. I had a bent rear hanger and didn't know and threw my RD in to the spokes on the RS80 instant buckle, had it trued by Evans and within 150 miles I snapped one going up hill instant bad buckle.

The first incident I think any wheel would have suffered, and the second one could have been a duff truing by Evans (over tightening just a few) so don't let it put you off! I would also advise to buy a couple of spokes driveside and non drive as they vary as they are not the sort of thing a local or a lot of internet stores stock..

 

[Andrew_P]

Ignore my post mine are RS80 C24!

 

[lejogger]

I was just going to point that out!! Admittedly I did have a look at the C24s (a bargain at £299) but I fancy something with a deeper section rim.

 

[black'n'yellow]

The OP is asking about the C50s, not the C24s..

Although having said that, the C24s are probably a significantly better all-round wheel for club runs, TTs and road racing. The C50s have a bit of a weight penalty for not a great deal of aero advantage - especially if you plan to ride them in groups. Out of those two, my choice would be the C24s - I have the DA versions of those wheels and I think they're excellent all-rounders.

If, on the other hand, you want the 'deep section look' - then get the C50s - but don't kid yourself they are a better 'real-world' option, cos they ain't...

 

[Andrew_P]

The OP is asking about the C50s, not the C24s..

Although having said that, the C24s are probably a significantly better all-round wheel for club runs, TTs and road racing. The C50s have a bit of a weight penalty for not a great deal of aero advantage - especially if you plan to ride them in groups. Out of those two, my choice would be the C24s - I have the DA versions of those wheels and I think they're excellent all-rounders.

If, on the other hand, you want the 'deep section look' - then get the C50s - but don't kid yourself they are a better 'real-world' option, cos they ain't...

I notice that after I had typed my reply :-)

I agree with you, I saw little benefit other than bling for the 50's, and a downside of maybe a bit more drift in cross winds

 

[lejogger]

I don't know what to do!
£200 is a significant saving, although Planet X are out of stock. Merlin have them for a smidgeon more.

Are we saying that the weight saving on the C24 will counter any aero and rolling advantage that the C50 might give me?

 

[Andrew_P]

I just thought the C50 was a halfway house, and as it would be going on my commuter I didn't want to find out if crosswinds were made worse by them. And as you say they are quite a bit (in wheel terms not sure how much you would notice) heavier

 

[lejogger]

I just thought the C50 was a halfway house, and as it would be going on my commuter I didn't want to find out if crosswinds were made worse by them. And as you say they are quite a bit (in wheel terms not sure how much you would notice) heavier

I guess I'm not too concerned about the weight. I generally climb well - I've been climbing on the winter club runs on a very heavy cyclo-cross bike with full rack bag etc, so when the carbon comes out I could probably fly up with a couple of dustbin lids between the forks! To be fair though, I don't actually know how much the Ritchey Pros weigh... and a large consideration was the possbility of time trials, but if the 50s don't offer a significant advantage then they seem pointless if the 24s will offer more or the same in every department.

 

[black'n'yellow]

Are we saying that the weight saving on the C24 will counter any aero and rolling advantage that the C50 might give me?

rolling advantage comes from tyres and tyre pressure, so I wouldn't expect any improved 'rolling' advantage from the wheels themselves. The C24s will accelerate quicker and you will notice the lack of rotating weigh when you climb. The C50s are heavier (at the rim, right where you don't want it), so will accelerate slower. However, a good deep section will be nice when you're out on your own, at speed, with your face in the wind (like in a TT for example) - the higher mass and aero section will be of use there. However, how much difference they would actually make to someone's notional 10/25//50m TT time would be difficult to establish, as there are so many other factors involved which could affect your performance...

 

[lejogger]

rolling advantage comes from tyres and tyre pressure, so I wouldn't expect any improved 'rolling' advantage from the wheels themselves. The C24s will accelerate quicker and you will notice the lack of rotating weigh when you climb. The C50s are heavier (at the rim, right where you don't want it), so will accelerate slower. However, a good deep section will be nice when you're out on your own, at speed, with your face in the wind (like in a TT for example) - the higher mass and aero section will be of use there. However, how much difference they would actually make to someone's notional 10/25//50m TT time would be difficult to establish, as there are so many other factors involved which could affect your performance...

Thanks both for your helpful info.

The tart in me really just wanted someone to stand up and give me a good reason for buying the C50 as IMO they do look very nice, but the hard facts are that I probably wont be using them enough for the purpose that they're designed for for the purchase to be worthwhile. Despite planning on entering club TTs this year, I haven't actually done one yet. I might be crap.

The C24 seem an absolute steal if I can get them for circa £300 and will be hugely more beneficial for the riding that I DO do every week at the moment - i.e. club runs and events. The fact that they're light and have a bladed spoke will be a huge difference over what I have now so I'll be getting a big advantage from that anyway. If they were the same price I may take a gamble, but for £200 more it's a no brainer.

Thanks for helping to confirm this

 

[black'n'yellow]

Don't get me wrong - nothing bad will happen if you get the C50s...

I have a set of C24s and a set of Planet X 50mm full carbon tubulars. The PX wheels are 'race only' wheels - they are very light and offer all the benefits of the deep section design, without the weight of the C50. The C24s get used for general riding, training and wet races, where the braking performance of the aluminium rim is a bit more predictable than the carbon surface on the PX wheels.

Maybe get the C24s now and something a bit more 'aero' once you start to get serious about your TTing...

 

[Andrew_P]

I think it is the right decision and I think you feel the difference to the Ritchley. On another thread I posted that going from 25mm Roubaix Pro Tyres to GP4000s 23mm I felt a bigger improvement than I did from my wheels alone. So do both and it will feel great!

 

[fossyant]

Just buy C24's and C50's - N+1 and all counts for wheels too !

 

[lejogger]

Just buy C24's and C50's - N+1 and all counts for wheels too !

If only the budget allowed for that!