new wheels

[aberdeenian]

Thinking of replacing the wheels on my road bike. They've got what they came with from the shop - 32 spoke jobs, Alexrims DA16 rims (the bike's a Specialized Dolce).

Any recommendations on something for around the £100 mark for the pair?

I don't race, but I do like long, hilly rides, so maybe something reasonably light? I'm not the heaviest rider in the world (9st), but the roads round here can be pretty rough, so I don't want anything too flimsy.

Ta,

 

[Oldlegs]

Wiggle have a deal on at the moment OE Shimano 561's 20% off plus another 20% as over £100. Great pair of wheels for £90 (delivered).

 

[Smokin Joe]

Mavic Askiums are a popular choice, £99 online and fairly bullet proof.

 

[TheDoctor]

Or go hand built. Open Pro on Tiagra should cost about £110-£120. Light, strong, easy to true. Not that you'll need to!

 

[gavintc]

Except that Tiagra hubs are not good. I have a pair with Mavic rims, they demand regular re-tightening and I finally gave up on them and now use them as my turbo wheels. I replaced them with a set of Shimano 560s. Far far better.

 

[TheDoctor]

Oh! Never had any problems with mine. When you say 'tightening' are we talking spoke coming loose, or bearings, or something else?

 

[andharwheel]

I bought aksiums for my Cannondale. Tough wheels for my weight and the Aberdeen roads. Lots of frost up here which plays havoc with the tar.

 

[gavintc]

Oh! Never had any problems with mine. When you say 'tightening' are we talking spoke coming loose, or bearings, or something else?

The bearings were loose. I would find over a period of a month or so, that the rear wheel would start to wobble a bit, touching the brake pads. I took it to 2 LBS for tightening and both commented that Tiagra bearings are poor.

 

[twowheelsgood]

At 9 stone you really don't have to worry too much about the robustness on modern rim, bar ultralightweight stuff.

I'd go open pro 32R / 28F with double butted spokes on any Shimano hub. I have Tiagra hubs on my Trek 1200 and these have done 5000km so far without adjustment and I'm over 90kg, so gavintc must have had a duff set.

 

[noggin]

I got a new pair of mavic Aksiums a month ago thanks to the crap wheels on my Sirrus eventually dying.

I can confirm that they're grand min and glide over the streets of Aiberdeen, cassies in Torry being the hardest test.