Road Wheels Around £200

[beancounter]

Looking at Xero XR1 - anyone using these?

Alternatives around £200?

Recommendations and advice gratefully received.

bc

 

[dodgy]

I have the Xero XR-Carbon, slightly heavier than the XR1s and (I've heard) much sturdier. My XR-Carbons have been excellent, I'm around 14 stone and ride fairly aggressively and they haven't given me any cause for concern, they are also available for bargain prices. Look nice, too

Dave.

 

[beancounter]

I have the Xero XR-Carbon, slightly heavier than the XR1s and (I've heard) much sturdier. My XR-Carbons have been excellent, I'm around 14 stone and ride fairly aggressively and they haven't given me any cause for concern, they are also available for bargain prices. Look nice, too

Dave.

Good shout, but I'm only seeing Shimano compatible hubs. I'm planning on using Campag. Will this seriously limit my choices?

bc

 

[jimboalee]

Have a browse of Ribble's website.

Factory wheels and hand-built.

 

[dodgy]

Perhaps supply of the Campag version has dried up (for the XR-Carbons).

 

[beancounter]

Have a browse of Ribble's website.

Factory wheels and hand-built.

Fair comment mate (and indeed I've already done it) but to me it's just a long list of wheels I know nothing about.

What I'm looking for are personal recommendations, or "leave-well-alone"s.

What do you use yourself?

bc

 

[Landslide]

Personally, Mavic Open Pros. Nice light rims, mine were straight as an arrow until I went head first into a Range Rover. Get them well built on the best hubs you can afford.

 

[jay clock]

I have some Easton Circuits. To be honest I have no idea how to tell if wheels are fast or not.... They either weigh or lot or not, and break easily or not.

When my cheapish Shimano wheels started to have problems I got Easton Circuits based on these reviews http://www.roadbikereview.com/cat/wheels/wheelsets/easton/PRD_143270_2490crx.aspx and the fact that my LBS did me a deal at about £240.

No problems at all. And I am fairly heavy!

 

[jimboalee]

I have :-

Bonty RaceXlite on DT Swiss hubs with DT Bladed spokes.
The standard wheelset that came on Dawes Giro 500.
Mavic MA on Maillard Normandy wideflange with DT D/B S/S spokes.
Rigida 26 x 1 1/4 Steelies on non-descript hubs with rusty spokes.
Rigida 20 x 1 3/8 Steelies on non-descript hubs with slightly tarnished spokes.
Non-descript 14 x 1 Alloy on non-descript alloy hubs with plain 14 gauge tarnished spokes.
Rigida Alloys on non-descript hubs with DT plain gauge S/S spokes.

 

[beancounter]

I have :-

Bonty RaceXlite on DT Swiss hubs with DT Bladed spokes.
The standard wheelset that came on Dawes Giro 500.
Mavic MA on Maillard Normandy wideflange with DT D/B S/S spokes.
Rigida 26 x 1 1/4 Steelies on non-descript hubs with rusty spokes.
Rigida 20 x 1 3/8 Steelies on non-descript hubs with slightly tarnished spokes.
Non-descript 14 x 1 Alloy on non-descript alloy hubs with plain 14 gauge tarnished spokes.
Rigida Alloys on non-descript hubs with DT plain gauge S/S spokes.

Ok. Take your point.

bc

 

[Jonathan M]

Personally, Mavic Open Pros. Nice light rims, mine were straight as an arrow until I went head first into a Range Rover. Get them well built on the best hubs you can afford.

+1 for open pro's on decent hubs, I bought some of these built onto Campag Centaur hubs (from Ribble) several years ago as "best" wheels for my summer bike, they needed a re true a couple of years ago but have been fine since. I did try some factory wheels from Gipiemme, (a bargain at £90 reduced from alledgedly £180) and they were pants, I'm not saying all cheaper factory wheelsets would be pants but for £200 I'd look at some decent handbuilts.

 

[Landslide]

^^^
I'll admit to not having ridden "factory" wheels, but to my mind I've never been convinced of the easy availability of spares. With my wheels, I can pop into pretty much any LBS and get replacement ball bearings/spokes etc.

 

[kyuss]

I had a pair of Xero XCR-1 and they were 'orrible. Definitely the lightest wheel you'll get for the money and they stayed true, but they weren't stiff at all. Really floppy over rough ground and constant brake rub.

The spokes pulled through the rear rim in less than a year too, which I believe is a fairly common problem due to the low spoke count and high tension. I had the rear built on a new rim, but I haven't used them since, I don't trust them.

 

[Will1985]

For factory wheels you could try Campag Scirocco, or I would agree with Centaur hubs and Open Pros.

 

[beancounter]

Any comments on Fulcrum, in general, or Racing 5's in particular?

bc