Shimano RS80 C50's

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paxterg

Veteran
Has anyone real world experience of these wheels? The get good enough reviews but the downside is they are a tad heavy.
 

jay clock

Massive member
Location
Hampshire UK
I think these are the ones I have. Look good but I can never really tell how much faster I go. They are on my TT bike and I have yet to get a pb using them
 
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paxterg

Veteran
I basically am looking for a set of wheels for a little racing, some time trialling but mostly for fast days in the saddle on my good bike. I would not be using these wheels all the time. My spend limit is around £600 - £700. My bike has an Ultegra groupset so I thought these wheels might compliment that but I don't know anybody with a set of these so I can pick their brain! I would need some aero advantage and a little in crease in my average with a spend like this!
 

jay clock

Massive member
Location
Hampshire UK
I have the as I said above. Got them for a good price from PBK or Merlin. They are on my TT bike, though with my lardy body I will never be fast.

The wheels on my main summer road bike are these http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-sh...mano-dura-ace-7900-c35-wheelset-clincher.html £1350rrp but I got them for £800 from Merlin at the time. Look superb, fairly light, and still rock solid after a summer of my lardy arse being hauled round. If you can get them at a decent price, very nice
 

Rob3rt

Man or Moose!
Location
Manchester
I basically am looking for a set of wheels for a little racing, some time trialling but mostly for fast days in the saddle on my good bike. I would not be using these wheels all the time. My spend limit is around £600 - £700. My bike has an Ultegra groupset so I thought these wheels might compliment that but I don't know anybody with a set of these so I can pick their brain! I would need some aero advantage and a little in crease in my average with a spend like this!

PX now do 50mm carbon clinchers. May be worth a look.
 
I basically am looking for a set of wheels for a little racing, some time trialling but mostly for fast days in the saddle on my good bike. I would not be using these wheels all the time. My spend limit is around £600 - £700. My bike has an Ultegra groupset so I thought these wheels might compliment that but I don't know anybody with a set of these so I can pick their brain! I would need some aero advantage and a little in crease in my average with a spend like this!

With heavy wheels like that, any (minimal) aero advantage you might get on the flat would be lost as soon as the road went up. Go for the C24s - you may even get the DA version for that budget. Far better option for all-round use. Alternatively, keep whatever wheels you have at the moment, and get a set of PX carbon 50s and some tubs for race days.
 
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paxterg

Veteran
Ideally I am lookin for clinchers not tubs. I also pefer aluminium sidewalls. Checked the PX clinchers, they are reasonably priced and lighter, but only a few grams! My current wheels weigh 1600 grams, would a set of wheels 200 grams heavier be really noticeable? I live in an undulating area and whilst I am no climber I can get over the bumpy stuff with some style!! I weigh about 75 kg if that makes any odds. Thanks for the advice so far lads, it really is a mine field out there!
 

Zakalwe

Well-Known Member
They're decent enough for the price. Cosmic Carbones are a bit lighter, Reynolds assault C lighter still. Depends if you trust their special carbon side walls though
 
Ideally I am lookin for clinchers not tubs. I also pefer aluminium sidewalls. Checked the PX clinchers, they are reasonably priced and lighter, but only a few grams! My current wheels weigh 1600 grams, would a set of wheels 200 grams heavier be really noticeable? I live in an undulating area and whilst I am no climber I can get over the bumpy stuff with some style!! I weigh about 75 kg if that makes any odds. Thanks for the advice so far lads, it really is a mine field out there!

so get the RS80 C24s - lighter, better performing wheels at a cheaper price - everybody wins. Unless you're determined to buy deep sections anyway, in which case get the C50s.
 

zizou

Veteran
For most riders deep section clinchers are for fashion not function - there is a weight penalty, they will likely not be as comfortable, will be poor in crosswinds and the aero benefits only happen above about 25 mph.

the c24s might not look so pro but they offer better bang for your buck.
 

lejogger

Guru
Location
Wirral
For most riders deep section clinchers are for fashion not function - there is a weight penalty, they will likely not be as comfortable, will be poor in crosswinds and the aero benefits only happen above about 25 mph.

the c24s might not look so pro but they offer better bang for your buck.

This.

There's a website somewhere with the results of a load of different wheelsets in a wind tunnel. (apologies for not having the link). The RS80 C24s and C50s came out virtually identical in terms of their aero efficiency, but the C24s are heaps lighter. The C50s do look better though. So it depends how important the deep section is to you aesthetically, because they won't perform better.

Ps not that an interest in aesthetics is a bad thing. Who doesn't want their bike to look super awesome?!

Alternatively, I like the look of the Fulcrums. You can get those pretty reasonably i.e. the 1 or Zero, they've got nice fat aero spokes and I think they look the best of the non-deep section offerings.

EDIT: Link http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/ro...acing-zero-dark-label-wheels-pair/fulcwhfr130
 

tigger

Über Member
This.
They've got nice fat aero spokes

There's something about fat Aero spokes that worry me. My thoughts and limited experience with them is they may offer some small benefit in head winds and favourable angles, but they REALLY hurt you in crosswinds. Again, sorry for the HED pimping, but its notable that they, and I think Zipp too, don't use fat spokes in their wheels - and correct me if I'm wrong but these guys are regarded as the leaders when it comes to Aero wheels?

As another posted has said, unless you're a really strong rider who can hold over 20mph, even on inclines, or if you ride only on flat and well sheltered terrain, I'm not certain deep rims are the best way to go.
 

lejogger

Guru
Location
Wirral
There's something about fat Aero spokes that worry me. My thoughts and limited experience with them is they may offer some small benefit in head winds and favourable angles, but they REALLY hurt you in crosswinds. Again, sorry for the HED pimping, but its notable that they, and I think Zipp too, don't use fat spokes in their wheels - and correct me if I'm wrong but these guys are regarded as the leaders when it comes to Aero wheels?

As another posted has said, unless you're a really strong rider who can hold over 20mph, even on inclines, or if you ride only on flat and well sheltered terrain, I'm not certain deep rims are the best way to go.
I'm pretty sure that you can't get a road wheelset without aero spokes unless they're entry level? I wouldn't think the Fulcrum ones are much wider than the ones on any other wheelset, certainly not enough to cause problems with crosswinds. A solid deep section rim certainly will though.

FWIW I agree with you about deep rims not being the best choice if you're looking for performance gain, however there are plenty of other reasons besides performance for choosing a specific set or design of wheels.
 
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