What new wheels

[livpoksoc]

At the latest servide the mechanic mentioned that the hub bearings were starting to ware. He said some use it as an excuse to upgrade the wheels, but it wasn't in anyway urgent.

If I wanted to consider it in the future, what would I need to be looking for? Current bike is a trek madone 3.1.

I read somehwere that wider wheels were better, but not sure how etc. and if the bike frame would give clearance to bigger wheels etc.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Crandoggler]

I guess it depends on what you want to do. If you're quite happy with the wheels you have, then replace the bearings.

Other than that, you could 'upgrade' to lower end fulcrum, Campagnolo, shimano, or whatever brand you wanted.

I'm quite fond of the Campagnolo Khamsin wheels. They're around the £90-100 mark.

Or you can go all guns blazing and get some cosmic carbone's for £500+

Width is probably for the tyre. The theory is that 25mm width is the optimum for speed and comfort.

 

[winjim]

I did start writing a quick beginners guide to road bike wheels. I can't really remember what state I left it in but the thread's here:
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/a-quickstart-guide-to-road-bike-wheels.191767/
It's intended to be very basic and there are more experienced mechanics than myself who will be able to take you further into the engineering and building side of things should you wish, but it should give you a starting point. There are a lot of claims made about the benefits of wheel upgrades so my aim was to equip the reader with enough knowledge to be able to look at these claims with a rational head and make their own mind up.

Edit: Feel free to tell me how rubbish the article is. One day I'll get round to finishing it, so feedback is useful.

 

[Venod]

I have just built some wheels with Stans No Tubes grail rims, I am running them tubeless with non tubeless CX tyres but not at high pressure, they can be used at high pressure with high pressure road tubeless tyres, you can also run them with tubes if needed, just something to consider should you contemplate tubeless in the future, they are disc brake specific though.

I bought the rims from these guys, a good price at the moment, but it looks if they have only 24 hole left, I got the 28 hole rims.

http://www.shop.18bikes.co.uk/m11b0s439p2304/STANS-NO-TUBES-Grail-Rim-2016

 

[vickster]

Budget?
And what's your weight? If over about 85kg or 90kg you might want to consider hand builts with more spokes. Then it comes down to what style you like

 

[RegG]

My partners son has just put some Mavic Kysrium Elite's on his Giant Defy and is extremely pleased with them. They seem to have excellent reviews and they come with tyres/tubes for around £450 a pair if your budget allows.

Have a look at this review http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/reviews/wheels/mavic-ksyrium-elite-wheelset

 

[vickster]

These look a good deal, £400 down to £240 (CRC selling still for £330). I think Mavic wheels suggest a weight limit of around 110kg (17 stone ish?)

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/mavic-pr-wts-cosmic-elite-s/

 

[Jerry Atrik]

Take a look at Kinetic one . I have 3 sets on different bikes .

 

[livpoksoc]

Budget?
And what's your weight? If over about 85kg or 90kg you might want to consider hand builts with more spokes. Then it comes down to what style you like

Thanks...budget isn't huge, and I am 18st but reducing!
Was more a query of if a new hub is going to cost me X then what is the off set cost vs buying a new set of wheels? I won't want to spend hundreds, but if I have to outlay for a hub when it goes, I can stomach the excess for the betterwheel if that makes sense...?

 

[raleighnut]

Thanks...budget isn't huge, and I am 18st but reducing!
Was more a query of if a new hub is going to cost me X then what is the off set cost vs buying a new set of wheels? I won't want to spend hundreds, but if I have to outlay for a hub when it goes, I can stomach the excess for the betterwheel if that makes sense...?

The hub won't be a problem no matter what your weight is, it will be the spokes (specifically how many of them are taking the strain) and the rim which will struggle.
FWIW I've got a bike with a 'handbuilt' rear wheel that I can easily put an extra 25Kg of touring gear over (on a rack) and I'm north of 100Kg these days and the wheel has put up with years of this riding (abuse really) and is still true and free rolling.

 

[EltonFrog]

@livpoksoc Your bike probably has the stock Bontrager wheels on and nowt wrong with them, the fragrant MrsP and I have done thousands of miles on these wheels ( we more or less have the same bike as you) You don't say how many miles you've done on them, but if the rims are ok I'd just replace the hubs when the time comes if you don't have the budget.

Or you could spend 3 or 4 hundred pounds on a new set of wheels that look bling that you probably won't notice a bit of difference riding. DAMHIKT.

 

[livpoksoc]

@livpoksoc Your bike probably has the stock Bontrager wheels on and nowt wrong with them, the fragrant MrsP and I have done thousands of miles on these wheels ( we more or less have the same bike as you) You don't say how many miles you've done on them, but if the rims are ok I'd just replace the hubs when the time comes if you don't have the budget.

Or you could spend 3 or 4 hundred pounds on a new set of wheels that look bling that you probably won't notice a bit of difference riding. DAMHIKT.

Thanks, advice that I will take