Wheel upgrade £400

[SquareDaff]

Agree with SquareDaff - I had some of these, really really good - if you don't mind not having latest versions try: http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-sh...els/2010-mavic-ksyrium-elite-wheels-pair.html £325!!

Does that include the online 10% discount?
I know the 2013 models were £429 a few months back - take the 10% off and it brings them in at sub £400. That's if you need to save to 50g difference between the older wheels and the latest ones!!

 

[Grant Fondo]

Didn't see extra 10% off - if so that is a mega bargain.

 

[montage]

Why avoid Pro-lites?

I have a set on my bike and they are fantastic, transformed it from the Mavics.

I had the gavia wheels, which were fine until the spokes start going. There are a stupidly high tension, to replace a spoke you need to detension the entire wheel, a process if which done wrong can wreck more spokes by placing undue load on them. When a spoke went I was in the middle of the yorkshire dales and the tension was so high that the rim would not turn in the frame. The rim was also later accepted as wrecked as it was banana'd due to the tension placed on it. I know a few prem calendar racers who laughed when I complained about the pro lites, apparently they are pretty known for it.

However, if you are lucky enough for this not to be an issue, the gavias did indeed ride like a dream, stiff and light!

 

[Rob3rt]

I had the gavia wheels, which were fine until the spokes start going. There are a stupidly high tension, to replace a spoke you need to detension the entire wheel, a process if which done wrong can wreck more spokes by placing undue load on them. When a spoke went I was in the middle of the yorkshire dales and the tension was so high that the rim would not turn in the frame. The rim was also later accepted as wrecked as it was banana'd due to the tension placed on it. I know a few prem calendar racers who laughed when I complained about the pro lites, apparently they are pretty known for it.

However, if you are lucky enough for this not to be an issue, the gavias did indeed ride like a dream, stiff and light!

I think this issue is something with that particular hub, I have had no issue, nor have I heard of any issues with other Pro-Lite wheels. But like you said, the Gavia seems to be known for it. I was warned about Pro-Lite, but choose to risk £200 on some Braccianos so far they have been great.

 

[Broadside]

@Alexvs , I am contemplating the exact same thing as you - a wheelset around the £350 budget. I had settled on the RS80 after looking at a pair of Dura Ace wheels in a shop a couple of months back, the Dura Ace really were lovely wheels. There was a similar thread about 4 weeks ago where @Howard suggested getting some Velocity A23 handbuilts from Strada for £250 http://www.stradawheels.co.uk/shop/velocity-a23-wheelset/ but then someone else (can't remember who) suggested not to listen to Howard!

I am guessing (but don't know) that the RS80 wheel set have lighter rims being carbon where the weight saving is most important and for this reason are more money. I will be watching this thread with interest!

 

[Alexvs]

Merlin Cycles don't seem to have the 10% off anymore and the 2013 Ksyrium's are £449.95 there. Not really wanting to go for the 2010 models at that price even though I'm sure it is a bargain I'm a little picks and I just prefer latest models. Thanks for the suggestion though.

 

[Alexvs]

@Alexvs , I am contemplating the exact same thing as you - a wheelset around the £350 budget. I had settled on the RS80 after looking at a pair of Dura Ace wheels in a shop a couple of months back, the Dura Ace really were lovely wheels. There was a similar thread about 4 weeks ago where @Howard suggested getting some Velocity A23 handbuilts from Strada for £250 http://www.stradawheels.co.uk/shop/velocity-a23-wheelset/ but then someone else (can't remember who) suggested not to listen to Howard!

I am guessing (but don't know) that the RS80 wheel set have lighter rims being carbon where the weight saving is most important and for this reason are more money. I will be watching this thread with interest!

Haha there'll always be people disagreeing. My friend built his own wheels for around £4-500 pound and kept on telling me to do the same but I'm not keen on doing it and have left it a little late to get some done in time for my London to Brighton and back a week on Saturday.

It seems a popular price point for a budget wheel. I'm warming more and more to the RS80's so these are looking like the most likely choice from all the really positive feedback across this and other forums that Google highlighted with the Ultegra's also looking interesting for their price. I've put a low bid in on some Swiss Side Franc Evo 2's on Ebay as like them not being so common however that can also be a bad thing hence the low bid just to see what they go for. That ends tomorrow and when I'll order the RS80's unless nothing else comes up. This will be my main wheelset with the DT's being relegated to winter riding.

 

[VamP]

Having spent that kind of money on factory and custom builds, I recommend custom build from a longevity point of view. I wouldn't be in a hurry to buy something that you don't want to live with for a few years simply to ride to Brighton and back.

The A23 rims referred to above on your choice of hubs will be easily as competent performance wise as the Ksyriums, and far more easily serviceable, not to mention cheaper in the first instance.

 

[jowwy]

i was contemplating a new set of wheels - shimano dura-ace c24's @ approx £650, until i found out i can get a handbuilt set of mavic open pro's on ultegra hubs (32hole) for around £200 or even upgrade to dura-ace for £400.

so its the handbuilts for me in approx 6wks time

 

[Howard]

There was a similar thread about 4 weeks ago where @Howard suggested getting some Velocity A23 handbuilts from Strada for £250 http://www.stradawheels.co.uk/shop/velocity-a23-wheelset/ but then someone else (can't remember who) suggested not to listen to Howard!

Hah...I think that would have been 400bp who took offense to me claiming that to all intents and purposes low profile factory built clinchers are pretty much equal until you get into stupid money - but at that point your stupid money only buys you reduction in weight rather than something really useful like an aero profile. The thread / post is here, and received some likes.

The current thinking is that wider profile rims like the A23, H+Son TB14 and HED Ardenes are 'quicker' than traditional narrow low profile clinchers (i.e. cheapie factory builts and notably the RS80s and C24s) as they provide a more aerodynamic profile and reduce rolling resistance all at lower pressures. They also have the advantage of being cheaper, on par weight wise and use non-proprietary spokes.

What's not to like? Probably the lack of sexy logos, but if its those you want just buy some deep section wide Farsports carbon clinchers and some after-market Zipp decals.

Other points - the RS80 isn't a bad wheel - well, the deep section one isn't. The shallow suffers from all the issues that cheapie clinchers do but at least the carbon fairing gives it a bit of a profile. It strikes me as a better wheel than the C24 if only because it's significantly cheaper and uses most of the same components.

 

[Howard]

i was contemplating a new set of wheels - shimano dura-ace c24's @ approx £650, until i found out i can get a handbuilt set of mavic open pro's on ultegra hubs (32hole) for around £200 or even upgrade to dura-ace for £400.

so its the handbuilts for me in approx 6wks time

Handbuilts > C24s: yes
Open Pros: yesterdays technology. Only use them if you can't fit a wider profile clincher in your frame.

 

[jowwy]

Handbuilts > C24s: yes
Open Pros: yesterdays technology. Only use them if you can't fit a wider profile clincher in your frame.

so what rims would you suggest howard - i ride a giant defy 4

 

[Howard]

A23s, HED Ardenes (or the Ardenes +), H+Son TB14s, H+Son Archtypes

Defy is a modern frame, right? The only one I'd be concerned about would be the Ardenes + which is a fat 25mm.

Check with your wheelbuilder for advice?

 

[Alexvs]

I did a search on the A23's for some reviews and they were rated well on a test by road.cc but that was with the strada hubs and Sapim CX Ray spokes I believe. If I was to look at hand built then do you know if the Novatec hubs and Sapim Race spokes are a good combination for the £250? Or would the alternatives they offer, Ambrosio Zenith hubs with Race spokes be better at £299 and the Novatec with Ray spokes at £375 be better? They also do the H Plus Son Archetype with Ambrosio hub and Race spokes for £345, is that rim any better? My max if I can would be £350. I did read one comment I think on BR say that Strada overcharge for their service on the price of the components but I'm sure the service they offer is worth the all in cost as don't believe I have any wheel builders in Milton Keynes, well not recognised one's anyway.

 

[tigger]

so what rims would you suggest howard - i ride a giant defy 4

I think he's already suggested them, the wider profile rims. I'd narrow his list down further to just Velocity A23 or HED Ardennes (the H+Son are heavier if memory serves). HEDs tend to be pricey and more difficult to get hold of which probably leaves you the A23.

Edit- crossed post with Howard