Road Cycling - Racing wheelsets

I want to know which of these wheelsets would be the best for the price and the value. I want a pair of wheels that I can mainly race in.

ksyrium elite is the better value when compared to the SL. It's a bit heavier but probably 9/10ths the same performance.

Just pick the lightest wheel for the $ you want to spend. All the wheels you mentioned are pretty good.

Yes, the Ksyrium Elite is a better value when compared to the SL. The best way to go, however, might be to get an older pair of SL's (before the Elite's came out). I think they might be the 2001 model. They're the middle of the road as far as weight goes between the new Elites and SLs. You should be able to get a good price on them, slightly used. You can probably find them cheaper than the new Elites, even being a lighter weight.

Campy Euros or Ksyriums, all good wheels though

byron

Is there a reason that no carbon fibre wheelsets made this list? Look at a pro bike race and see the wheels they use. Especially for pro crits in the US almost everyone uses carbon wheels now. Even in the Wisconsin cat 3 races almost every serious racer has bontrager carbons/zipp 404/303s/LEW composites or something similar. Even the Postal guys who have long been associated with ksyriums nearly all race carbon wheels.

For my money the zipp 303s are the best wheels on the market. 1 lb lighter than ksyriums, more aerodynamic, stiffer and more comfortable. Only drawback being they chatter through corners a little bit at over 55kph but how often do you go that fast anyways:D Also i kinda thought race wheels tend to be tubulars...they are a lot faster.:cool:

at present I am using a Mavic Cosmic Elite, But would upgrade it to Mavice Ksyrium SL, I hear that this is a very good set of wheels, I am very satisfied with my present wheels, mavic Cosmic Elite right now, but I just need to buy this Mavic Ksyrium,hoping my wife will not notice the difference. :D :D :D

Maybe because those are the wheels he is interested in/ can afford?
Carbon wheels are a bit more $$. As for who in the pro ranks uses carbon, it depends on the race.


Originally posted by HøllenHund
Is there a reason that no carbon fibre wheelsets made this list? Look at a pro bike race and see the wheels they use. Especially for pro crits in the US almost everyone uses carbon wheels now. Even in the Wisconsin cat 3 races almost every serious racer has bontrager carbons/zipp 404/303s/LEW composites or something similar. Even the Postal guys who have long been associated with ksyriums nearly all race carbon wheels.

For my money the zipp 303s are the best wheels on the market. 1 lb lighter than ksyriums, more aerodynamic, stiffer and more comfortable. Only drawback being they chatter through corners a little bit at over 55kph but how often do you go that fast anyways:D Also i kinda thought race wheels tend to be tubulars...they are a lot faster.:cool:

Ive heard some of the real lite ones with few spokes come out of true alot.

Timtheroadbiker I have a set Heliums hanging in my shop .They have least than 500 mile on them. I bust up my back and can not use them. I will let them go cheap.

I can't believe that the Euru's are doing so poorly in the poles...

Look at the facts:

Eurus are 10 grams lighter than Neutrons AND the Ksyrium SL's, a LOT lighter than Ksyrium Elites and Ritchey wheels, and a LOT more aero than ANY of the options. The rim is pretty deep on the Eurus for a clincher, and the front wheel has only 16 spokes, fewer than any other wheel in consideration.

Lighter AND More Aero

I haven't raced Eurus, but I have raced Neutrons, Protons, and a Shamal front wheel, and Campy wheels are a lot stiffer than almost all other pre-made "boutique" wheelsets.

In my opinion, the choice is simple...

- Maurizio

Can everyone please stop calling them "boutique" wheels. All the wheels mentioned are mass-produced wheelsets. It is the exact opposite of a "boutique" wheelset.

Less spokes means that IF a spoke breaks, it will go wildly out of true. This is because each spoke has greater tension to make up the lack of spokes. Just because it is light doesn't mean it will come out of true more often.

For example, I race cyclocross on Zipp 404's with 20 spokes. These take alot of abuse and are very strong.