"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Best Road / Crit racing wheels under $400 ?

I am looking for a set of shimano 9spd compatible wheels (ultegra cassette).

Does anyone have a suggestion for what is the best setup to race with?

:o

I have been looking at lots of items online, I see many combinations of plain spokes vs aero spokes vs low spoke count .. etc...

Do aero spokes make that big of a difference?

Anyway - please help me out =)

As stupid as it sounds, it aint the wheels. No need to go light either. Get a set of open pros, solid. Invest in good tires. I recommend Vredstein tricomps (not the SE's), and pick up a 13-23 cassette. The advantage of the 13-23 is that it gives you every gear between 13 and 19 ... very useful. Unless you're a beast you won't miss the 12.

Mark

+1 for the open pros or DT RR 1.1s w/ some ultegra hubs. I have my 1.1s laced radially in front and half radial in the back (w/ DA10 hubs) as I think they roll a little better and they certainly look cooler. I'm a lean #215 and I've not even knocked them out of true so radial strength is not a concern.

Regarding rubber - all high end tires are fine - whatever you can get a deal on is likely best. I'm on Conti GP4000s and think they are fine.

Regarding the cassette - if you're doing crits, you'll 'prolly be fine w/o a 12, but if you do RRs with long finishing straights - a 12 is the gear you'll likely want to be sprinting in.

Something nice and stiff for crits, something light for HILLY road races. If you want one set to do both, you need to find a happy medium or decide what's more important. I used to race crits on a set of Velocity Deep V rims, 28 db spokes, radial front, 2X rear. Road races are rare here so I just used the same set for those.

Agree with above. I second the Open Pro's and simple 3 cross lasing. I have a set with Dura Ace hubs and double butted DT's (for racing bike), and a set with 105 hubs, strait spokes (for commuting bike) Both are as reliable and simple as you can get. I might eventually buy a racing wheelset such as ksyriums, but for now, the OPs are working great.

I like Bontrager Race Lites...which come in at the top of that price target. Try ebay or LBS (Trek dealer)

Mavic Cosmic Elite's are a fairly lightweight good overall riding / racing wheelset.. They can be found for 399-450.. If you look on ebay sometimes they can be found for under 300.00..

You can usually pick up Reynolds Alta Race wheels on Ebay new for <$400, and there are used sets ouit there also. I've raced and won with them in both RR's and crits. Low aero spoke count (20/24), aero rim (30mm), light enough to climb on at 1511g and they are great in a sprint. Very tough too, I've done several races with "Roubaix"-like sections and they've stayed pretty true. Reynolds makes a quality product.

At new set for $329:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Reynolds-Alta-Race-700c-Road-Bike-Shimano-Wheelset-New_W0QQitemZ160012749836QQihZ006QQcategoryZ58099QQssPageNameZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The Open Pro's are fine if you're doing entry level stuff and want bomb proof vs. performance. Cheap, but heavy and slow.

Here's some for $200:

http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/12008-365_SHIUL1-3-Parts-75-Wheelsets/Shimano-Ultegra-Wheelset-w/-Mavic-Open-Pro-Rims-offerIN050QB1.htm

Thanks for the info. I found a new set of Mavic Cosmic Elite's... I paid $ 311 for them on ebay =)

Lets hope they get here un-damaged !!

- Thanks.

I guess I'm a little late, but the Easton Vista SL is a great wheel. I've been racing and training on them all season and have had the rear trued once. I'm 6'2 and 197#, and ride primarily crits and circuits.