Fifty Plus (50+) - Help needed in replacing a rear wheel

I'm optomistic that some of you here can help me with the replacement of a rear wheel. I have a Mavic Ksyrium Equipe rear wheel that has developed rim splits along six of the spoke holes. Hence, I need to replace it. I've tried to be diligent in figuring out the best route to go, but am getting very mixed information. I've taken the wheel to four different bike shops to ask about replacing the wheel with something stronger. In all four shops they've been very surprised to see a wheel that has failed so badly. All four shops have also given me different information about wheels concering strength. Two of the shops say that the Mavic Ksyrium series is one of the strongest, and that includes the Equipe. One of those shops swears that the Mavic Ksyrium Elite is stronger than the Equipe. Another of the four shops says that the only way to go is Shimano Dura Ace 7800 hubs with Open Pro Mavic rims. The fourth shop says the Open Pro Mavic - Shimano combination is no stronger than the Mavic Ksyrium Elite. This fourth shop also says I can have the rim replaced and the wheel rebuilt. They think the current wheel is not typical and that there must have been some kind of defect for it to fail as it has. They also say they have to special order a rim from Mavic to get it and this could take some time. All four shops sell all of the brands mentioned. Frankly, I don't know who to believe. When I read reviews for RoadBike Review, I get mixed information as well. Is there any reliable source that evaluates these things independently? Do any of you have insight, recommendations, experience with the likes of this? All I want to do is get a reasonably decent set of wheels that perform well, let me run the 9 speed set up, and won't fail on me as the Equipe's did.

Wheels are personal, based on individual experience and a little on bikie world hype and a lot on the circumstances that describe you and your particular cycling style and needs. Personally, mid-sized me has been using Mavic Open Pro's with both 105 and Ultegra hubs for some time now on multiple bikes and thousands of miles. No complaints. Two sets were handbuilt, two from Performance. Only differene I could tell was that the Performance needed truing sooner, but once that was done, have been as good as the handbuilt.

For 165lb rides-on-all-sorts-of-road-surfaces me, the Open Pro's are the right balance of strength, weight, cost, and ride feel. I was a fan of MA 40's before the OP's.

FWIW, in 1987 I bought a bike with Wolber Alpines...a kind of mid range wheel. The lasted for thousands of miles and the 105 hubs did, too...with maintenance, before the rear rim developed cracks around the eyelets.

Generally, I ride "light", jump or avoid major dings in the pavement. Riding style makes a difference I think.

Any reputable brand of rim with at least 32 spokes.

Post this over in the road fourm or search on wheels. There are many posts and many differing thoughts on the subject. I think it does depend on your budget and your riding habits/needs. I have a set of Campy Vento 2006 wheels on my main training rig and I think the things are bombproof. The only problem seems the 2007 is impossible to get in Shimano hub. FSA RD-80(now called RD-200) have also been good for me. One qualifier - I'm under 140 lbs.

Pricepoint can have a huge impact on choices as well. There is also a rider weight limit on some lightweight wheels as you probably know. Other determining factors are what the wheel will be used for-everyday riding, mountains, time trials, etc.

The splits are certainly not really unusual for older wheels but also are uncommon for that rim.

A 32 spoke wheel with a Mavic Open Pro rims are usually really solid wheels so hard to argue with a choice like that. For me, those would be good everyday wheels and I'd opt for a lighter wheel for riding that I do that has a lot of climbing.

My aproach would be different than yours. I would assume that the failure was an anomolie (I think you were told that by at least one shop) and that I wouldn't be so concerned about getting a stronger rim. I would probably get the same rim and hope this one isn't a lemon.