Road Cycling - Climbing Wheels. Ksyriums?

Okay, I'm looking into buying a set of wheels next weekend at the local flea market, that I'll use for hilly road races . The set I've been looking into are Mavic Ksyriums. I've been posting all over the internet to get a large number of people's opinions. Do you have any comments about these wheels, or any suggestions of other wheels that would been good for climbing hills? Price right now doesn't matter to me because you can always get a really good deal at the flea market. Thanks for any info.

velo :)

Mavic Heliums

Okay, why the Heliums? Are they lighter than the Ksyriums? Stronger? What's up with them?

velo

You know, all of these "boutique" wheels are very light, but ask yourself, how far do you trust those under-spoked ultra-light wheels when you are climbing hard, out of the saddle?
What do you suppose happens to a rider when he snaps one of those sparse spokes on the rear? That's right: he does a face-plant!!!
For the money you spend on even a used set of ksyriums or heliums, you could still have a conventional 36-spoke wheel with a light aero rim made by a professional wheelbuilder, rather than some already-abused machine-built wheel that came from an oriental sweatshop.
When you break a spoke, you'll understand.

climbing wheels.

what you want to look for is a pair of wheels that are light, obviously, and strong. the less flex there is in the wheel the more of your power goes through to the road. from experience mavic cosmics were good for climbing, although are a bit heavy. i now use heliums, they are light and due to the straight pull spokes are stiff, and comfy enough too. the ksyriums are supposedly an improvement on heliums, they must be good, lance uses them. those new dura ace wheels by shimano look that light that they might take off unless they are tied down! go to a bike shop that sells these wheels, have a play. i've always been biased towards mavic wheels, excellent hubs and reliable. as for spoke breakages in these wheels with few spokes, if you do snap a spoke, the balance is totally thrown out. however this rarely happens unless you crash or something. i'm not sure what's available in the U.S, look out for a brand called 'Rolf', they and shimano make similar wheelsets.

so basically look for wheels with straight-pull spokes (spokes that come straight out of the hub as opposed out of the side of the flange - straight pull hubs usually don't have a flange) for strength, and obviously fewer spokes = lighter and more aerodynamic (because you want to come down quick too). i would say ksyriums are the one to go for.

cabledonut.

Originally posted by cabledonut
look out for a brand called 'Rolf', they and shimano make similar wheelsets.


The Rolf Sestrieres are a very good wheel set. They are light and bomb-proof. They were on the stock USPS superlight for 2001. They may have something new out in the last year that I've missed, but I've never had any trouble with them. Even though they only have 24 spokes, mine haven't broken any spokes causing me to face plant.

Originally posted by D*Alex
That's right: he does a face-plant!!!

When you break a spoke, you'll understand.

D*Alex,

I'm a female rider who only weighs about 130 lbs. Do I really have to worry about putting so much stress on the wheels that I'll break a spoke?

velo (Kim G. from Bicycle Forums!)

If you climb hard, then yeah, you do.

Originally posted by velo
I'm a female rider who only weighs about 130 lbs. Do I really have to worry about putting so much stress on the wheels that I'll break a spoke?
Everybody breaks spokes, though you'll probably break fewer than most... and I'd worry more about breaking a front spoke in a pothole on a descent than the rear on a climb.

Having said that, you're probably just as likely to break spokes on a wheel with 36 14 gauge spokes than on a wheel with 28 butted 15 gauge. The problem will be how easy/hard it is to replace spokes and true the wheel. If you have a spare wheelset, I wouldn't worry. Just drop 'em off at a LBS you trust, pay the $15 and let them do it for you.

If you ride a lot on those wheels, you're going to want to have them rebuilt every couple of years, anyway.

Originally posted by velocipedio

Everybody breaks spokes, though you'll probably break fewer than most... and I'd worry more about breaking a front spoke in a pothole on a descent than the rear on a climb.

The problem will be how easy/hard it is to replace spokes and true the wheel. If you have a spare wheelset, I wouldn't worry. Just drop 'em off at a LBS you trust, pay the $15 and let them do it for you.

Thanks velocipedio. I find it hard to believe that I'll break a spoke on a climb. I've ridden all kinds of wheels in all kinds of conditions, and I've never broken anything on any of them (but I know it could happen). I do believe you, however, when you said that I should worry more about breaking a front spoke in a pothole, or something like that.

And, if I do break a spoke somehow, the guys at my LBS are the best, and they'll do anything for me anytime I want it done (always make friends with your LBS guys & girls!).

velo

I hear you, Velo [love the name, BTW :-)]. When I trashed my front this summer, the guys at the LBS lent me a wheel so I could get home. [As LBSes go, it's not that local -- about 10 km away, actually.] It was a Wolber touring rim with a 105 hub, but it's what I needed to get to my spare wheels.

As for descents... well, I've seen it happen to some pretty small people; 70 km/h, lightweight wheels, unmarked pothole -- the rest is history. What amazed me is that (a) she didn't lose control, (b) the wheel was way out of true and the tube broke, but the wheel wasn't irreparably damaged (c) she wasn't hurt.

Personally, I think the Ksyriums are way over priced. Cool looking and all but I think you can do better for less. Have you considered Velomax?

i would take the sestreirs any day.
they weigh roughly 1480 grams for the set and the kyseriums weigh about 1700 so you will save little over 1/2 pound with the sestriers

i have also heard real good result, read mtbr.com reviews on the "speed dream" wheel set by dave's
they are custom made and strong and weigh in close to 1400 grams a set.

http://mtbr.com/reviews/Wheelset/product_23649.shtml

http://www.speeddream.com/

i think another nice set would be the campy nucleon at roughly about the same weight.

check out cbike.com for good deals as well, i think sometimes they even will supply michlen tires and bags to for the price.