"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Poor man's race wheels

I currently have a pair of Ksyrium SSC SL's. I am considering selling them and buying a set of Soul S4.0's. Races will be crits and RRs, mostly flat. Thoughts? Is it worth it at all from an aero perspective? I'll lose some money in the deal, so if there isn't a distinct advantage to the Souls I won't do it.

My honest opinion is that for the average racer, the wheels aren't going to help that much. You'd be better off spending money on a coach, a proper fit, and a power meter (though not in that order).

If you already have all three, then by all means get the wheels.

^^^ 1+

OP, what category racer are you? If Cat 4 or 5, just race what you have and focus on getting your body better trained. If Cat 3 or up and in a position to contest the sprint each race, get yourself the wheels.

Pick out a good pair of 32 spoke box rim wheels and have at it.

Pick out a good pair of 32 spoke box rim 30mm wheels and have at it.

There you go.

Sturdier than box sections, and a bit more aero to boot. Plus they're better for CX.

1. DT RR 1.2
2. Velocity Deep V
3. Kinlin 30mm
4. Weinmann DP-18

etc etc etc

My poor mans race wheels are a pair of Easton Vista SL's. 30mm depth. 20 spokes in the front, 24 in the rear. 1697 weight though, fairly heavy for racing standards.

My poor mans race wheels are a pair of Easton Vista SL's. 30mm depth. 20 spokes in the front, 24 in the rear. 1697 weight though, fairly heavy for racing standards.

Until I can afford my next build, my race wheels are Forte Titans :eek: Doesn't matter, they're not what's holding me back.

What's wrong with SSC SL's?

What's wrong with SSC SL's?
They're not Zipps.

the Reynolds Solitudes are nice, I've had 2 sets and love them.

Yeah, and here I was thinking that the Ksryium SL was the poor man's race wheel. So, are the Soul 4.0's significantly lighter or more aero than the SL's?

Yeah, and here I was thinking that the Ksryium SL was the poor man's race wheel. So, are the Soul 4.0's significantly lighter or more aero than the SL's?
I believe they are about the same weight (about 1600g), but much more aero.

What's wrong with SSC SL's?

Nothing. Until you wreck and take out a spoke or bend a rim

I believe they are about the same weight (about 1600g), but much more aero.

They're actually about 1700 grams.

They more than make up for it in the aero department, especially when compared to ksyriums.

Sean of Soul, can built a set of 30mm wheels with bladed spokes for about 1400 grams at the same price as the 4.0s. If I'm not broke, I might get a set of these in the spring after selling off my neuvations. Anyone want em? haha.

His lightest wheels are 1300 grams and I think the additional depth (~8mm) might make up the 100g weight difference for 'climbing'/light wheels.

The poor-man's race wheels are the bikesdirect groupbuy carbon wheels.

Keep the SLs until you get to Cat 4 (or 3).
If you want to upgrade; build a set of wheels with DT Swiss bits: 240s hubs, RR 1.2s and Aerolites -- 20 front radial, 24 rear, two-cross.

because the category you race in dictates what wheelset you can own.

I rode 58mm carbon tubulars as a 5, and I ride the same wheels as a 3. OH EM GEE.

because the category you race in dictates what wheelset you can own.

I rode 58mm carbon tubulars as a 5, and I ride the same wheels as a 3. OH EM GEE.

I think he was advising that he should save his money until the competition dictates that he should be using certain wheels.

The Ksyriums are more than enough for racing. People here would laugh if they saw my aluminum race wheels. The decals on the front Fulcrum are mostly ripped off by rocks, and the rear PTap/DT has 3 dents in the rim.

because the category you race in dictates what wheelset you can own.

I rode 58mm carbon tubulars as a 5, and I ride the same wheels as a 3. OH EM GEE.

Ride what you like, but if I had a $1000 lying around, I'd use it to buy a powertap rather than a set of carbon hoops (and this is, in fact, what I did just recently to get ready for next season). If you have enough for both, then by all means.

The poor-man's race wheels are the bikesdirect groupbuy carbon wheels.
That's rich to me.

I think he was advising that he should save his money until the competition dictates that he should be using certain wheels.

The Ksyriums are more than enough for racing. People here would laugh if they saw my aluminum race wheels. The decals on the front Fulcrum are mostly ripped off by rocks, and the rear PTap/DT has 3 dents in the rim.

Inspiring botto's famous "it's a tool not a jewel" quip regarding equipment.

Way to be.

Inspiring botto's famous "it's a tool not a jewel" quip regarding equipment.

Way to be.

until 3 years ago, my race wheels were Ultegra/OPs with a radially laced front wheel.

then i got some KSLs, and felt super fancy.

i wonder what next season will be like, now that i have some deep rim CF wheels. :innocent:

until 3 years ago, my race wheels were Ultegra/OPs with a radially laced front wheel.

then i got some KSLs, and felt super fancy.

i wonder what next season will be like, now that i have some deep rim CF wheels. :innocent:
If it's anything like my junior racing career, you will get slower. My fastest season was on a set of Dura Ace hubs laced to 32h Sun Mistral rims. Then I got a front Shamal (when they were aluminum) and got slower. Then I built up a pair of Deep V rims to White Industry hubs with 28 double butted spokes, and I kept going off the back. Have I learned my lesson? Nope!

My best races were on D/A 32 hole hubs laced with 14/15 db butted spokes on Mavic open pro rims. The key was the using lightweight race only Conti GP Supersonic tires with lightweight tubes. I also had good results on Spinergy Rev-X wheels too. Go figure.

My "poor man's" race wheels were Aksiums, and I was okay with those. If anything, it showed me that I needed more physical training and the components didn't matter as much as my fitness did.

Let me clarify in saying that I got my SL's used, and I am poor (student.)

I'm a Cat 4/collegiate B. I'll probably keep the ksyriums. I need to work on training anyway, I haven't been doing anything lately.

Yeah, and here I was thinking that the Ksryium SL was the poor man's race wheel

If you're investing $800 in anything with a Mavic freehub body, you're not exactly poor in anything other than common sense. There are tons of ways to get a better all around wheel for a lot less.

does anyone pay retail for mavic wheels?

My 'poor man's race wheels' are ksyrium elites. they replaced some ultegra/OP's for no good reason.

combined investment in BOTH sets of wheels = $300

There you go.

Sturdier than box sections, and a bit more aero to boot. Plus they're better for CX.

1. DT RR 1.2
That's what I usually race on: 32-spoke DT RR 1.2s, with 9sp Dura-Ace and Ultegra hubs (I have four sets of them). I also have a pair of Token C50As and a pair Flash-Point FP60s, but I usually use the DTs, because they're stiffer (which makes them seem to accelerate better out of corners), brake better, seem to corner better, handle twice as good in the wind (especially on open circuits), and also seem to hold speed better. Maybe if I did longer road races I'd use the Tokens more.

does anyone pay retail for mavic wheels?

My 'poor man's race wheels' are ksyrium elites. they replaced some ultegra/OP's for no good reason.

combined investment in BOTH sets of wheels = $300

I think the retail price of SL's is about $1000 and I usually see them going for around $800-900 on the internet. So people might not pay retail but they do pay a stupid amount of money. Someone bought my ES's on Ebay for like $750.

Anyway, point is: poor men don't have 'race wheels.'

What do you Mavic haters think of this wheel? (http://http://www.excelsports.com/new.asp?page=8&description=Swiss+Threat+Rear+Wheel+Shimano&vendorCode=EXCEL&major=1&minor=24)

http://www.excelsports.com/image/Excel%20Sports%20Swiss%20Threat%20Rear%20Wheel%20Shimano.jpg

What do you Mavic haters think of this wheel? (http://http://www.excelsports.com/new.asp?page=8&description=Swiss+Threat+Rear+Wheel+Shimano&vendorCode=EXCEL&major=1&minor=24)

http://www.excelsports.com/image/Excel%20Sports%20Swiss%20Threat%20Rear%20Wheel%20Shimano.jpg

Get the 1.2, not the 1.1.

Ultegra hubs, CXP33 rims, laced with DT Revolution spokes (28 front, 32 rear), radial on the front, 3X on the non drive side and 2X DT Competition on the drive side. Stiffer than godzilla's erection, bombproof, and light. Reasonably aero as well.

How about some williams cycling 19s or 30s. Good price and "hybrid ceramic bearings" :0 www.williamscycling.com (http://www.williamscycling.com). They have also been reviewed at www.testrider.com (http://www.testrider.com) if you are interested. I've been thinking about the 19s with powertap personally.

Is anyone riding Williams Cycling wheels? The 30mm alloy clincher (http://www.williamscycling.com/williams/sys30/sys30.html)looks like a pretty good deal to me.



http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/CalOso/williams30.jpg

I currently have a pair of Ksyrium SSC SL's. I am considering selling them and buying a set of Soul S4.0's. Races will be crits and RRs, mostly flat. Thoughts? Is it worth it at all from an aero perspective? I'll lose some money in the deal, so if there isn't a distinct advantage to the Souls I won't do it.

The title of the thread is Poor man's race wheels. The answer to the question is "your training wheels." If you are worried in the least about money, a second set of wheels is far from the answer. Get more wheels when you have the cash. Wheels are one of the most expensive ways to gain any type of advantage.

I think a good deal for a 'poor man's race wheels' are the soul 4.0s.

My set just got in, and they're going to be nice for race only applications.

I think a good deal for a 'poor man's race wheels' are the soul 4.0s.

My set just got in, and they're going to be nice for race only applications.

are you going to put dedicated race tires/cassette on there as well? if so, what?

are you going to put dedicated race tires/cassette on there as well? if so, what?

I was thinking light tube/pr3's/ultegra cassette. BUT! I have 4 rubino pro's that I bought when they were like 15 bucks a tire. So I'll probably use those for now. My 'race only' wheels might even have a yellow set that doesn't match.

I have a 105 cassette on my training/trainer wheel and it looks like it could use a new cassette, but I'll make it last one more year since I rarely use it on the road. It doesn't really look too bad though.

Ordered an ultegra cassette (and sunglasses) from pbk last night, and I'm a little annoyed. Their prices dropped 3 bucks to the following day, and now they have free sunglasses when you spend more than 75 bucks. I could have bought two cassettes and had a free pair of sunglasses...

The glasses wouldn't have been my first pick, but they're free so I wouldn't have had any complaints.

Bleh.

http://revolutioncycles.com/images/library/large/bon_wh_265266_06_m.jpg
Bontrager Selects: 1800+ grams of pure racing sexiness!

All joking aside, those are the wheels I own, race, train, do everything on. I'm a Cat4, when I feel like my wheels are responsible for me losing races, I'll let you know.

I was thinking light tube/pr3's/ultegra cassette. BUT! I have 4 rubino pro's that I bought when they were like 15 bucks a tire. So I'll probably use those for now. My 'race only' wheels might even have a yellow set that doesn't match.

I have a 105 cassette on my training/trainer wheel and it looks like it could use a new cassette, but I'll make it last one more year since I rarely use it on the road. It doesn't really look too bad though.

Ordered an ultegra cassette (and sunglasses) from pbk last night, and I'm a little annoyed. Their prices dropped 3 bucks to the following day, and now they have free sunglasses when you spend more than 75 bucks. I could have bought two cassettes and had a free pair of sunglasses...

The glasses wouldn't have been my first pick, but they're free so I wouldn't have had any complaints.

Bleh.

the pbk thing was nice. i ordered a jacket, gloves, leg warmers, two conti ultra sport tires (good for trainer/commuter, etc) and the free glasses for $85 shipped.

btw, I honestly wouldn't run ultra-light tubes on a race bike. it's a personal preference thing, but unless it's a crit (where you're not climbing anyway) a flat is effectively the end of the race for you. The weight diff is negligible, but if you flat it's hard to argue that effect isn't neg.