Road Cycling - New Wheels?

I keep on popping my rear spoke so I went to my LBS where I bought my LeMond from last year and they recomended that I get some new wheels. The ones that came with my LeMond (Matrix Aurora) are the bottom of the line and since I am riding better and more frequent, the offered to build me a set for about $400. They suggested Velomax (no model yet) and I was wondering what anyone thought of them :o
I have a MS150 in September and new lighter wheels would be perfect for that ride :D
Any suggestions :)

How many miles did you have on those wheels?

I bought machine built Mavic Open Pros with Ultegra hubs a few months back and they're still solid and true after 1400 miles. I'm very happy with 'em. I bought 'em at Performance for ~$200.

Just FYI.

I'v just put 1200 miles on them this week, he said he could re-build them but I like the idea of lighter (and new) wheels.
If I bought the rims, spokes and hubs, do you think it would be cheaper for the LBS to build them?

you rode 1200 miles this week?

i'd buy a new set of prebuilts wheels.

for standard road wheels, my money is on bontrager race lights or x-lights now.

my opinion of ksyriums sours with each passing mile.

if you've got the money and know someone who can really build great wheels, then handbuilt is the way to go. As for buying the stuff, like online, and then having the LBS do it, well, I think they'd be annoyed you didn't buy the parts from them. Developing a positive relationship with your lbs has benefits that might save you money over time.

And the cheap wheels that came with my bike lasted about as long.

1200 miles this week - wow that's great. 200 miles per day with one day off is amazing.

With that kind of commitment, you deserve the best you can afford. $400 will buy a lot of wheel. Velomax are very good but depending on the model, it's tough to say if it's a good deal.

55/Rad

uhh, I'm pretty sure he means that this week, his cyclometer hit 1200 miles :p

My 32-spoke Matrix Aurora rims with Tiagra hubs have been bomb-proof. I've put over 3000 miles on them over New England roads under a 185-lb rider. You probably just need to have the spokes re-tensioned. But if you're going to blow $400 on a set of wheels, you may as well blow $500 on some Open Pros with CK hubs. They should be super-light with double-butted spokes and alloy nipples. You should either let your LBS build them for you or get them pre-built from Coloradocyclist.com. Don't get the parts yourself and ask your shop to put them together.

oops :p sorry, (I wish I could do that) I have 2400 miles up to now. this is the 6th spoke that has gone in the last month. LBS say's they are not made to last very long. The owner of the store say's he will give me 3 types to choose from, I'll let you know what I picked on Saturday when I go up there

I second the notion that for that amount of cash you should be looking at quality hand build wheels with double butted spokes, etc. I had trouble with my rear wheel popping spokes; not too surprising since they were cheap wheels and I'm commuting over pretty bad roads with a laptop, change of clothes, etc. I had the rear rebuilt on the existing hub with open pro rims, alloy nipples and double butted spokes. Problem solved.

Edit: cost of the rebuilt wheel/new rim: $120.

My Lemond came with Alex AT450's as stock. I have been breaking spokes since week 1. Every ride, I bust atleast 1 spoke. I weigh 240 lbs, and everyone says that is why. But one shop owner told me it's because of the cheap hubs that Alex/Trek used on the rims.
I bought a handmade set of Matrix Aurora's. The stringer used Shimano Ultegra hubs and the front has 30 spokes (no cross pattern) and rear has 32 spokes 1 cross pattern. I have not used them yet, but he assures me that they will stand up.