jpearl

Performance has these for $200 a set (Mavic Open clinchers in silver / 32 holes with DT spokes / Ultegra hubs). Does anyone have a wheelset with any or all of these components? If so, how tough are they, how light, how well do they stay true, and are they a good race and hard-ride wheelset?

I'm looking to lop some weight off of my Cannondale Cyclocross 2005 (no disc), and replacing the uber-heavy, yet very strong Gipiemme T2 wheelset seems a good place to start for me.

jeremyb

the op/ults are a good wheelset for training but......if you want to drop weight, go tubulars. they ride better, theyre lighter, theyre better. And keep your current wheels for training on.

thats my suggestion...

jeremy

williumbillium

ultegra / open pros are a good strong choice if you're looking for a clincher training wheelset but i'd recommend tubulars for racing. also, there's a reason that wheelset is $200. it's machine built and uses straight guage spokes. i think that wheelset weighs in at around 1800-1900gr which probably isn't much lighter than your current wheelset. you'd be better off having a shop build you a tubular set with butted spokes that way they'll be 200-300gr lighter and you won't have to drop another $40-50 down the line to true the wheels when the spokes settle in.

jpearl

Thanks for the replies. When I saw these wheels, I figured it was not only an inexspensive way to knock some weight off my bike, but with 32 spokes, would also smooth out the ride a bit. I want to go with clinchers because I'm just not able to fumble with the maintainence right now. I doubt I will be racing these wheels (If I do race, the Gipiemmes would be my race wheels), more likely I'll be doing rides that involve rough pavement, unpaved surfaces, some trail riding, and general fumbling around.

Also, while I'd prefer to credit card a much lighter bike (worthy of jeremyb's excellent blog "plus one lap" peerhaps), my wife keeps bugging me about stuff like family, car, and house. Looks like the carbon CX bike is gonna have to wait, but if I can hit 20lbs on my Cannondale without hitting the bottom of my wallet, I'll be a happy camper.

endform

It's not really gonna drop a lot of weight off (if any, I can't say cause I don't know that other wheelset), but they'd make a nice training set or just all around set of wheels, but only if you made sure to get them totally retensioned by a local bike shop.

phillybill

I brought a pair of them from Performance last year. I have not had any trouble with mine. Despite the fact that they are machine built, I have had good results with them as every days wheels for training/race . I did have to retension them, but they are solidly built. But they could be lighter and as everyone else has suggested, using tubulars will give you a lighter and more durable performane for the race. Of course as the wife is giving you a bit of grief, you could do what I do and use the TUFO clinchers on race day.

Portis

I have these on order from Performance. Should be here this week. I will be installing them on my Trek 1000 roadbike. Many suggest that they arent a worthwhile upgrade because of weight. I disagree. I will be replacing a set of Alex 450 wheels that came stock on the bike. The hub is a promax of questionable quality.

I bought the open pro/ultegra set because i like to have decent hubs and rims. I don't care how much they weigh, I know at the least that the hubs are better.

ohplease

Just bought a set. The spoke tension was very even, the wheels were dead true on my stand, and the spokes are indeed butted. They are NOT straight gauge. Hubs are Ultegra 6600 (10 speed) series.

I got them because I live and ride in a semi-industrial area - lots of debris, potholes, trainstracks, etc. with occasional stretches of nice pavement. Pretty, radially laced lightweights need not apply.

Fantastic value, overall.

squirt

I bought mine from Performance for $150 or so a few months back. I race/train, do everything with them. I retentioned them after a 100 miles or so and they've been fine. The older Open Pros were notorious for clicking, but these seem to be OK.

jpearl

My Gippiemme T3 wheelset weighs in at (I hope you're all sitting down) 2335 grams according to weight weenies. Does anybody know the exact weight of the Mavic/Ultegra wheelset?

williumbillium

that's nice they use butted spokes. i really wasn't expecting that at that price.

open pros/ultegra hubs with revs and al nipples is 1682 according to WW. i'd say with dt competitions or equivalent you'd be adding 115gr to that and 40gr for brass nipples if they aren't alloy. so probably just under 1800 or 1835gr depednign on the nipples. looks like you are saving over a pound of weight anyway!

zfeldman

I recently e-mailed performance about this wheelset and they said it came with 14/15 butted spokes.
But, unless you have a discount colorado cyclist said they could build them up for only about $40 more when shipping is taken into consideration. They also seemed happy to let you choose spoke count options and spoke weight (I think they said about $10 added for 14/15 and about $24 for 14/17).