asrubins

I' started riding about 14 months ago and am realy getting into this - doing 50 to 60 miles once a week now, weather permitting... on some pretty hilly rides in North West England.

I'm Riding a Trek 2000, with Shimano Ultegra Double a 12-27 cassette and Bontrager Race wheels.

I realy hate the wheels ... heavy and the front has flex when I'm standing climbing and a little squirrely on the steeper descents (though maybe I have dodgy technique)

Suggestions please for a better pair of affordable wheels please. I was thinking of maybe the Xero Tarmac or Ksyrium Elites or Easton Circuits or similar. Xeros look best value for money .... whadya think ??

elemental

Strong, Light, Cheap. Pick Two.

Though this is the old adage, there are some wheelsets that are a better value than others. Some will recommend handbuilt wheels, which are good if you have a good idea of what you want, but it looks like you're into premade wheelsets. I have a friend who has a Trek 1500 that came with Bontrager Selects, which are cheap, flexy, and heavy. He is 190+ pounds and very strong (a swimmer), and his second rear wheel literally exploded under him when he stood up for a sprint (well, some spokes flew off). He finally decided to upgrade and, since we are poor college students, went with a Neuvation wheelset (https://neuvationcycling.com). He got the M28 Aero2s, which he says are immeasurably stiffer and have yet to go out of true whatsoever. They are not the lightest wheels on the market, but definitely strong and cheap. For a little more money, either of the R28s should be nice as well. For $269-$349, they are tough to beat. I think the M28s are the strongest and heaviest (but if my friend can't even take them out of true, I'm impressed), the R28 Aero3s are a little lighter but pricier, and the R28 SL3s are the lightest perhaps at the expense of some strength.

Neuvations are pretty divisive, as some love them and have owned multiple sets while others have had problems or just hate them. This is simply my advice.

Oh, I'm also ordering some SL3s this winter, as if you didn't already know I have a bias.

elemental

How much do you weigh?

asrubins

Thanks for the feedback --->>>
But .... Neuvation don't supply in the UK and won't ship here. Though I had a look at reviews and feedback and they seem like they are "the business"

asrubins

I'm 91kg in new money and ermmm 200ish pounds in old money (i think)

pharmboyrx

I wouldn't buy Xeros. They are flexy as hell. The Ksyrium Elites have a reputation for being well made bomb proof wheels. They will last a lot longer.

asrubins

Appreciate the advice pharmboyrx - Do you know if the flex issue the same with all Xeros ??

I thought of the Xero Tarmacs as they have a higher spoke count than the XR1s

cons

What is your price range? I currently have bontrager aeros. They are fast, bomb proof but very heavy.
Heavy is a relative term as well. I think 1000g is considered lightweight and extremly expensive.

A LBS let me try a pair of Mavic Rsys, extremely cool, bullet proof but expensive.

I was looking at wheelsets made of magnesium. Does anyone have experience? This material may be your answer as well

MIN 

1000g wheelset is super-exotic territory, Neophyte.

wanders

+1 on the Elites. I'm a couple dozen donuts north of 200 lbs and have never noticed any flex.

MIN 

LOL @ donuts. These are indeed strong, stiff rims. About 1850 grams.

asrubins

I was thinking of between 1550g and 1650g and as for price, they are more expensive over here. To give you some benchmark, for the wheelsets here in UK

Xero tarmac approx $450
Ksyrium Elites approx $600
Reynolds Sollitude approx $650
R-Sys are a crazy $1500+

so I'm looking at the $450 to $600ish range might stretch to $650

HillMut

Ksyrium Elites are very good all purpose wheels regardless of price.

MIN 

Does Performance Bikes ship to UK? My buddy got Mavic Ksryium SL3 on the cheap from them and that's in your price and weight range.

HillMut

In that price range, check out your options for a handbuilt set of wheels if you know a wheel builder w/ a good reputation. You'd be suprised what you can do for that price.
You should be able to stay lighter or within your weight range with better parts that are easily availible if you need to repair/replace. Despite how popular the ksyrium wheels are a lot of shops I've been to do not stock the spokes/nipples, they also require a special tool to true the wheels (although they come with it).

pharmboyrx

A wheelbuilder might be able to make something that would suit your needs. Mike Garcia at https://www.oddsandendos.com seems to have a good reputation for building good wheels, and most of his wheelsets are 1400-1600g. Not to mention, they are customizable so you can go for uber blingage by color matching everything to your bike.

asrubins

Yep, they ship to the UK and I got excited ... BUT then I looked on the UK government's website.... if I import them from the USA, I have to pay taxes:

VAT @ (17.5%) and
Duty @ (minimum 3.5% could be more depending on classification nd value)

so 21% minimum, plus shipping means that we're back to the UK pricing - might as well get them from a LBS

Guys, i realy do appreciate all the advice - keep it coming

asrubins

Took your advice and am having a set made by a very well respected and recommended wheelbuilder (Paul Hewitt) here in North West England

Gone for Openpros with DT Aero spokes (32r, 28f) and a Dura Ace Hub


Will let you know what I think of them

Thanks for the advice

Lyk2Byk

Ksyrium Elites are nice but American Classic Hurricanes are 1480grams and are for heavy riders and they are bullet proof!!

balsingh

I train on Mavic OpenPros, and have toured on them as well. I love them. They're strong, lightweight, and an overall reliable and worry-free wheel-set. Good combo w/ Dura-Ace hubs. That's my vote.

anomaly

Ultegra laced to Open Pro, accept no substitutes.

GatorFL

I think Dura Ace is a pretty decent substitute. I think this guy's done well.

h2o_polo_boi

+1 on the Open Pros with Ultegra hubs. never had to true them, good on climbs and stable on 51+ mph descents. Not sure about the dura ace ones. What spoke counts are you guys using? I'm using 32H and was wondering how much weight i would save if i went down spoke counts.

PhilThee

That's the setup that is tried and true. They aren't that light.
Ultegra hubs are a better training hub as far as wear is concerned and Performance often has them on sale. I have a pair that I purchased from them and it cost me less than 200 bucks.
https://www.roadbikereview.com/cat/wh...3_2490crx.aspx


You might also want to consider Easton Circuits.
They have been a popular training wheel for a few years now and they aren't that heavy. I'm not sure about how much rider weight they will handle.
https://www.roadbikereview.com/cat/wh...0_2490crx.aspx


Either way check out the reviews on the both of them.

anomaly

The price difference just doesn't justify the slight performance increase.