drell

I'm currently running zipp 404 clinchers and race xlite wheelsets but am to do a couple of big climbs this year (mt. mitchell, california death ride) and am thinking of getting another wheelset for climbing. What would be good to help me get to the tops of the peaks and also be good to do some training on as well? I'm a 6' 180# rider on Shimano components. Thanks for the help!

sbxx1985 

Are the 404s holding you back?

icyclist 

Mavic Elites worked well for me on the Death Ride.

icyclist 

"Are the 404s holding you back?"

Maybe the OP thinks the 404's aero design will look a little Fredish on a ride where aerodynamics don't come into play.

55/Rad

Open Pros w/Ultegra hubs.

drell

I love my 404s but wonder if a lighter set would do me better on the climbs (espec the Death Ride). Mitchell's climb is mainly at the end, so I'd probably save more energy in the long run on that one with the Zipps.

I don't think I'll be pushing my gears enough to get the aero advantage of the Zipps on the Death Ride's mountain passes, but there's still plenty of time to do lots of leg presses.

I'll check out the Mavic Elites. Do you think there would be enough of a difference in energy savings to justify a new wheelset?

55/Rad

Over the 404''s or the Race X-Lites? No.

I'd ride the race x-lites for the death ride. You can find lighter but not by much and the cost could be close to what a set of 404's are.

55/Rad

Brian Ratliff

As a 5' 11" 180lb rider myself, I can tell you that no amount of fancy wheelsets will get you up the hill significantly faster than you already are. The few grams of here and there are just not very significant compared to nearly 200lbs of bike and rider. Also, most light weight climbing wheels have rider weight limits that, while not unsafe for guys like us, will tend to not last very long.

drell

The RXL set is pretty light but I'm having trouble keeping the spoke tension up on them and they creak so badly after a few hundred miles that others think my bike is falling apart. The Trek LBS says they're fine and the non-Trek LBS says they are (insert whatever derogatory word you want). I may just get the RXL relaced and go with those, but I was really hoping for some good support to get a new set of wheels - haha. Thanks for the quick responses and keep them coming!

grwoolf

I just picked up another open pro/ultegra front with double butted spokes for under $100. They are on sale right now at Performance (plus you get 10% back in credit). I've had a set from Performance for a little over a year (paid under $200 for the pair) and they have stayed perfectly true after about 7,000 miles.

They aren't anything special, but it's hard to beat them for the price.

Treefox

HED Stalingrad.

Carbon Unit

It depends on your budget. Topolinos weigh 1360 grams and will have no problem with your weight. They are very comfortable on long rides too. They down side is that if you break them, they will need to go back to the manufacturer to be repaired.

https://www.topolinotech.com/

Looigi

IMO, they may be a bit heavy and they may not be pretty, but those sand cast iron hubs and rims really stand up to abuse, if a bit susceptible to rusting.

(I understand some of the iron may be recycled from Chernobyl, so be sure to check them with a Geiger counter before purchase.)

wrr1020

Blackset race ten wheelset from bicycle wheel warehouse is a pretty good option. 1451 grams for the set and are very good wheels. I've put about 1,000 miles on mine and are still as true as the day i received them. Not a fancy high end wheelset by any means but they get the job done and are very light. I shaved 1.8 pounds off my Trek by upgrading to these from the heavy bontrager wheels i had on before. I'm only 145 pounds so i don't know how they'll hold up to heavier riders, page says not recommended for riders over 195.

https://bicyclewheelwarehouse.com/roa...g/prod_34.html

ericm979

Losing 1 lb off your bike+body will save you about 2 minutes on the Death Ride.

But it's not a race, so 2 minutes is nothing. I'd just use the 404s, assuming they are the clinchers with aluminum brake tracks- carbon can overheat on descents if you brake too much.

thesmoothdome

So losing 30 lbs will save you an hour. Hmmmm. Not a bad trade for 2 months of diet and training .

Seriously, there's not much of an answer. I'm running Soul 2.0s Xperts which weigh in around 1470 grams. Great climbing wheels. A little flexy under stress, but good and reasonably priced. My rear hub just failed and Sean is building me a new set of Soul 2.0s with the narrower spokes and newly designed rear hub (a bit thicker than the previous hub). Should weigh in under 1400g.

I'm also having a local LBS build me a set of Stan's NoTube Alpha 340s rims (28 hole F and R) with a Chris King front hub, Sapaim CX-ray spokes and a Powertap Pro+ rear hub. This set should weigh in around 1550g.

I'm going to be riding the Death Ride as well and have a feeling that I'll be on the Stan's for that even though I think both will do the job.