gw280

So I'm looking at maybe buying a new set of clinchers over the winter in preparation for next year.

Currently I'm looking at the Easton EA90SL, Campagnolo Zonda and Campagnolo Eurus wheelsets. Can anyone give any info on each?

I'm currently around 200lbs but I'm hoping to shed down to about 170-180 or so by the start of the good weather next year. I ride Shimano 7900 if that makes any difference.

tx_newbie

I have the Campy Zondas, which I think are a very reasonable wheelset for training and racing. Overall very similar to the Eurus but cheaper by a few hundred $$$; abit heavier (but still around the 1600g mark, which is fine for my 150 lb carcass). I think they use a steel free hub (vs. the Eurus, which uses an aluminum free hub, I think). Spin up and roll well. Very durable for the cracked asphalt, chipseal, and potholes of SW Houston. My only qualm is that you can't lace a PT to these rims, as they use the G3 lacing system.

ilovecycling

Dura-Ace c24 clinchers

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gw280

The Eurus wheels are $200 cheaper than those Dura-Ace clinchers. Are they worth an extra $200?

ilovecycling

Hell yes. IMHO, aluminum clinchers don't get better than this for the money. 1380 grams, strong as hell, and they ride like a magic carpet. I love mine even though they are somewhat out of place on my SRAM Red equipped bike.

nhluhr

I have to give another +1 to the DuraAce C24 clinchers. I am 190lbs and love mine. Mine have about 1800mi on them now and are still true. I also actually like the near-silent freehub although it means I have to be more vigilant about letting people know I'm passing on the parts of the MUP I use to get to/from other rides.

thirdgenbird

in a test a while bike Eurus wheels were not among the lightest, they were not among the most aero, but they were the stiffest and that includes almost all of the high dollar carbon and alloy wheels.

i love my set. last summer i ran across a guy that did self supported touring all over the county. he said eurus wheels were among the had ever owned.

cuda2k

I've heard way too much about Easton wheels popping spokes. Including a brand new set popping a spoke on a rider on my club ride 2 weeks ago. I'm a bit partial to Campy / Fulcrum wheels as I have a pair and 99% of everything I've heard about them has been positive. I am considering going with a set of ROL Race SL or SLR wheels for my new ride in the spring though. Worth checking out, run the mid $600's as far as cost and heard lots of good things about them too.

Smallguy

easton has had some hub issues with the mtb wheels and a buddy of mine had the ea90sl and had hub issues too.

my buddy is over 200 pounds

M_Wales

Have you looked into Williams wheel systems? I've read and heard a lot of good things about them and looking hard at replacing my Eastons with a set of system 30's.

https://williamscycling.com/

gw280

Interesting that the Eastons are known for busting spokes. I have a pair of EC90SL tubs that haven't busted yet. Should I be worried? I've only done a few hundred miles on them so far, if that. I guess I should rule out the EA90SL clinchers then!

I think I'm primarily after a stiff, bomb-proof wheel that's relatively light (maybe 1400-1500g for the set, so not super light) for all-round cycling. I think the Eurus, C24s and those Williams System 30s would fit the bill. Anyone got any insight on the relative robustness of each of these wheels?

sbxx1985 

Eurus. Had mine since 2005. Given the other options you're considering, I think it's an easy choice.

gw280

OK, anyone got any recommendations on what a good price on the Eurus set would be and where to get them from? Shinybikes.com in the UK is selling them for about 425 GBP (~680 dollars), and do I go for the 2-way fit or just the normal ones?

ilovecycling

I can't speak for the Eurus or Williams wheels, but like nhluhr said, the Dura-Ace c24s are unbelievably strong and durable for how lightweight they are. No 1380 gram clincher should be this durable. I've hit so many massive potholes with mine that have almost thrown my hands off the bars and the wheels are still perfectly true. Keep in mind I'm 185 lbs. I can't say the same for my Reynolds mv32c UL carbon clinchers. Those had a higher spoke count and went out of true after only a few rides. The MSRP was also double that of the c24s (although I got them for 50% off). Again, IMHO the DA c24 wheelset is by far the most underrated and best value wheelset money can buy. Stiff, "bomb-proof", and 1380 grams shouldn't coexist, but Shimano found a way to do it.

nhluhr

Obviously "Bomb proof" is a relative term in lightweight factory-built clincher wheelsets but I totally agree. Roads here include countless expansion joints and cracks, not to mention the abusive MUPs I use for transit between better sections of road and I've put these wheels through hell.

ilovecycling

That's why I put it in quotes.