bobhorseshoe

Hey folks,
I need some advice on purchasing a new wheelset. I have gotten back into road cycling recently and want to make an upgrade to my bike that will improve performance.

I ride a 2003 steel Specialized Allez with the original Ultegra group and Shimano WHR 540 wheels. I love the bike, it still rides well and is in great condition. I eventually wanna buy a carbon frame and new component group, but figure upgrading the wheels would be the best place to start since my current wheel set is over 1900g.

I am considering saving up and buying a HED Ardennes SL Plus wheel set or a Dura Ace C24 wheel set (both are around $1000), but am wondering if that's overkill. Would appreciate any advice. Also, if you know so more wallet friendly options I would appreciate those as well.

I ride around 120 miles a week in Austin, TX so there's plenty of climbing. Also, I weigh 190 lbs.

rms13

Yes it's overkill. I bought Vuelata Corsa Lite wheels for $220 new and they are about 1570g. There are a lot of nice wheels for under $500.

heffdiddy

If you live in Austin you should check out Rol Wheels. I do not have any experience with them but they seem to be very good.

IcySmooth52

I would actually say, go for the Dura-Ace. Maybe a lot more for less weight savings, but it'll last 1000% longer and handle soooooo much better. (Weight isn't the only performance in a wheelset)

dtrain

I'd go a touch cheaper for factory built wheels. Fulcrum 7 or 5 maybe. If you want to drop some serious money now (for wheels worthy of a new frame), consider 11-speed compatibility, maybe tubeless, and hand-built.
Like these:
Pacenti SL23 DT Swiss 240s Road Wheelset Tubeless Compatible | eBay

rms13

True but I still think you can get decent Fulcrum or Mavic for $500 and then there is used wheel option. Spending $1000 on wheels if you are not racing seems like overkill to me and spending $1000 on wheels for a bike that is maybe worth $300 is even crazier.

dtrain

+1. The only saving grace would be that wheels can easily 'move along' to that next bike. But $1k wheels on that bike is still nuts.

Fulcrums seem to be a touch cheaper than Mavic. Here are 7's for under $200 shipped:
Fulcrum Racing 7 Wheelset 2014 Clincher | eBay

Bdop's build kit plus a LBS is a nice option as well.

bobhorseshoe

Thanks guys!
I will check out those Fulcrums, there isn't much of a weight saving between those and what i have now, do think you think I'll still notice a upgrade in performance?

dtrain

Beats me. Kinda depends on the condition of your current wheelset (especially the hubs). Fulcrum 5's aren't much more (for more than a 100g savings). Both have a slightly wider rim, which might be a bit more comfortable.

TheRef

I'm also looking to replace the wheels on my Fuji Gran fondo. It came with the Oval 323 and it weights almost 2000 grams.

Any thoughts on Reynolds Solitude?
Performance had it for $399 (20% discount and the 10% performance team member back in points)
I almost pulled the trigger but I chose to wait since I had not done any research on it. I'm pretty sure they will have the 20% sale soon enough.

If not the solitude anything else on this price range I should look for?

weight: 1633g
Reynolds Solitude SE Road Wheelset - Save On Components During National Bike Month___

GaIslander

Bobhorseshoe,

I just sweat through this decision process myself. My Mavic Open Pro CD on DA 7800 hubs finally were ready to go after almost 30,000 miles. You must be about there too. I looked at all those fancy wheels too, the Shimano C24. Saw some good buys on Ebay. In the end, for every day riding, riders should have a 32 h wheel they can true, are strong, ride well, and hold up. Those fancy wheels are fast wheels for that "Special Occasion" and aren't suited to day to day use, abuse? After all that consternation, I went back to another pair of Mavic Open Pro CD's on DA 9000 hubs. Should get another 30,000.

I have a pair of fancy Krysrium SSL's for those "special Occasions" which are still like new. Check out Colorado Cyclist. They have DA 9000 and Mavics on sale at a good price.

Good Luck.

dtrain

Not a bad route either. But I'd go with a wider rim (HED C2, Pacenti, Archetype) and fewer spokes in front.

FIVE ONE SIX

lmao! i run those same exact wheels, that i got for $330 shipped from Performance back in 2008ish, and they still roll like new to this day. granted, i only ride about 1000-1500 miles a year, i can count on one hand how many times i've had to true them and i'm 230 pounds. i personally love them, they roll great and have the quietest freewheel EVER... lol

i agree with the other here though, that you can find PLENTY of really nice wheelsets for under $500. as far as new vs. used, that depends on you, if i was you i would get used if you plan on keeping them on the bike and new if you plan on carrying them over to your next and newer bike...

dvdslw

I wouldn't buy used unless you know the person you're getting them from. There are several lightweight wheel sets out there in the $500-$1,000 price range. I have the Ultegra 6700 Tubeless wheels on my bike and they have been a great set of wheels that handle the stress of my 225lb weight, nice and smooth hubs, 1600 grams, and road tubeless certified to boot. They are spec'd the same as Dura Ace C24 tl's but with an aluminum hub instead of titanium (200g weight increase over DA's). The 6800 11spd wheels can be had for around $500 if you shop around.

canam73

Unfortunately, no. Even with some weight savings you won't notice much difference if your are looking at times.

You might feels some difference pulling away from stop signs. This has been my experience riding and racing on wheels ranging from 1400g carbon tubulars to 2000g 32 spoke mavic/shimanos.

I do like the feel and handling of wider rims ar slightly lowered PSI though and have switched all my wheels that way including a HED laced to a Powertap, so if you make a change I would go that way. But I think you can lower your budget to Boyd Altamonts or one of the Pacenti hand built packages that sell for similar. Or do it yourself with the BDop or bikehubstore kit.

ccblunt

I'd recommend a set of used Rolf Prima Elans. Outstanding wheelset, and one of the very lightest (<1400 gr) alloy production clinchers you can get. I tried a set a few years ago, to see if an upgrade to good-but-on-the-heavy-side wheels really made that much of a difference. I was so impressed, I ended up buying two more sets of Elans for my other bikes. They regularly turn up on eBay for under $400.

roadie276

Check out the Shimano RS80 C24's (and possibly there's a new RS81 C24 wheel coming out soon?):

Product

These have the same spokes and rim from the more expensive Dura Ace C24 wheels (with the cool carbon fiber onlay tech that seems like a cool compromise between pure cf and the braking problems it brings vs. aluminum and the weight it brings) , but have an Ultegra level hub instead of Dura Ace, which is likely still plenty good. The cost is noticeably less and if you're tempted by the Dura Ace C24's but put off by the price, you should check out the RS80 C24's (and maybe the RS81 C24's if those are a thing yet).

Full disclosure: I ordered the RS80 C24's last year, and they came with a slight rear hub problem that my shop noticed during installation. Due to a parts shortage I got upgraded to Dura Ace C24's at no cost by Shimano (no complaints about Shimano's customer support, that's for sure!). The Dura Ace C24's have been great so far.