My first road bike was a Giant OCR3 and about 6 months in I was thinking about going back to MTB's.The ride was taking a lot more energy than I thought it would and the bike was not taking corners or downhills at speed. I had a hill that I went for and got to 30 mph and had to steer round the curve. Problem is the MTB's with knobblies got to 37 mph and the corner was just a bit more lean over.

Had a chat with the LBS and they loaned me a set of respectable wheels. They transformed the bike. It handles at speed- took corners and downhills were faster than on the MTB. Had a chat with them and they built me a set of Handbuilts. Mavic CXP 33 rims- 36 double butted spokes onto 105 hubs. Basically a training wheel that is bombproof. Weight was 1660 grammes and fitted Michelin PR 2's in 23. Ride average speed went up- confidence went up and the grin widened.

These training wheels- and various combinations of them- are what a lot of riders use to save the very expensive wheels that they normally use. They are bombproof and they do improve over a stock wheel. Later on I got a set of Aksium wheels and although they are a bit heavier- they are just as good.

I weigh 150 lbs and also ride a set of Ultegra wheels- Good wheels but I can't tell the difference between them and the Handbuilts. Except that Ultegras and Mavic will take it out of me after about 60 miles- They can give a harsh ride- The handbuilts have a different spoke pattern (Called lacing) and are more comfotable after lots of miles.