Originally Posted by
Rocknificent
Are all 700c wheels ridiculously expensive? On jensonUSA, the cheapest wheel was $88, for a single wheel
Considering a bare rim generally sells for $50-80, $88 for a fully assembled wheel is pretty good.
Originally Posted by
Rocknificent
Are the nicer wheels that cost upwards of $400 near-bombproof?
No, they're usually just lighter.
Originally Posted by
Rocknificent
I'm new to road biking, but crashed semi-frequently on my mountain bike, bending my cheap no-name steel front wheel twice. But those cost nowhere near what a road bike wheel does.
You shouldn't be crashing as much on a road bike. The surface is smoother and more predictable, and crashing hurts more anyway. I don't even think they sell steel road bike wheels anymore, and I'm surprised you haven't gone to a quality "all mountain" alloy rim for your mountain bike yet.