Originally Posted by
bikerjp
I didn't read all this, but just wondering if you've come to any conclusion yet. Maybe a summary post regarding each set of wheels and your final thoughts - when you get there that is. I have no idea how long this is supposed to go on. Thanks for the info though.
In particular, one of the early sets you rode had CK hubs and H Plus Son rims. I was thinking of getting some carbon wheels but starting to think that's not the best idea. A really nice set of alloy might be the best option. Would like to know what makes an enve a better climbing rim than the H Plus Son. Stiffer? I'd likely do a 24/28 build. I do have a set with C2 rims and CK hubs with 32 spokes on the rear. Can't say I've ever noticed any flex in those but then I don't have much experience with other wheels. My other bike has kinlin 300 rims with 24/28 and I do notice the occasional brake rub when climbing.
What is the C2 build you are going to pursue and what beside price was the deciding factor(s)? Sorry if you addressed this already (post #?). It's a lot to skim through.
I road the enve carbon 45's today. half of it was in the rain and i didn't feel that it was dangerous. I did have to make minor adjustments to brake in time. I think that if you aware of the precautions needed, carbon wheels will be just fine.
In short, Before coming into this process I had it all backwards. More than backwards, my expectations out of a wheel just couldn't happen. I wanted it ALL in one wheel and some of the things I wanted were contradicting. I wanted it UBER light but aero, durable and would last me a long time, stiff, brand name, look good, great hubs and all for as cheap as I could find it. Now that I have figured out a little more, i realize that I cant have it all and more important, some of the things I found to be most important were in fact not.
The H plus son with CK hubs was a great wheel. I loved every part except climbing. I still dont know why because I later found out that they weren't much heavier than my boyds I was using. Since I was doing it blind without any information and was asked not to research the wheels I would be testing I had to go strictly off of feel. When I rode them, they felt heavy. that was my perception. I think I guessedt they were around 1750g when in fact they were around 1580 or something. Rode the Velocity A23 next and it felt lighter even though it was a 32/32 spoke wheel and was only 40g lighter than the H plus sons. regardless, i felt they climbed better or easier than the H plus son.
Im going to go for the C2 rim with super sapim spokes. still dont know yet if I'm going to do a 24/24 or 24/28, but will go with a chris king r45 hub. (the sound seems to have grown on me with the enve set) The thing is i haven't test ridden this wheel in any kind of variation of spoke count or anything, but I have kept very good communication with my wheel builder. She has taken my feedback and has put together a suggestion of a build that she knows i will be happy with. We had long conversations about what I want out of a wheel, what I liked and didn't like about each set. She is very well aware that I'm looking for a lighter set but with my new experience am more open minded to having a set that isn't uber light because I have seen the performance of a well built set with good components. Through this process I have learned to trust her. She is an expert and i am not. She has taken note on what i want and has lead me down this road. The feedback i have received from members on the forum of those who have this wheelset have assured me that I am making a great choice.