I have to go with Stapfam here and say any improvement over stock wheels will be noticed way more than Shifters. Cranks, bars or derailleurs. Most of the wheels mentioned are an improvement over RS-10s Even the older RS-20 or 550 Shimano worked better and were about the same wright as the Aksiums. I have two sets of Aksiums as back up however. Plus a set of CPx22 and two sets of hand builts. If I were going to do it all over again I think all my wheels would be hand builts. But that is besides the point. Nothing you will ever put on your bike will change the feel in how it rides as new, light weight, wheels.