Originally Posted by
HawkOwl
This reply in another thread makes me wonder just how much value there is in saving weight in wheels.
It is not always the weight saving that makes them better. Most OM wheels are machine built and they are made to a price. Upgrade a bit and better components are used that may be lighter and although they may still be machine built- they are better.
Few years ago and I replaced my Cheap OM wheels on the Giant OCR3 to a set of handbuilts. They transformed the bike. Next bike and a set of Ultegra Wheels that had been detensioned and retrued by hand- Unbelievable. Next bike and The OMs were not used and a set of Mavic Aksiums that were superstrong and although not my favourites they are bomb proof. The original OM's I did try a few times and I did not like them. Got the wheel builder to replace the spokes and rebuild and they are not bad wheels but they are the "Spare" set as I have better wheels for normal use.
So the thing to think about on replacement wheels is not weight- although that does help in most riding- think Qualtiy and you will be on the right track.