Originally Posted by
StanSeven
The thing that made me realize how much wheels affect performance is a test ride I did a long time ago. When I cam back to the shop, the owner asked what I thought. I said the bike felt very harsh. He switched the deep aluminum wheels to box rims and I went back out - night and day in terms of comfort.
Originally Posted by
rpenmanparker
Some folks like stiff. Some like light. Some like aero. Some want it all. It is so hard to describe. From my own perspective, I really like riding light wheels. For me that means about 1,250 g for the pair. I don't need expensive hubs and rims, but I want them to be light. Lightest possible spokes too, as long as they are stainless steel. I just like light wheels feel when accelerating. I can live without the ultimate stiffness, but I just really like light weight. In a way I am saying this not to get you to agree, but rather to realize you may have your own preference. Without a chance to ride all kinds of wheels, it could take you years to learn what you really want. I know it did for me. Best plan is to get in touch with a reasonably priced custom builder. Somebody like psimet. Discuss your body weight, riding style, intended use of the wheels, and let him help you plan your next pair. Then you can continue to evolve your preferences on the basis of what you learn from those wheels. It isn't a destination, it is a journey. Deep, huh? Good luck.
Just to add another viewpoint, I prefer to get my comfort from my tire set up and don't find the last pound of weight to make to much difference.
I currently do most of my riding on two similar sets of wheels that are 1600 and 1700 grams and have 23mm exterior width AL rims that allow me to ride at ~10psi less than I otherwise could (similar to going up one tire size). I built them myself, but you can get similar wheels from Psimet or Boyd and others for $450-700 depending on specifics. I have owned and still own some lighter and more expensive wheels but for everyday riding I don't find any advantage to them. The cheaper wheels I use are Kinlin XC279 rims laced with Sapim Race spokes 24/28 to Bitex hubs. I am typically weigh around 175#, ride 5-8k a year and race a dozen or so times. If I was on a budget the wheels I described above would be my only wheels and as is they get the bulk of my miles even though they are my cheapest. I also a more expensive version of those wheels using A23 rims and WI hubs rear but unless I am looking down I don't notice much difference.
My race day wheels are carbon rimmed with CX-ray spokes everywhere but the rear DS and drop a good chunk of weight and are probably more aero, but my main reason for using them is because that they are tubulars and less likely to flat during a race and if they do they are less likely to come off the rim at high speed. If I do flat and want to stay in the race I am going to swap wheels not change a flat anyway.
I still have a set Dura Ace wheels, DA/Mavic handbuilts and some IRD/Bitex 'climbing' wheels none of which get much use anymore even though all are lighter and/or more expensive than the wheels I do ride. They just don't offer a noticeable advantage. At some point I may replace the Mavic rims with a wider one as I like them better, but at the moment I just don't need any other wheels.
As for anything lighter or pricier, I don't see the need. I get great comfort from the rim and tire combos I have. At ~175 pounds I've had great durability. My Bitex and Novatec hubs spin well enough compared to the DA and WI. I have already determined that past 1600 grams the next pound of weight loss isn't very important to me. Enve/HED/Zipp do have proven aero dynamics, and maybe if I did competitive time trials or triathlons I would be interested, but in cat 3 crits and the occasion road race I just don't feel like the wheels are affecting my performance so much. And for training rides I don't care either way.