trek5000

I am thinking of new wheelset for my trek 5000 with is 3 years old and has 3,500 good miles on it. Ultegra group with original Bontrager Select wheelset. I am hearing pings and noises now and wonder if now would be a good time for some new wheels. I am 185 # 56 yr rider that does about 1,500 miles a year , a metric a month in summer for long ride. my tire of preference has been 25mm width.. I don't want to spent a fortune on wheels but don't want to skimp as well.... thats my story ..

George

These guys have some good prices.
https://www.bicyclewheelwarehouse.com/

BluesDawg

Hard to go wrong with the ubiquitous Mavic Open Pro rims, Ultegra hubs and 32 DT Competition db spokes for this application. You can get them from the place George linked for under $300.

stapfam

Hand builts like BD suggset would be my favourite- but What do you want from the Wheel? Mavic make the Aksium wheel that is a good solid reliable wheel- bit heavy but economical and strong. I Use Shimano Ultegra's as my "Best" wheel and light- stiff and strong but I am only a lightweight at 150lbs. (And a new version came out recently so some of the "OLD" versions can be had cheap)

At 185 you will not have a problem with even the lightest wheels- but do not go too cheap. You do get what you pay for.

RonH

Maybe its just time to have the spokes re-tensioned. Should be $20-$40 per wheel. Much cheaper than new wheels.

I have Mavic Open Pros (Ultegra hubs) with over 30,000 miles. All I do is have then re-tensioned periodically and have broken spokes replaced (2 spokes so far).

ahsposo 

Ron has a great basic idea. Get those fixed and use them for a spare is what I say.

Wheels are the best upgrade you can make.

Depending on your main type of riding the options and our recommendations can vary. I've got about 2500 miles on a set of Fulcrums and I like them for general purpose training wheels. Pro Bike Kit has them for a pretty good price. I'm running the Racing 5s that were stock on my bike but I would spend the money on the Racing 3s I linked. Weight for the pair is around 1675g which is probably (but I don't know for sure) less than your current hoops.

Retro Grouch 

If it was my bike that's what I would do too. Not the lightest, not the most aero, not the cheapest, not the highest tech, not the most anything. What they are is a basic, reliable wheelset. Sometimes boreing is good.

chinarider

I've been looking at Mavic Aksiums. Anyone knowledgeable enough to make a good comparison?

George

Fulcrum 5s

zonatandem

3,500 miles and you 'need' new wheels??!

Wheels on my single bike have over 10,000 miles on them.
Wheels on our tandem: 30,000 miles on front wheel; replaced rear wheel after 22,000 miles. Tandem wheels take a lot more abuse than what you can give 'em @ 185#!

Have bike shop re=true your present wheels. IF you need new wheels, buy the best you can afford.

stapfam

Mavic CXP33 rims on 105 Hubs- (A variation on the Open Pros with Ultegra hubs)

I have The Aksiums aswell. The handbuilts are Laced with a X2 cross lacing and do give a less stiff ride than the Aksiums. The Aksiums are stiff as they have straight pull spokes. But both wheels ride well. Both are stiff and neither have given any problems. Only thing is that I would not use the Aksiums for a 100 mile ride on a stiff frame.

Either will give a good ride, Good life and few problems but "Kudos" may be better with the handbuilts.

chinarider

I am relatively light (around 140 lbs). Do you think I'd find the Mavic CXP33 rims on 105 Hubs or Open Pros with Ultegra hubs more comfortable than the Aksiums? TIA.

stapfam

I weigh 150lbs

Depends on the suspension within the bike. I have a bike that will absord road shock with the Aksiums (The lightweight Ally Boreas) but the Aksiums make the TCR-C a bit skittish. They are too stiff for the frame with my lightweight. I got the TCR to ride well with the CXP33's with 105 hubs and I dare say the Open Pros with 105 or Ultegra hubs would work the same- Providing the Lacing is X2 or X3.

But the Aksiums are now on the FCR. A stiff ally frame. Don't know what it is about the TCR but it just does not like the Aksiums.

EDIT---The CXP's give a good ride for me on all my bikes. Boreas runs with Ultegra wheels which are low spoke count straight pull spokes. (radial spokes) They are as stiff as the Aksiums but do give a better ride. And I run 700 x 23 Michelin PR 3 tyres on all my wheels so can't put it down to tyre either.

chinarider

Now I'm totally confused. Don't have the comparisons to determine whether my bike would be considered stiff or not, but I rather doubt it as it's a "relaxed geometry" aluminum bike w/ carbon fork & seatpost. I run 25 tires. The Aksiums appear a little lighter & cheaper than the others, perhaps more aero as well with the lower spoke count. I'm mainly looking to get a little lighter, better performing wheelset than the stock Alex wheels that came w/ my bike. They now have over 7,000 miles on them. On the other hand, maybe I should just stay with them as they have been virtually trouble free. Many would say I won't notice the difference anyway.

Philipaparker

I bought Aksium Race wheels to replace the Shimanos that came on my Bianchi, they ping when climbing! I got use to the noise but they aren't good for confidence. I haven't broken any spoke nor are they out of true. I just didn't feel confident riding on them.

So I looked around and found Neuvation. Wow great wheels great reviews, one guy said he was 270 lbs and beat the crap out of them with no problems. I bought a set of M28x they came in individual boxes with extra spokes , skewers and rim tape. I just added tubes and tires and went for a ride. Great wheels, seem to go faster, smooth and no noise. I highly recommend them.

stapfam

You have asked for a comparison between Aksiums and the Mavic rims on Shimano hubs- so I will give you my opinion and also comapre to a wheel similar to the one you are currently using.

I have recounted this story before but my first road bike was a lowly Giant OCR3 and it had Alex rims on Formula hubs. A fairly standard stock wheel supplied on lower end bikes. 6 months into road riding and I was dissapointed in the Road bike. It was not as fast as I thought it would be- not as stable at Speed and more tiring than I expected. I went down a hill and I got 30mph and had to steer round a long corner. Only problem was that on the MTB with knobblies fitted- I used to get 37mph on the same hill and the corner was just a bit more lean for the curve. Had a chat with my LBS and got the CXP's and 105 hubs. They transformed the bike. High speed handling was better- The bike average speed on a 30mile ride went up by 2 mph and the bike felt lighter on acceleration.

Now if I were to have a choice between the Aksiums or the handbuilts- it would be the handbuilts all the time. The handbuilts feel just as stiff as the Aksiums but for long rides are not as tiring. Road jarring does get through to me eventually but for shorter rides up to 60 miles or so I do not have a real preference.

Hermes

Check these out. https://www.williamscycling.com/sys19/sys19.html I have the system 30s but at your weight the 19s would be perfect. Also, here is a review from a friend of mine, P/1/2, that he did for Williams. https://www.williamscycling.com/sys19/review.pdf

chinarider

Look nice, but more than I really want to spend, unless you know of a place where they're discounted. About $275 more than the Aksiums. The Neuvations look like a good buy too. More in the Aksium price range. In the scheme of things, I know $275 isn't that much, but as I've said, I'm not a racer and I can't really justify putting that much into an $800 bike. Not while I still have a daughter in college anyway.