New wheel set
 

Hi. I am new to the forum but need some help with replacement wheels.

I ride a 2018 carbon frame specialized diverge with tiagra gear set and stock axis wheels. The rear wheel has cracks next to 4-5 of the nipples and creaks pretty bad when I ride, so I need new wheels.

I ride 60-90 miles/week for exercise in addition to 7 mile commute, all of which is on pavement, though some of it is rough, with some curbs, grass and gravel for short segments. In addition about once every other month I take the bike on single track/MTB trails for a couple hours. So while I got a ‘gravel bike’ the reality is that 99% of my miles are on pavement and I have really enjoyed building speed on the road. I recently changed from 38 c to 30c and love the speed I am getting (averaging 18mph for 25-30 mile rides). I want new wheels to reflect what I am actually riding, which is mostly increasing speed on road, but maintain the ability to do infrequent light off-road/gravel rides. I ride on a tube but am open to tubeless. Also, I weight 230 lb which is a limiting factor.

So I have found some options but wanted opinions from someone with more experience. Budget is 1k but can push to 1300 as needed.


Zipp 303 s

Bontrager aelus pro 3

Bontrager aelus pro 5

Mavic kysrium pro

Hunt 30 Carbon gravel



Thanks for the input!

I'd go tubeless with 32 spokes on each wheel

I've heard good things about Hunt wheels as being a good bang for the buck. I recommend the Path Less Pedaled channel on YouTube for a plethora of gravel bike information, bike and component reviews. He has a video about Hunt wheels.

You weigh what I weigh. I don't go less than 36 spokes rear. Fronts can be 28 spokes (aka sheldon brown)

Lighter rims with less spokes will be lighter and in theory less wind resistance/faster, but they will not be as durable.

You need to make a decision on how often you want to replace spokes/wheels.

Lighter and faster, or slightly heavier and more reliable

Fulcrum makes great wheels, and they are durable and a good value. Fulcrum is owned by Campagnolo. Mavic is bankrupt so I wouldn’t buy those.

I replaced the stock wheels on my Giant Defy with Shimano wheels, great great improvement. Shimano wheels are generally available at most of the larger discount retailers and the quality is there in a known brand.

I have both Mavic UST and Mavic clinchers and have found them to be durable. OTOH my max weight on the bike has been 190 lbs.

Yup. I've been super happy with my Racing 7 wheels I bought years ago. Still perfectly true and still really smooth despite Shanghai roads being less than perfect in many places. Only 16 spokes on the front and 24 on the rear, too, yet still super durable, given that I'm nearly 100kg and I often carry a few kg of weight in water / drinks / food in a pannier on my rear rack as well when riding long distances (>75km)

I have 2 sets of Bontrager wheels, Aeolus 5 and Aeolus Pro 3V, they are both great wheels and roll great.

Build some wheels. Or buy what you want separately and have them built. I have always been a fan of Shimano stuff, it usually just works and is easy to service/find parts for. I have a wheel set on my "gravel bike" that much like you sees 99% rd. I have a 105 hub in the front and a deore XT in the back laces to some basic WTB rims. Bough what I needed online to keep the cost down and paid the local shop to build em up.