I've seen that the Ultegra/Mavic Open Pro combo makes for a solid wheelset. Are the ones built up by Performance Bike going to be different than those from another shop or custom builder?
Shimano Ultegra 6600/Mavic Open Pro Black Wheelset

what makes this wheelset different?
Shimano Ultegra 6600/Mavic Open Pro CD Wheelset

They don't mention the spokes used, is that a concern?

I have a set. Dunno about your local Performance, but mine matched the price on the black and sold me silver. According to them they're the same wheels.

yeah, the website has a third set of silver ones. I wasn't sure if the "CD" indicated something other than a different color/finish. So there's Silver, Black, and CD.

Shimano Ultegra 6600/Mavic Open Pro Silver Wheelset

--edit- Mavic's website has 4 colors: Silver, Black, CD, and Ceramic, so i guess its just cosmetic.

I got my Record/Open Pro set cheaper than I could source the hubset alone. I also found myself truing them after every ride. Tore apart and re-built the hubs with different rims.

The Performance bits are machine built with a focus on doing so cheaply. Whether you get a well built set seems to be quite a crap shoot.

Caveat emptor.

CD is an odd finish option of little value IME. Ceramic is a hard coating designed for foul weather use on bikes with rim brakes.

The Ultegra/Mavic rim wheel set up is a favourite for a good strong wheel by most Handbuilt wheel specialist's. It is a combination that I can recommend- but only if they are handbuilt.

And machine built wheel- and I mean any- will not be as good as a handbuilt wheel.

Have I put it across yet?

Handbuilt for this hub/wheel combo will give you a wheel that will last a lifetime. All you have to do is find a good wheel builder and I am too far away to recommend one for you.

Perhaps others can recommend one?

The Performance wheels I bought many years ago, were machine built. Within a couple months of use, they began breaking spokes every 100 miles.

I finally rebuilt them myself and did not have any more problems.

My handbuilt wheels from Colorado Cyclist have never had such problems.

From the Mavic website:

The "ceramic" option refers to the braking surface. I thought CD did too, but I honestly don't know how to interpret the above.


I got my Ultegra/Open Pros from Bicycle Wheel Warehouse for $230 plus shipping. They're handbuilt with DT Competition double-butted spokes, and I haven't had to true them once.

https://www.bicyclewheelwarehouse.com...d&productId=37

Performance *claims* theirs are hand built..

"Our hand-built line of Ultegra/Mavic wheels give you smooth and responsive performance for the road ahead."

That said, mine came out of the box as crooked as an Illinois governor and had to be retrued.

I've heard of nothing but rave-reviews on the wheels from Colorado Cyclist. And the prices make me very sad. You see - I love building wheels, and they have them ready to go for less than I'd wind up paying for the components themselves.

With Performance I've generally good reviews from buyers - but they are spotted with bad news.

Caveat Emptor.