RShantz

I may be getting another set of wheels exclusively for climbing - just looking to gain a few seconds. I currently weigh about 135lbs & couldn't lose much more. Anyway, I don't know anyone who has used these wheels & was looking for input or if anyone has better options. From the research I did it seems like some folks are critical of the hubs, but most of them were a good bit heavier than what I am.

Silvercivic27

Paging Chaadster...

rpenmanparker 

The hubs are among the finest you can buy anywhere.

dvdslw

If I were as light as you I'd be all over a set of American Classics. Their Road Tubeless wheels are a thing of beauty weighing just 1232g and although I've never ridden their hubs, there's plenty of good reviews from lots of riders out there as to the quality and several other wheel builders that supply them so they must be doing something right. I'm over the recommended rider weight of 200lbs so they're out for me but I'd imagine them to ride about as close to a tubular setup you could get if you combine them with premium tubeless tires like the Schwalbe One's. The Argent's look nice too, they are a bit deeper (road tubeless 21mm/argent's 30mm) and still only weigh 1372g, just wish they'd tone down the graphics a bit on the Argent's.

chaadster

Thanks, SilverCivic!

As David pointed out, for climbing, and at your weight, the Road Tubeless are the hot ticket...if you want tubeless. They're very light, and bristle with cool tech; wide bearing and flange placements, 2x1 lacing, and steel reinforced alu freehub body, for example. Of course, they offer extremely wide bead seats for their overall width, giving them easy setup options.

I love the Schwalbe One, but for the utimate in weight savings, I'd look to the IRC Formula light tire.

I think the Road Tubeless look hot, too.

RShantz

Thanks, Chaadster.

One other bit of info. I'm not going to run tubeless, just b/c I'm not ready for the change yet. You said "if you want tubeless". Does my intended use change your opinion/recommendation?

chaadster

No, not necessarily, but I don't know the ultrlight clincher market very well. I was thinking that the ACs absolutely rule the tubeless market, but removing that element, may come in line with other clincher offerings by weight and tech. Certainly the pricing on ACs would be on the high side for a standard clincher.

Aren't there some lightweight, lower profile, carbon rims and wheelsets? I think Fulcrum intro'd one wheelset last year, and if you could get 300gm rims, you could build up a sweet set of clinchers no sweat, and have a wide range of components to choose from.

Again, not to ding the ACs-- have you seen the Pez Cycling reviews on the Road Tubeless?-- but price is usually factor, and I'd bet you can get a just as capable, just as light, clincher wheelset for less. The ACs are sweet though, in any case.