Sy Reene

Looking at alloy options, mostly all under $600 for the wheelset, for a wider-rimmed wheelset to replace an aging set of narrow Ksyrium Elites. fyi, The November rims I'd choose are the Pacentl SL23 v2.

Have narrowed down to these.. anything else I'm missing under $600?

November Bicycles: Race smart. - Alloy Nimbus Ti Wheelsets

Rear FLO 30

HOOPs Wheels - HOOPs 2431 Elite Kinlin 31t Wheelset

BoSoxYacht

I'd build a set of wheels with Kinlin hoops, and pocket a whole bunch of $$$.

DIY Alloy Road Wheel Kit

Sy Reene

So you'd opt for the Hoops Kinlin choice out of the three? That BDOP kit is pretty much identical.

Building it myself -- no. After investing time in a course on how to, getting a truing stand, dish tool whatnot.. and then I have to self-warranty my own work.. not for me at this time.

RJM

I just bought a set of the November wheels with Pacenti rims, but the hubs were White Industries T11 hubs because they had a special on those colored hubs last month. I haven't had a chance to ride them though, but the build itself appears great. The rims are wide, really nicely made, and were taped for tubeless applications, so if you are going to go tubeless you can easily.

The November hubs seem like a great hub, and they are based on the White Industries hub...also made by them too. They have a titanium hub shell, which is really nice. I personally would go with that set.

dtrain

Yes, but you can pay someone else to put together the BDop kit and still save a fair amount over the HOOPs option.

Strictly of those three, I'd join RJM in voting for the November Ti with Pacenti.

BoSoxYacht

Understandable.

If I were going prebuilt, I'd go November. The hubs are nicer, and the company has a very good reputation.

redlude97

The hub shell is aluminum. It has a titanium colored paint.

dtrain

^ the freehub body is Ti - which should resist cassette bites and wear better than alloy.

RJM

You're right...I read it wrong on the site. It's a titanium cassette body.

Lazyass

Gotthard Wheelset « Swiss Side

GuitarBob

Another vote for November.

BoSoxYacht

The November wheels are the nicest of the three. I like Stan's hoops, but if I was valuing durability over weight, the Pacenti hoops would get the nod.

I use Stan's hoops, and haven't had a durability issue, but Pacenti's are probably a little more beefy.

Sy Reene

Thanks all... the November was my first choice as well from a quality of component standpoint, but had some reservations on the width as it's the widest, and the least aero. Concern on width is fitting of tire/wheel on my bike (ie. clearance).. I think I might be more comfortable with a 23-24mm width rim but maybe really a non-factor. The impossible part seems to be the ability to test ride differing width wheels just to find out.

Is there any stock, name-brand, wheel manufacturer that sells a 23-25mm width rim that can be found in your run o'the mill LBS? (oh and under $600)

dtrain

The LG versions of the Fulcrum Racing 7 and 5 are 23mm wide. Not quite sure about availability at your typical LBS though...

snotrockets

If they stock Campagnolo, they can probably get Fulcrum. I have the older version of the Racing 5. Abused it for 5 years, still going strong. Great set of wheels, only problem is that it's a pain to mount tiers.

Nephtys

November. I have the V2 Pacenti's and they are superb. Easy to mount tires on (after you read how - they have some tricks) and a great ride. I haven't ridden the XR31Ts but have built up (and still use) a set of XC279s (which is a little apples to oranges - granted) and they are very nice but not in the same league of finish as the Pacenti's.

Also the rim weights are significantly different: My SL23s were 409 and 407 grams. The XR31T is reported 486g (same(ish) as the XC279s) and the Flos are listed at 570g.

The real selling point for the XR31Ts is the ability to get an offset rear rim allowing more even spoke tension. Doesn't look like Hoops uses it so I wouldn't see any benefit (the BDop Kit does come with it). For and extra 30 bucks you get US made hubs (and great ones at that), among the best ALU rim out there, and a much lower weight. The only loss is laser instead of CX Ray spokes on the November Build (same weight - slightly less aero... like 1-2 watt if that)

As for clearance I have to run skinnier tires on the pacenti's to avoid rub. But they have a wider stance. My 25 Mich Pro4 SC measured 29mm width which didn't fit. The same tire in 23 measure 26 and ride great. I think those tires sort of lie about their width though. So a little more weight saved....

Sy Reene

Thanks for the insights. Interesting experience on the Pro4SCs as I run the same 25mm tire (latest edition V2) on my current wheels.. and btw they actually measure 25mm on my current narrower-rimmed wheels. Makes me hesitant if I can really expect to see my tires grow by 4mm in width.

Have to say that while the November wheels looks really nice, it's extra width (though only a bit over 1mm difference interior) over the X31 is maybe too much (same for the Flo, though can't tell from their site what the interior rim width is), and the X31s deeper profile (at 31mm) is also attracting me -- more for aesthetic reason than really expectation of a noticeable performance boost. Presumably this is part of the reason for the higher weight.

Somewhat related.. but not to get OT.. has this article on weight vs Aero benefits been discussed previously? FLO Cycling - The Great Debate - Aero vs. Weight

chaadster

You could also grab a pair of 30mm deep, 18.1mm inner / 22.7mm outer width, American Classic Victory 30 tubeless for $499 right from AC. They're a bit heavier than Nov/Pacenti, but should be more slippery.

Victory 30 Tubeless (pair) - Road Wheels - Wheels

Sy Reene

Those look nice. Nice measurements too. Do you know if they work with tubes (they're listed as tubeless)?

chaadster

They do, yes. Any road tubeless rim will.

GuitarBob

Pretty sure all tubeless can be run with tubes.

GuitarBob

Beat me to it ;-)

Nephtys

Just FYI- I too am talking about the V2 of the Pro4 SCs. If you are able to run the 25s then you should not have problems with 23s on the SL23 V2s.

That article has been discussed and everyone has their own opinion of it. I have ridden the FLO 60s and they are fast - really fast. Personally - I consider aero important but only in deeper rims. None of the shallow rims (including all of these) are really that aero so I choose the lighter weight rims for myself. I like the feel and find them more fun. For speed - deep is great. All of the ones on your list are better than the Open Pro's that everyone compares their aero wheels to.

If you dig back in the November Blog archive they compare the aero drag of the XC279s to the Pacenti's and the Kinlins are more aero and there is data there. Small improvements but measurable. Good enough to make me feel good about the XC279s that I was riding at the time but not good enough to make me not go out and build up a set of Pacenti's for my next wheels. That blog is about the V1 Pacenti's in that test and the XC279s not the XR31Ts - so only a bit applicable.

I have no experience with anything American Classic.

Tubernator

I am running the November's right now and really like them. Strong, light, great wheels. You do need to be careful with tires, but not too difficult to find some that fit great.

chaadster

Careful in what sense?