New wheels on a budget
 

Hi, I know this topic has been covered before (yes I did a search!), but I was just curious if anyone has any suggestions for me.

I am thinking about picking up a new wheelset for everyday use. The alex rims that came on my Felt F90 seem to bend when I look at them, and I need a set that can take a little bit of abuse, but that will still perform reasonably. Im not particularly heavy (~175lbs), but I am kind of hard on my wheels cause i ride mostly at night and sometimes it is hard for me to see the features on the road.

I'm trying to stay in the $300 +/- $50 range, anyone have any suggestions?

The mavic aksiums can be had for around 160 and are bulletproof.

i would recommend the Mavic Cosmo's, they're lighter and very strong, and about the same price...

Any Shimano hubs (even tiagra is fine), Mavic MA3's or Open Sports, 14/15 butted spokes, brass nipples, 3x.

I got a set of Neuvation M28 Aero's. I like them alot.

You can get a set of velocity Deep V's for around 300-330 shipped. Extremely solid wheels, and velocity has incredible customer service. Or a set of Aerohead's for around the same price. look for places that sell velocity wheels.

Bontrager race lites are really nice & in your price range (on ebay at least). I weigh 170 and only trued them once. They also have a little bling factor with paired spokes. The flangeless Swiss hubs are pretty cool too.

http://www2.bontrager.com/images/pro...rge/250682.jpg

Mavic Open Pro with Ultegra hubs for $200.

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/...TOKEN=44146396

For something really inexpensive but still very good (perfect for taking abuse) try the Performance Bike Forte wheel set. On sale almost always for $80/$60 rear/front. Hard to beat $140 for a pair. These are similar (but apparently better spokes) to the SuperGo wheels I bought over a year ago and they've been smooth rolling and true for over 3000 miles. They came out of the box perfectly true and tight, no need for adjustment.
If you're determined to spend over $300 though and want a good brand name, the 2006 Mavic Ksyrium Elite's are on sale now too, something like $350 for the pair. Very nice set that I'd grab if I actually needed them.
Happy shopping!

-Don

http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/155...d-Wheelset.htm

Thats a pretty good deal if you can ever actually find a set in stock.

The Neuvation wheelset is pretty good as well. I looked at the Forte Titan wheelset at Performance last night and it very possibly could be the same wheelset for about half the price. They're about 200 grams heavier than the Reynolds wheels tho.

Oh.. and I have a set of Mavic Cosmic Elites I'd make you a good deal on :)

I echo efrobert's sentiments here. In my opinion, you really can't get a cheaper wheel of this quality.

yawn...

+1
I replaced the crappy Shimano WH-R550s that came on my bike with Aksiums and am very happy with them.

So if the R550s blow, then my R500s must suck something fierce? I don't doubt it. Hope nothing happens in the near future as I have no desire to replace wheels.

Fulcrum Racing 5 Evolution, MSRP: $450, but often found on ebay for sub $300. If they are good enough for pro teams to use as training wheels, they're good enough for me as an every day set. Love mine, did 34mi on mine this afternoon and another 30 the day before.

I didn't feel "safe" on the 550s. The rear spokes would creak and snap when climbing and they "felt" (to me) kind of weak and flexy (and I only weigh about 175lbs). I don't like having the risk of a breaking spoke on a low spoke count wheel on a ride as they do tend to be out in the middle of nowhere and back. So, I bought the Aksiums and am very happy with them despite the few added extra grams of weight. Basically, I just wanted a wheel that wouldn't leave me stranded out in the middle of that nowhere and the Aksiums fit the bill perfectly...at least for me.

How about these?

Chucks Bikes has Both for $235.

Velocity Nuvians.

http://www.chucksbikes.com/store/big_wh023.jpg

Velocity Uriel.

http://www.chucksbikes.com/store/big_wh010.jpg

wow, so many choices

The Titans are indeed Neuvations M28s.

Ditto on the open Pros and Aksiums, they are strong and ride well.

I've also got a pair of Ritchey WCS. They weren't expensive and they have proven to be solid wheels.

Az

Just one thing about the Titan wheels: It seems Performance has specced cheaper spokes than ones used in the Neuvation (or the old Supergo Korso) wheelset, so spoke breakage has been reported as an issue by a number of people using these wheels. If you're a light rider you may be fine, though.

check ebay. I bought a NOS set of Shimiano Dura ace wh7700 for 280 about a month ago. I really like them, there extremely fast and nice climbers

http://www.kolarstwo-szosowe.gda.pl/7700.jpg

I just bought some Titan wheels and the spokes measure exactly the same as the Neuvation spokes and have a 'P' on them as well indicating they are made by Pillar (same as Neuvation). Picked up the wheels this weekend for $130 less 20% for double points.

Honestly, about 90% of the wheel suggestions in this thread are inappropriate for the OP. Low spoke count wheels (as in less than 28 spokes per wheel) should not be used by people that desire durability. Yes, Open Pro with Ultegra hubs are boring but they also about twice as durable as any - Reynolds, Ksyrium, Neuvation, Velocity, etc. wheel that uses 20 or less spokes.

Is this the truth or what. Backordered at 2 vendors!

When I was looking for a set of wheels to replace my Cosmic Elites that I had to send back to Mavic, this was my leading choice for wheels and I couldnt find anyone other than a seller on Ebay that had them. The guy on Ebay was about $40.00 higher plus shipping so I passed and got the Neuvations.

I've been happy with the Neuvations and John is a great guy to deal with. I have the Neuvations on one bike, Garcia's on the other and apparently my Cosmic Elites are back from Mavic after 6 weeks or so being there.

I picked up a pair of Open Pro/Record wheels from Performance.com for $300. You could probably get Dura-Ace/Open Pro wheels for about the same. It's a very traditional and bulletproof wheelset. You could also have Mike Garcia build you a set of wheels. http://www.oddsandendos.com/