JungleCat

The spokes on the rear wheel of my Bontrager Selects have split through the threading and begun cracking the wheel, causing a nasty wobble. So I'm wondering whether to replace it with the same exact wheel or upgrade to something like a Mavic Krysium Elite, SL or ES.

I don't ride competitively but I do have designs on a century in September and Glendora Mountain Road in November. I'm a 195 lb'er with an avg speed of 15-16mph. I'm riding streets in New Jersey which is probably how I ruined the current wheel in the first place. Questions are:

1. Is it worth it to upgrade at my level of riding

2. If you think I should upgrade, which one of the Mavics do you recommend?

3. Given the riding around in NJ, is there a good chance I'll ruin these wheels too?

gr@sshopper

Well, I don't know about Mavics, but I didn't have great luck with the bontrager selects.

Cyclist01012

I have 2000 miles on a set of selects, Raced cyclocross on them ran roads with them gravels dirt ect. And have bunny hopped more things with them that i will ever admit to and the are still going strong.

how old are your wheels?

stapfam

If it has bontrager on it- I don't go anywhere near it. Mediocre stuff that is not at Mediocre prices in my opinion. But I am biased after Bontrager seat stems- cranks- bars----all with problems. The replacement stuff is still on my bike(s)

Mavic wheels are rated but I have never tried them- But Shimano, and The other one, Make some pretty good wheels at good prices in the Online stores. I ride Hand built and Ultegra wheels. Both are good.

JungleCat

The wheels are two years old, this is the third season.

What does "rated" mean?

55/Rad

Lose the Selects and go with a used set of SL's. They are solid as a rock, smooth as can be and will hold up under your weight and riding conditions. I don't believe they are worth the price new but for $400, you can get a really nice used set on Ebay.

55/Rad

v1k1ng1001

I am riding a new set of Bontrager Race wheels and I'm not that impressed. Stapfam is right, Bontrager is nothing to get excited about. Word on the street is that the Bontrager wheels from a few years ago were poorly built. At any rate, a wheel upgrade is probably a good idea. I've never ridden the ksyriums but I've had great luck with Mavic rims, road and mountain.

JungleCat

Dang. I was hoping you guys would say no no, it's fine, stick with Bontragers... Looks like I'll have to delay that iPhone purchase. Thanks for the advice.

JungleCat

And Rad, I'll check out eBay.

GPB

I'm thinking about these...I wish there was some discussion here though as I don't want to buy completely blind...RBR has some reviews...but hard to say if they are real or shills.

https://www.rolwheels.com/wheels/2007/race-sl.html

Edit: BTW...I'm running Bontrager Race Lite's...no problems after 1000 miles...but I'm not sure what I'm missing either. Hmm.

rkymthiker

I have a set of Bontrager Race with about 10,000 miles, and Select's with 4,000 miles, and they've never had any problems. They've never even needed truing.

55/Rad

I've had Race, Race Lite, Race X-Lite, Race X-Lite Aero and Rolf Vigors. I've never had a problem with any of them. My Race Lites have well over 15K miles on them - I've had to repack the bearings but never had to true them. They look like shyte now but they still roll well on my commuter.

But, I run between 160 and 165 pounds and aren't real hard on wheels.

The Selects on the other hand...I haven't heard a good thing from anybody that has owned them.

55/Rad

rpmxs

Strange, I have the EXACT same dilemma...get rid of the Bontragers and spend my iphone budget on new Ksyriums...I've decided to hold out for the wheels myself.

wrobertdavis

Check out the sale at https://www.neuvationcycling.com. The M28 at $199 a set is incredible. These wheels are light years better than the Bontrager select. I would compare them to an $800 set from Mavic.

Bob

bsyptak

I wouldn't. The Neuvations are 1760g, very average by today's standards. I'd compare those to OP/Ultegras or Mavic Cosmos, both around 1800g and $200. The Neuvations are deep v, the only minor advantage.

An $800 Mavic set (on sale like these) weighs 1520g, is bombproof. 240g is a lot. Not sure they're worth $800+ as Rad/55 said, but they can be found daily for half that or less. Now that is a good deal.

I think the Neuvations are just rebranded Taiwanese wheels. These Neuvation R28 SL3 wheels look a lot like the Xero XR-1s:

ninjaman

i would take the neuvation sl's over the mavic. actually, i did, and they weigh in at 1520 grams for about 1/3 the price. very stiff, too

55/Rad

I would compare them to a set of Forte Titans. Actually, the Fortes are exactly the same wheel as the original M28 Aero, which was a more expensive wheel than the base M28.

And the Fortes are currently $129/set. https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...TOKEN=94795973

Don't get me wrong, the Neuvations are good - I had a set of M28 Aeros. But they are basically contracted wheels with Neuvation decals slapped on. What you really get with these wheels is the fine customer service provided by the company owner - John Neugent.

55/Rad

battery guy

The Race X Lites are really good wheels, I would rank them above the SLs. The hub is quiet and smooth, rims and spokes are high quality. Also, lighter than the SLs.

fatandfast

cane creek volos xl. seriously strong wheels.

bsyptak

Interesting. The Xero XR-1s are 1520 too. Hmm.

ExMachina

See if you can get a warrenty exchange. Bontrager/Trek exchanged TWO cracked rear wheels (one after the other!) for me @ no cost.

That would free up the funds to get that iPhone

JungleCat

Ok, still evaluating all of these options while waiting to hear about the warranty (thx ExM)

Three more crazy questions:

1. Are all wheel weights listed without the quick release (as indicated on the Neuvation site)?
2. Do the wheels come with the hubs (I know I know but I had to ask)...
3. Is rolling resistance of a hub a critical factor when choosing a wheel?

55/Rad

1. Unless specified, listed weights are without skewers.
2. "Wheels" are the combination of rim, spokes, hub, nipples and assembly.
3. Rolling resistance is critical but most higher end road wheels have a very low rolling resistance. Tires can be a contributing factor as well.

55/Rad