Thinking of some new wheels to replace Jalco GX460 wheelset that came stock with my 07 Allez. I was thinking either Mavic Open Pro laced with Ultegra Hubs at around $250-$275 or Easton Vista SL wheelset for $169.99 at Cambria. What would be the best bet? Anyone have any experience with both?

Open Pro with Ultegra Hubs.

What is your weight and what type of riding do you do?

Both are good wheels, the OP/Ult. has more spokes, so will be stronger, the Eastons are lighter.

165-170 lbs, looking for training/racing wheels

If you plan on racing, I'd go with the Easton or the Neuvation R28 aero, something with a deeper rim than the OP.

I was looking at the Neuvations, but also heard the Forte Titans are the same wheel but half the price. Is this true?

That's what I heard too, they certainly look similar but not quite half the price, Neuvation are $250 for a set of R28, Forte are $168





Edit:
I'd probably go with the Easton over either though, simply because they're both fugly and if you can get them for <$200 that's a deal.

at 170 lbs would I be light enough not to completely destroy that low of a spoke count wheel?

you are ok

You'd be totally fine, a guy on my team has the Forte's and loves them and he's 190.

Open Pro Ultegra. You can train on them or race on them. They are light, strong, and if you snap a spoke or wreck a rim, you can repair them easily.

When you think you are that good a racer that you need and deserve some special racing wheels, and can afford to risk wrecking expensive ones, get some. Until then, use the old fashioned sort, it won't slow you down to the pace of a little old lady on her town bike, no matter what the people who sell the "performance" wheels want you to believe.

Would the Eastons and the Forte's fit an 8-speed shimano cassette? Feel like they might only be 9/10?

I know the Neuvations should fit an 8-speed

8,9,10 cassettes all fit on the same freehubs. The Forte's will work with the 8 speed.

As far as the weight and durability goes...I'm just over 160 lbs. and have been training AND racing on a set of the Titans for over 1 year. They've literally been "transparent". I checked the tension prior to using them and they were tight and even...good to go. Haven't needed to touch them since.

BTW, the rim stickers are fairly easily removeable and improve the "looks" greatly IMHO.

If you time it right, you can sometimes get the Titans for much less than $160...I only paid ~$125 for my set during a special sale at Performance. Also, if you have a Performance shop nearby, order them online and have them shipped to the shop. Shipping is free that way. At that price, they're basically "disposable" wheels...but with Performance's "100% guarantee", if anything goes wrong you just take them back and they'll be replaced.

They really are tough to beat on a "bang for the buck" basis...and they are actually surprisingly aero for such an inexpensive wheelset.

Wheels are those the round circular things? what?

If you do go the Performance route take a look in the coupon forum for the latest discount code.

Anyone know where I can pickup an 8-speed shimano cassette for a decent price to accent the rear wheel

https://shop.ebay.com/items/_W0QQ_nkw...Q_fromZQQ_mdoZ