jtm54

I am thinking about some new wheels. I know I probably don’t need them, but with the birthday coming up I thought it would be fun. I am looking to go up from the Bontrager Race wheels. Maybe something a little stiffer and lighter than what I have.

I have started my search with some Fulcrum Racing 5, or Mavic Ksyrium Equipe, or Mavic Cosmic Elite.

If anybody has thoughts on these sets, some info would be great. I would also love to hear some thoughts sets I may of over looked in my search. I guess the biggest question is are the named sets any better than the Bontrager Race that I have now.

jonathanrules

i've never ridden anything other than bontrager so i couldn't accurately chime in. just a heads up though, performancebike had some decent sales on ksryium sl and elite this week

topflightpro

The options you listed are no better than your Bontrager Race wheels. They will not be substantially lighter or stiffer. Don't waste your money on them.

Look up psimet or ligero and talk with them about a custom wheel build that will suit your needs.

dtrain

+1. If you don't mind silver, check out the Elites @ Performance. I might be able to help you into a pair of Equipes if you want to go that route. (PM for details)

cachehiker

Yes they did. Between the sale, three gift cards, a "we want you back" coupon code, and a team performance membership generating an additional $30-$40 kickback later, I got a screaming deal on my SL's.

The Bontrager Race wheels aren't bad. You'll have to spend more $$ than what it costs for Ksyium Equipes for it to make a noticeable difference. They might even be less aero and slower. Better off using the money to buy some really good tires.

If you're set on upgrading wheels, think less than 1700g or something more aero than a Bontrager Race and still close to 1800g. That'll put you in the $500 wheelset range.

jtm54

Thanks guys, maybe I could get something that might improve my cycling overall abilities like a garmin with heart rate. But that just seems silly; trying to make me better when I could make the bike a hair lighter.

Slowrollin'

If it were me, and it recently was, I would have a custom set built be a reputable wheel builder. Maybe some White Ind. hubs, Sapim CX-Ray spokes, and Velocity Aerohead Rims. Much Success!! Or whatever parts you choose, I'm just a big fan of custom built wheels as opposed to 'wheel systems', but I have both!

Mike

Triguy

I would skip the CX-Rays, builders like to use them because they are easier to prevent wind up, but since you are the customer, Sapim Lasers have the same weight and stiffness as CX Rays AND they are $1.50-2 cheaper per spoke. Maybe the Lasers are less aerodynamic but few people get handbuilt velocity aeroheads for aerodynamics.

valleycyclist

Yeah, CX-Rays are definitely pricey. Lasers or Revolution spokes are a good alternative. I prefer to have thicker spokes on the rear drive side on wheelsets with 14/17G spokes.

Slowrollin'

From what I understand, the big advantage to the CX-Rays aside from the weight is their strength. I thought I had read somewhere that they are supposedly the strongest spoke you can buy or some $hit.

Mike

valleycyclist

CX-Ray spokes have a longer fatigue life than other spokes, so based on that information it will take more revolutions of a wheel until they start to break.

mikekam

Soul https://www.bikesoul.com/2009/index.p...id=3&Itemid=11

Triguy

Well CX Rays are just a flattened Laser. So their weight is the same, and their actual stiffness is the same. As Valley Cyclist stated, Sapim claims an increased fatigue life from the process of theat treating.

here is how I've seen it explained by a wheel builder on another forum:

"A spoke's stiffness is therefore a factor of how much it stretches / compresses due to tension / compression and this is dictated by Youngs modulus of elasticity for the spokes material and the spoke's cross section. All steels are very similar no matter what heat treating, hardening etc have been done on the steel. Heat treating / annealing etc are critical for the durability of the steel but will not effect it's modulus of elasticity."

ElJamoquio

The Lasers/Revolutions actually wind up less, it's just that it's obvious when CX-Rays wind up.

ElJamoquio

Kinda; but spokes actually break at the J-bend, the head, or the threads - places where the extra work-hardening of the CX-ray flattening wouldn't have any benefit.

ElJamoquio

True on all counts (but spokes don't undergo compression, in practice).

simonaway427

+1
I have the 3.0SL and love them!!! Great service from Soul too!

jtm54

Thanks guys for all the tips. I went custom, and really love them. They are from BF member valleycyclist. White Ind. hubs, CX-Rays spokes, and Kinlin XR-270 27 mm rims. They are very a ton nicer than what I had.

Fox Farm

You have not indicated clearly your intended use for these wheels, your body size, and your budget. For dependable every day wheels, those Mavic Ksyrium Equips are very durable and not expensive. Not super light but acceptable. I have a set that I paid about $300 for and use them for winter riding and on my commuter bike. I have not used Bontrager but I have heard positive things about their Race Lite wheels. Again, don't know about budget and what they cost.

kwakster928

Ditto on Fox Farm. Hard to give you an advice on wheelset not knowing how much you want to spend and what for? Well, I like my wheel sets. I have Shimano Dura-Ace Scandium tubeless wheel set. 1550 gm per set, got it around $550 bucks on e-bay. Combination of running tubeless at 85 psi + my R3 frame, it is a quite magic carpet ride, however, it will do whatever it asks. Almost 3 thousand miles on it, but no puncture. Fairly stiff for me when I punch the pedal. But I only weigh 145 lbs and 5'9"

Velo Gator

You guys need to read more. He posted today to say he bought some customs

kwakster928

sorry we are lazy. we go to the last post disregard anything happened before. Sorry about that. I am sorry for nothing reading the entire thread OP.

Velo Gator

Everyone does it

valleycyclist

I'm glad you like the wheels. Actual weight is 1489 grams with 24/28 spokes.
https://s975.photobucket.com/albums/a...0_24_28_CXRAY/