Buying New Wheels, Recommendations Needed
 

Hey guys, ya i know its another wheel thread but i can't make a decision right now. Right now i'm looking at various Soul wheels and the Neuvation M28x Aero. I'm mainly looking to save some weight over the Bontrager bricks i have now, Bontragers weigh in at 2226 grams for the pair. Now my question is do i go for something lighter or something a bit heavier with more aero. I really love the way the Soul S4.0's look due to the deep profile, although for pretty much the same price i can get some Soul 2.0 low profiles that weigh in at only 1330 grams for the pair. 4.0's weigh in at 1790 grams. The Neuvations are about the same weight as the 4.0's. I'm a light guy at only 145 lbs so wheel strength isn't too high on my list as i think all of these should more than accommodate me. Now should i go for the lightest possible or heavier with more aero. As far as bang for the buck i don't think i can beat the Neuvations.

All of these will be upgrades from my Bontrager wheels so i'm gonna see benefits in weight alone, just can't decide which one to pull the trigger on. Thanks

Have you looked at the ZTR Alpha 340 - Pro Wheelset at notubes.com?

I so do not need wheels, but they look pretty good. (I'm using tubeless, and am a little biased toward that technology, FWIW. Currently riding Campy Eurus.)

Do you do a heck of a lot of climbing? If so, go for the 2.0. If not, I'd vote for the 4.0. Also, be sure to contact psimet.com to see how much he can build a pair of similar wheels (Kinlin XR-200 are like the 2.0 and XR-300 are almost as aero as the 4.0 but much lighter).

Budget wheels...Neuvations FTW!

Souls are awesome wheels, if you can spend the money go for Soul.

being light doesn't mean you can't trash wheelsets. I've trashed a 1440g wheelset and i weighed 125 lbs at the time

I've heard some good things about Soul wheel and I think I will order a pair of 3.0SL's this winter.
The only thing that concerns me is replacement parts. Or are the spokes and bearings a common part?

True, but it's less likely to trash them by just riding.

Very true, i'm not saying i can't trash any of them, although strength isn't really high on my list seeing as how looking at the weight limits on most of these wheels i'm well below all of them. Only thing that would probably trash them is a nice size pothole but that could happen to any wheel.

How long does it take for him to respond? I'm at day 10 and counting...no reply yet...

He is a busy man, be patient if you want quality!

So I hear. :) But big rides are coming up soon...

Did you contact him through the site? I hear regular emails sometimes get caught in his filter.

I wouldn't know how long it takes him to respond because I've never ordered wheels from him (I build my own). I've only contacted him for discussion, which is also how I came to the conclusion that he makes good wheels at a great price.

Yup, posted on the web contact page.

Great, he might end up with a back log just like Mike Garcia, Peter White, etc.

I don't have a back log, but you have to drop the stuff off and pick it up at my door ;)

check YOUR spam filter or folder. his responses have been known to get flagged and dumped in customers spam folders. also, he is very busy with Cross Season getting ready to take over in full effect. later.

Good point, no luck...27 more posts and I can send a PM :)

Then just get the ZIPP's and be done with it.

If you've got the money my vote is for DT Swiss Tricons; simply awesome.

Mike

I'm in a similar position and also thinking about the Souls. I've tried Psimet a few times, but its been 2 or 3 months and I haven't heard a thing.

I have 2.0, 4.0 5.0 carbons and some new prototype 4.0sl wheelset to try and have 2500 miles on 4.0 and 1,000 miles on 5.0's and 500 miles 2.0's with no problems. you can't go wrong with seans wheelsets

Unfortunately it's not my full time job otherwise everyone would get a response within the hour. I've kept up well with everything in the last 2 weeks or so. I throttle it. I'd be lying if I said I didn't. I spend about 2-3 hours a day on PSIMET email. I do what I can. If you don't get a response - I apologize.

I hear ROL wheels are really good at $650 for the Alp d'huez

I'm down here in KY and I've seen Psimet's wheels in person. A buddy of mine in Indiana has a set of his carbon 50mms. They are stunning and Eric is a pretty big dude. Something like 6'6" and 195lbs. Rob's been great about getting back to me and has quoted me a price for some alloy hoops. He's even taken the time to help me out when I had questions about his area. I am actually moving to the land of Psimet in 2011. Mrs Rutnick is already there.

I gotta say for a guy that works fulltime and builds hoops on the side AND finds time to ride AND keeps his family commitments...he does an excellent job of juggling things.

Sorry it took 10 days but nothing says you can't send another email asking again. Heck, i don't juggle half the things and I still manage to miss work emails sometimes.

He quoted me a very fair price on some great parts for the new wheels. I just have to get the funding. After I saw his carbon hoops and Eric smoking me in the Indy crit...I so want them. Well, smoking is a relative term...i finished in the lead group but Eric was 10 places higher. I know it was because of the wheels and not because he's better than me or anything to do with me not being aggresive enough.

I was thinking that too since not too long ago Mike Garcia was the somewhat unofficial bf wonder guy for wheelbuilds. Now, noone even talks about him. Hope PSIMET doesn't go the same route.

Funny...aham23 and I were talking about exactly that last night. Not really knowing Mike all that well but having been his customer on components in the past I can tell you there are a couple of distinct differences - I consider myself to be more of a business person and I had a kid before i started the business. He had one in the middle of trying to run it.

Also as an aside - I found that he tended to try to push the weight weenie style of build and IMHO - I think that may have really started to bite him in the butt. My philosophy is different. Can't explain it other than I like to build what I think is the right wheel for the rider and application. I tend to find it is heavier spoked and more rigid than what many other builders go for.

Aside +2 - most builders tend to be in 2 camps - 1. Traditional (If you're not riding 36 spoked 3X on Shimano hubs then don't talk to me) kind of guys or 2. Weight Weenies (Sure I can get you a 1 off rim made of un-obtanium and pair it up with spokes made of unicorn farts and hubs which self-lubricate with the tears of angels)

I don't really fit in either of those two categories.