Which clincher? Dura Ace 7850 CL 24, Zipp 101, or HED C2 rim + DT 240 hubs?
 

Folks, I know I've asked this before, but didn't get a clear answer. Hoping you can provide me with what you'd choose, and why? Would be great to get answers from those with experience.

I weigh 165, windy as hell in Kansas, with rolling hills. I don't race so it's primarily for group rides (anywhere from 16mph average to 20mph average, depending on which group I ride with), and aesthetics to me is important. I'm not mechanically inclined at all, so easy maintenance is extremely important to me.

I can get the Handspun HED C2 rim + DT 240 hubs combo off a buddy at $650. I know MSRP is around $850 - $900. Here's a picture & specs from Glory Cycles.
http://www.glorycycles.com/habuhedbedt2.html

Zipp 101 - I can also get from my buddy for $900.
They look fantastic, and have the slightly deeper 30mm rim wanted. But they're most expensive and wonder if they're actually deep enough to offer aero benefits. And, the older Zipp hubs weren't known for reliability, although the 88/188's have been redesigned.
http://zipp.com/wheels/101-clincher

Finally, the Dura Ace 7850 CL-24 from Chainreaction for $740.
I've only heard good things about these, but I don't think they offer the "wider" rim design the above offer. Also the lightest, and from what I understand, the smoothest hubs, but potentially the most maintenance.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=25007

I'm sure I'll get a fair share of Psimet suggestions. I've contacted him, and he's given me some quotes at fair prices. However, in my opinion, I didn't find the prices more attractive than the above since my buddy is offering me a deal.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

Get the HEDs, the wider rims are really nice if you remember to lower the tire pressure.

For group rides of 16-20mph, I don't see why you would be overly concerned with aerodynamics.

Since aesthetics are important to you< I would go with the Zipps. They do look the best, they marginally are the most aero (regardless of how much people believe the Zipp claims, they do spent a lot in R&D of their wheels), and they have the wider rims that Shimano does not have.

I'd pick the HED wheelset first, but second choice would be the Ultegra wheelset scabbed from the third link. What size tires do you wnat to use?

Brad

At those prices, I'd get the Heds first and Zipps second.

I've been looking for those Handspuns myself, but they seem to be out of stock everywhere (with the DT hubs).

They do indeed have the wider rims, I had to get special brake shoe holders from Zero G when I installed the calipers on my Addict. They piss on those other wheels, get them.

I have the Dura-Ace WH7850-C24-CL and they are very nice. Some people do not like how they roll, however (heard it described as dead, too plush, etc.). They do not require much maintenance. Shimano updated the hubs so grit does not get inside. I rode through the winter last year on these (rain, slush, etc.) and they required zero maintenance.

I also have some Open Pro wheels built around DT Swiss 240S /w Enduro Zero ceramics and they spin up much better than the DA wheels but overall, I have to say that the DA wheels are better (look better, wider rim, lighter, cheaper).

The Dura Ace wheels will probably catch the least amount of cross wind because of the low spoke count (they also have high-tension straight-pull spokes).

If you are even considering the Zipps, I would just contact Psimet as he could easily build you a better wheel for much less.

Overall though, get what you will ride--that's my $.02.

So the Dura Ace wheels are wider? That's good.

So now, I think I'm off the Zipps. Yes, they look very cool, but for the extra cash, I don't think it delivers anything significant I can't enjoy in the others.

Kim - you're saying the DT 240's spin better. Yet overall, you recommend the DA wheels. So can I take it to mean that the differnence is slight, and the DA wins in the other factors you listed?

Pcad - I love how opinionated you always are. Just out of curiousity, have you tried out the other wheels?

Seems like quite a few like the HED C2 + 240 combo too. If the DA is also slightly wider, would you still pick the HEDs?


Thanks.

How concerned are you with weight? Shimano's RS80 is very close to the 7850 C24, and several hundred dollars less (albeit a bit heavier). Ultegra hubs instead of D/A, and no titanium freehub body, I believe that's where the extra weight is coming from (as the rims are supposedly the same).

$460 something or so from Chainreaction.

OK, I own two of the three wheelsets you are looking at. So...

1) Zipps - priciest of the group, look great, great all around wheelset, and unlike the HEDs come with skewers.
2) DA 7850s - Also great wheelset. Haven't put as much time on them as the Zipps, but I have had great luck with DA wheels in general. My overall impression of these specific wheels has been favorable.
3) HED - Maybe the wheels are OK, but can't get past their lousy customer service. I've had several HED products including wheels. Maybe the ones you are looking at are OK, but the Alps I had were lousy.

I've got the correct two wheelsets of the three.

Yes, the DT Swiss 240s spin forever--remember, they are upgraded to Enduro Zero Ceramics. Nevertheless, this does not lead to a better wheel on the road. It's more like a parlor trick if you guys/gals are having a pissing contest about who's wheels spin the longest.

Therefore, given the conditions you ride in and how you ride, the DA wheels would better suit you IMO.

First, they have a low spoke count but use straight pull spokes at high tension and have arguably the widest flanges on a mass-produced wheel. This makes for a stiff yet low spoke wheel (which will help in the windy conditions).

I don't even know why you are considering Zipp 101s. You might as well just get proper Zipps if you want the aero benefits considering the cost of the 101s.

Back to the DA: They are the lightest option out of the choices you listed. I think mine weighed around 1420 grams (need to go back and check) with supplied rim tape.

All of the wheels you mentioned should be fairly low maintenance. I mean, how often do you need to repack bearings? Like every 7 years?

Lastly, the DA clinchers are the cheapest option. Unless your "buddy" is selling you a new wheel on the HED DT combo, DA is DA--the name speaks for itself.

Really, it just comes down to budget and what you think looks best so that you actually end up riding it.



Oh yeah, and if you are still not sold, the DA wheels come with arguably the best skewers ever invented aside from the Campy original.

Thanks kimconyc.

I considered the Zipps due to positive reviews, the new Zipp hub supposedly much better, and looks damn hot. The price, @ $900, is the most expensive.

The HED C2 + DT240 is a Handspun pre-built wheelset. So at around $650, it offered the wide rims of Zipp, with a safer (since old Zipps hubs doesn't seem so hot) if not arguably better hub. So, save $250 and get most of the Zipp benefits.

The DA - well, I haven't seen any negative reviews of them yet. I had a chance to talk to an LBS employee running RS 80's and he loves those. He said he's riding those way more than his 404's because they roll smoother. That's what brought me to looking into Shimano wheels, and immediately to Dura Ace because this will be a b-day present for myself, so I'm not going to sweat too much about the cost vs. RS 80's. Obviously, I'm after the bling factor too.

I think I'm pretty much talking myself into the DA's. The lightness is a big bonus / consideration.

Any more comments / experience to share, please post. Appreciate it!

+1 from me, I have a set and they look awesome. They also ride fantastically well. I think that with Zipp you have to get your head around the fact that they are overpriced in comparison with the competition. I have a set of 303s also. I know I could probably get the same performance cheaper but I like Zipps and am prepared to pay the price.

I have the DA's and they are a very nice light wheel, good value for money (for a factory wheel, that is) at around the $700 mark. But as another poster said, they are more a plush ride wheel than a super stiff zero flex type. Still, DA is DA and you won't go wrong with them.

BTW another difference from the Ultegra version is the surface treatment on the bearings.

STFU, get the DA's and thank your Uncle Pcad later. Don't make this so complicated. What kind of idiot starts a thread with dozens of pages of hand-wringing over which Bike Schwag to buy? I would never do that.

Maybe you have more $ :)