Wheel choice
 

Hi, i'm new to the forum and road bicycling (4 month) I run, mtn. bike and go to the gym 3 days a week. I taken up road cycling do to injuries while running.
I have a 2010 Cannondale Synapse carbon with 105 group. The stock wheels (Shimano RS10) flex's when I pedal standing (front wheel) and would like to replace them.
I'm 45 weigh 175 lbs. and my goals are to do a couple of century's and duathlons and and ride with my local club a couple days a week.
The wheels that I'm looking at now are Mavic open pro, DT Swiss RR415 both with Ultegra 6700 hubs made at Bicycle wheel warehouse also considering the DT RR585 with the same set up (is the 585 extra weight a good trade off for the kind of riding I'm doing).
I am open to other bands but I'm looking for advice on these wheels and any others in the $400-$600 range.
Thanks for all advice
One other newbie ? what's the difference between a tubular and clincher ??

At 175 lbs, unless you're really hard on the wheels the Neuvation M28X will work well, and for only $200 + S&H for a pair:

http://www.neuvationcycling.com/wheels.html

I ran one of those rear wheels into the ground in about 6,000 miles or so, but I started at 240+ lbs. I still run the front and am somewhere in the 210 lb range. (FWIW, I sold the wheel to someone around 180 lbs who rebuilt it with new spokes and nipples and it's still going strong)

I also have an RR415/DT240s front wheel that I use. The Neuvation has a Michelin 23 Pro Race 3 on it, the DT Swiss has a Continental 25 GP4000 on it. Depending on my ride, I swap front wheels around. My rear is an RR465 laced to a PowerTap hub, with a Conti 25 GP4000s tire on it.

Do NOT use the RR415 on your rear wheel - the spoke tension and loads are all too likely to pull some nipples right through the rim.

On my commuter I have a set of Mavic CXP33s laced to Ultegra hubs - great bombproof wheels. I do like the DT Swiss rims over the Mavics, though. Braking with the DT Swiss rims is smoother, for one. With the Mavics I can feel the rim joint when it passes under the brake pads. The RR565 is a bit heavier than the CXP33, though.

A 28-hole RR415 front/32-hole RR465 rear laced to a set of Ultegra hubs would work well for you, and at your weight should just about last forever.

"Clinchers" are "normal" bike tires, with a U-shaped tire that fits inside the rim and is held in place by the air pressure inside. There are some tubeless clinchers, but most have inner tubes. "Tubular" tires are glued to a different type of rim. Tubulars are more of a high-end race tire - IMO if you have to ask what they are, you don't want them. much less need them.

I had a similar problem with the stock wheels on my bike and replaced them with the Open Pro/Ultegra set you're considering, but by a different shop. No more flex, and I'm 25 lbs. heavier (though probably not as fit). The DT Swiss RR 465 rims should work well too. I doubt that you need the extra strength provided by going to a heavier rim than the RR 465.

achoo's recommendations are good as well.

I'm currently saving for a 2011 Synapse Carbon 5, and will put another wheelset on it as part of the purchase.

I'm real pleased with DT swiss. DA hubs