Oh hai Bike Forums,

If you get the humor in the greeting, cheers. Anyway, I had a set of Mavic CXP 22 that had come stock on my bike, snapped two spokes on the front wheel. Instead of replacing with the same, figured I'd replace them with something better as they seem to be a bit hefty (for a road bike wheel anyway) and feel as though they are the weakest component on the bike. Ive got around $300-400 dollars to spend and figured I would ask you guys if you have had any experience with a set in this price range that you can recommend or advise to stay away from. Thank you in advance for your responses.

BTW, I do mostly longer rides, not as much sprinting, was looking for something on the light side, however durability is of paramount importance. I know I cant have the best of both worlds, I just looking for a reasonable compromise between each.

How much do you weigh? If you're under 180-190 lbs:

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

You can get an M28X set for $250 + S&H. If you're more than 180-190, those will work, but they won't last as long.

Best deal for the price:
https://www.performancebike.com/bikes...1545500_400934

And you will have money left over.

I have been looking at these for a training set

https://cgi.ebay.com/STRADALLI-700c-R...-/280635143402

+1 for posts 2 and/or 3.

It's tough to give specific advice because you haven't told us how much you weigh or what you consider long rides. I've been eyeing something like Open Sports laced to Ultegra hubs for doing brevets and similar unsupported long rides. That's slightly more than the 300 you're looking at, but should be well under $400 with shipping. FWIW, I weigh ~170# and a long ride to me is more than 75 miles [just a measure of perspective, not ability]

OTOH, if long rides to you means 20-30 miles, they are probably overkill re reliability. In that case, I'd spend the money on a tension meter, spoke wrenches and truing stand and fix what you've got. Busting spokes, especially in a front wheel, usually means that spoke tension is extremely low.

Did Mavic fix the spoke hole cracking issue when they changed the name of the MA-3 to Open Sport?

I think this is the quick and relatively cheap fix. Take the wheels to your LBS and have them true and tension them. This ought to solve your problem. Those are pretty strong wheels, and shouldn't be breaking spokes.

The only issue with retentioning the wheels is that since two spokes already broke, the lifetime of other spokes is probably already compromised. I think it is still worth having a LBS that also builds wheels replace the broken spokes and true/tension/stress relieve the wheels. If you get a new set then those will be a usable spare wheelset.

If you want really solid wheels in the ~$300 price range, the best wheels will be with Shimano 105 hubs, DT RR465 or Velocity rims, and DT Competition spokes. Those will be better and last longer than just about anything else in that price range.

Thanks for the advice so far everyone, those of you who were wondering, I weigh 195 pounds and plan on doing half and full century rides. BTW, I know they are little more than what I was looking to spend, but has anyone heard anything about the Mavic Ksyrium elites?

If you're fine with spending a little more like you said, I'd go with either Ultegra/DA hubs laced to Open Pros

I'm currently looking into Ultegra hubs and Velocity rims as well. I'm running ~210 right now and have similar concerns having broken 2 rear spokes in the last 1,000 miles on the Shimano R500s that came with the new bike.

I was JUST pricing Velocity Deep V rims and Ultegra hubs online.... looks like a single rear w/ 32 holes can be had for about $150-$175, plus spokes and labor.

The LBS that I talked to today quoted me a complete rear (again, Ultegra & Velocity) for about $150-$175.

These are certainly not the lightest wheelset out there, but I've decided riding with a heavier rim is better than walking with a lighter one.
+++

great wheel

If you don't mind spending a little more the Performance only version of the EA 90's are $500. https://www.performancebike.com/bikes..._1034339_-1___

Mavic Aksium's are pretty solid wheels and there cheap. I believe there around 220-250 for a set. A bit hefty but in this price range your not gonna find too many lightweight sets.

Most hubs mated with CXP22 are decent quality 32H. Use this hub with new Velocity V rim since durability is #1 on your list. It's OK to use straight 2.0mm 3-cross stainless DT Swiss spokes or equivalent. Just make sure that the wheels are built by a good wheelsmith. This is the key to long-term strength and durability. The "hefty" issue is in your head. Unless you're climbing hills competitively on a regular basis, you'll never notice the extra 180 grams at each wheel. Expect to pay about $190 to $200 out the door.

Stay away from low spoke-count wheels. Minimum should be 32H 3x and no radial lacing. I would also shy away from mass-produced machine-built wheels.

I have an old pair of Shimano 600 32H laced to Matrix ISO3 rims with over 40K miles. Rims are true to +/-0.003" axially and radially. I set the initial tolerance at +/-0.001" when new.

Do not buy the Stradalli aluminum clinchers. I bought a set because many of my friends ride the Stradalli carbon wheels and have been happy with them. I figured the aluminum wheels would be just as good. They have a 250lb weigh limit. I weigh around 220lbs. Rode them for a year without any trouble and then they started to creek and would not stay true. I took them to the LBS to check them out and adjust the spokes. They could not be fixed. The rims had cracked by the nipples. Both the front and the back rims had 8 cracks each. The Stadalli warranty is for one year. I called them as soon as I found out and explained the situation to them. They said I would be hearing from the warranty department. I had to call them several times as they would never call back. They said the only thing they could do is sell me another set at a discount because it was just over a year since I had bought them. I thought that was ridiculous. I can understand that a spoke may need to be replaced within a year or a few adjustments, but not a catastrophic failure of the wheels that makes them useless. They do not stand behind their product. I went ahead a replaced them with the more expensive American Classic Hurricanes. They are indestructible.

It's alive.

No kidding. You have to adjust for inflation in some of these threads.

Neuvation R28s.

Hopefully the OP has made a decision by now...but its never too late to post an unsolicited vent of your pain with a product...