Well here it goes again. My birthday's coming up soon and i'm thinking of getting a wheelset.

First: I weigh 125lbs, most rides I go on are 30-50 miles, some climbing(2000-4000+ft). Road conditions are usually good, but some places are horrible. I just ride for fun and fitness, I am planning to start racing next summer in the junior levels, but I am not sure

My current wheels are Shimano W R500. They weigh about ~2000g.

I am looking for a wheelset that is a combination of light and aero, but the main focus for me is durability. I need the wheelset to last for at least a couple years. This is the list I have come up with so far. If the wheelset is priced a little high, I will have to wait a month or two before I can get it.


November FSW 23: Aluminum; Depth: 19.5mm Weight: 1480g Price: $485+shipping (https://www.novemberbicycles.com/fsw-23/)

November FSW: Aluminum; Depth: 27mm Weight: 1495g Price: $431+Shipping (https://www.novemberbicycles.com/fsw-wheelset/)

November RFSC 38s Wheelset: Carbon; Depth: 38mm Weight: 1370g Price 885+ Shipping (will have to wait a couple months) (https://www.novemberbicycles.com/rfsc-wheelset/)

November RFSC 58s Wheelset: Carbon; Depth: 58mm Weight: 1480g Price 885+ Shipping (will have to wait a couple months) (https://www.novemberbicycles.com/rfsc-58s/)

Soul S2.0: Aluminum; Depth: 25mm Weight: 1330g Price:$500 shipped (https://bikesoul.com/2009/index.php?o...id=2&Itemid=10)

Soul S4.0: Aluminum; Depth: 41mm Weight: 1800g Price $520 shipped (https://bikesoul.com/2009/index.php?o...id=4&Itemid=12)

Soul CA5 (Carbon/Alloy): Aluminum rim carbon flange; Depth: 51mm Weight: 1600g Price $820 shipped (Will have to wait a month)(https://bikesoul.com/2009/index.php?o...d=50&Itemid=66)

Williams System 30: Aluminum; Height: 30mm Weight: 1580g Price: $479 shipping???(https://www.williamscycling.com/sys30.html)

Yishun 38mm Clincher: Carbon; Height: 38mm Weight: 1455g Price: $550+$75 shipping (https://www.yishunbike.com/ysbike-cc-...els-p-192.html)

Yishun 50mm Clincher: Carbon; Height: 50mm Weight: 1515g Price: $560+$75 shipping (https://www.yishunbike.com/ysbike-cc-...els-p-193.html)

Well this is what I came up with. I really have no idea what to get.

Also November is also having a "frugalfriday" deal where they include Rim strips , tubes , tires , and a cassette with the FSW 23 wheelset for an awesome deal of $626. i would have to sell the cassette because I have a 9 speed bike.

Let me know your thoughts, and let me know of any wheels i didn't add. I skipped some since they were so similar to the ones I already posted. Thanks everyone!!!


PS: Forgot to mention that no matter which one of these I get it will be lighter than my current wheelset so wait is not to important to me.

I have the Williams System 19's and am very happy with them, especially the price and weight.

i can vouch for these and also for the easton ea90 slx. i want to try out some souls...

Flo Cycling 50's

Souls seem to be the cheapest and lightest. A ton of people can speak for Sean's quality when it comes to his wheels also.

I've read horror stories about Easton wheels (spoke breakage) not sure how credible this is but I am staying away. I wouldn't think you would have an issue with them only weighing 125lbs.

I am looking at the November RFSC 38s wheels as well, they seem like a good deal.
I'm newer to biking and have little money so I am not a good source for recommendations besides researching this stuff to death.

I would also like to see all options aggregated into one source.

Lots of complaints with them from what I have read with mixed reviews on customer service...

I'd go with this, and maybe start saving for a set of aero wheels if you start racing later. At this time in your life, aero wheels would be all bling. Shoot, I'd bet that for most of the cyclists who have them, they're all bling. Not that there's anything wrong with that...

It is a good deal, but I don't really like the wheels, they are heavier than comparable models, and the have no "depth". And yeah right now the deep dish wheels are just for bling
A couple of guys I talked to a couple of Local CAT 3/4 racers and they all said that depth makes a noticeable gain and they said if a wheel is under ~1500g the weight is low enough.

I can't find them anywhere.

If your thinking of Williams and Soul look at Boyd too

this is the first time I have ever heard of "yishun". Whats their story? They any good? Thats a cheap price for 38 carbons.

I'd avoid cheap carbon wheels if you are concerned about durability or you descend steep twisty roads.

What makes a wheel durable is the rim stiffness, hub geometry, and build quality. A stiffer rim will flex less, which means that the spoke tension will change less. When spokes detension they flex and eventually they break. It's almost always the rear NDS spokes that break because they have the least tension due to rear wheel dish.

"aero" rims have a larger cross section and thus make a stiffer rim. Going to say an XR270 from an Open Pro there is a noticeable increase in lateral stiffness even though the rims weigh the same. The larger cross section is what does it. I have stopped using low profile rims for this reason. The higher profile rims make a more durable wheel. Unfortunately the 27 and 30mm rims, while stronger and stiffer, aren't noticeably more aero than low profile rims. You need to get up to 45mm or so before you notice a difference and even then it's quite small.

The tension differential can be addressed by hub geometry in two ways- the NDS (non drive side) flange can be moved in, or the DS can be moved out. The DS flange can't go too far out of course, otherwise the spokes will hit the derailleur. 20mm is about as far as practical. Bringing the NDS flange in increased the NDS tension but at the cost of making the rear wheel flexible because the spoke bracing angle is now low on both sides.

Most builders of inexpensive wheels won't even tell you whose hubs they use, let alone the hub geometry. So you need to go fishing for the information by figuring out which hubs they are using and looking for the specs.

Build quality has a big effect on a wheels durability. A good build will have even tension on the spokes and will have been stress relieved. A bad build may start coming apart after only a few rides. I have had that happen from well regarded custom wheel makers (no one who is still in business).

One thing to keep in mind is that the overseas builders will be difficult to deal with if you have a warranty issue with the wheels. If you search the forums you can find posts from people who have had difficulty getting warranty service from those guys. Some of the US based builders in your list (i.e. Williams) have a better reputation for service.

Another option is to get a good custom wheel builder to make a set of wheels. That way you can get good hubs with good flange spacing, and any custom tweaks you like (for example 20f/28r spoking or different spoke lacing patterns).

Of the options you listed I'd get the Williams 30s, or custom from Psimet.

Take a look at Neuvation wheels too. Light and fairly cheap. I have about 2000 miles on mine with no problems.

I have been trying to get a quote from Pismet. I have done it 3 times and I have never gotten a response.

Direct Asia based company. The reviews I have seen are mostly good, but I am not sure about their durability.

Has anyone tried the Soul CA5.0? It's reasonably priced and it has an aluminum braking surface. It is heavier than the others, but it's lighter than my current set.

Anyone...

Another vote for Williams 30s, this hubs are really nice, and the 30's are a very solid wheel and they roll forever. I have nagging feeling that despite that, you're looking for something with a little more bling?

Haha yup. That's one reason I want some reviews for the Soul aluminum/carbons.

Yep, my System 30s have several thousand trouble free miles on them. Great bang for buck.

I just found this post and wanted to provide an update. You can find information about our wheels at https://www.flocycling.com. We are shooting for an early 2012 season release of our products which are FLO 60, FLO 90, FLO DISC and FLO CLIMBER wheels.

All the best,