Registered on this site just now to get some help selecting a new wheelset for my Specialized Allez.

Let me give you some detail, then fire away with advice.

First of all, I am 6'7" and 210 lbs. 56 years old. I ride 40-50 miles at this stage in my training 3-4 days a week, and I ride in an occasional race. Maybe 3 or 4 per year. I have TWO bikes. Both are Specialized. One is a Roubaiz Expert with Ultegra components and the other is an Allez with Shimano 105 components. I have had the Allez a little over a year, yet it is still in perfect condition. The Roubaix I've owned for about 4 months and currently ride strictly outdoors. The Allez is now reserved for my E-Motion roller indoors. The original wheelset on the Roubaix is on my Allez now, and they are DT Axis 3.0's. The Roubaix is configured with a great set of wheels - the Mavic Kysrium SL's. Did I spell that right ?

So here's my issue. I want to put the Allez back on the road, but that DT Axis set is a little on the heavy side I believe and not the greatest wheel out there by any stretch of the imagination. I want to install a new wheelset on the Allez that is DURABLE for frequent training rides and for someone my size... and that is quick for the occasional road race. I know very little about wheels including hub, rim, and spoke details, but I'm gathering feedback from others telling me that there are better choices out there for maximum power transfer and durability than either wheelset I currently use. I am looking for something in that 600- 1200 dollar range (for a set) or thereabouts if possible. Easton is pointing me towards their EA90 SL at about 1600 total weight with 24 front spokes and 28 rear spokes, but I don't have a clue if that's good advice or a good wheel. I do know they are hard to find locally. One place is asking me to look at Industry Nine wheelsets. Interesting, but I know very, very little about them and can't get them to answer the darn phone. A local shop says he can custom make me a set for around 600 bucks that consist of all DT Swiss parts, but in a configuration that you can't buy stock, and he says it would last me for many, many years and be a much better ride with superior power transfer to either of my existing wheelsets.

So there you have it. I think you know what feedback I'm looking for. Any quality advice would be very helpful. It seems more spokes is more durable, but more weight, and it seems lighter would be quicker. But I also gather the hubs' ability to transfer power is just as important as anything else.

Educate me, and thanks so much !!!

Get a set of Ksyrium Elites for the Allez or a set of Zipp 101s for the Roubaix (still in your budget) and put the SLs on the Allez (overkill in my opinion, but hey, it's nice to have nice stuff)

Or you can get wheels made by the local bike forum member - psimet

https://www.psimet.com/

Not sure if your a fan of Fulcrums wheels, but PBK has some very good deals on Fulcum 3's right now. Total shipped is about $438, they weigh 1555gms.

Ride what you have for a while and keep reading wheel threads. You'll get an idea of what you want on your own. It's foolish to spend that kind of money right now when you don't know what you are looking to get out of them.

ttt

I'm very happy with the Shimano Dura Ace C24-CL wheels I picked up on ebay. cost me near the bottom of what you're looking to spend. sure, there are lighter wheels out there but they're either much more expensive or not as durable.