Ross11

Hello everybody, I am new to the forum but I have a question that is pressing me to ask.

What wheelset should I use? I want carbon and under $2700, I do not want used and preferably a name brand dealer. I live in Tennessee and do mostly crits with road races as well. The state road races I go to and several others are in Eastern Tennessee with a fair amount of climbing. The wheelset would have to be an all around wheelset. I am also undecided between whether I should go clincher or tubular. If anyone could help me it would be highly appreciated!

FPSDavid

Zipp 404 Firecrest

or

Enve (whatever is in your budget, i havent looked into the exact models)

bianchi10

Boyd 50mm carbon clincher
https://www.boydcycling.com/50mm-carbon-clinchers/

Boyd 58mm carbon clincher
https://www.boydcycling.com/50mm-carbon-clinchers/

Boyd 50mm carbon Tubular
https://www.boydcycling.com/50mm-carbon-tubulars/


Boyd 58mm carbon tubular
https://www.boydcycling.com/58mm-carbon-tubulars/


Get a great all around wheelset and take the rest of the money you were going to spend and put it towards something else for your bike.

Or like David said, Enve wheels are uber sexy

NWS Alpine

I would skip the Zipps unless you get a good team deal. Enve 6.7 would be the way to go. Otherwise some 58mm Boyds would be great at half the price.

Cowboy905

i'm very happy with my FFWD F6R wheels.

https://www.ffwdwheels.com/

it's in your budget too.

Gordy748

Madfibers, hand made in the USA if you like that sort of thing. www.madfiber.com.

mpath

I'm sorry to sound cynical, but the OP road races and asks a blanket question like he/she doesn't have a clue? Undecided on whether to go tubular or clinchers? Not suggesting any brands? Especially at the $2700 level, options are limitless. I'd be talking with the guys I'm racing with first to get some ideas before asking here to a bunch of strangers.

StanSeven

I've got Zipps and recommended them. Enve's are nice too. As far as tubulars versus clinchers, tubulars are better for races. The remaining part of that answer is how much training will do you on the wheels by yourself and how far from home? Tubulars require carrying a spare if you aren't near support/home and it's a pain dealing with that. A flat with a clincher is easy (all you need is a patch or a spare tube).

datlas 

I am with you on this one.

echotraveler

Id buy enve clincher if money wasn't an issue. BLING BLING! But id be worried if i crashed...

Otherwise Boyd tubulars are a great choice for racers, light, stiff, affordable, GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE/warranty/crash replacement.

rushbikes

If you want the best at the top end of that price spectrum, go Enve or Mad Fiber. But before pouring that kind of money into a wheelset, I'd spend some more time gaining experience racing. With more experience, you'll likely end up being able to answer your own question about which wheel you think is right for you.

youcoming

Bontrager Aeolus.

shelbyfv

I'm with mpath. A racer is going to know what he wants. OP, get out of mom's basement and ride a bike!

qcpmsame 

I'd like to put in a vote for Psimet wheels here, send Rob an email through his website with your needs and he can get back to you.

https://www.psimet.com/

NWS Alpine

I would agree on PSIMET as he can build custom ENVE wheels but based on his first post it sounded like he wanted name brand factory built wheels.

mpath

Don't feed the troll.

Ross11

I have no experience with carbon wheelsets and the guys I race with all seem just to recommend the set they are on. And sure you guys are strangers but this is bikeforums and whether I know anybody or not they still know more about the topic than I do.

Brands, I have been looking at the
Mavic Cosmic Carbone SLR
Zipp 404 in both tubbie and clincher, the Zipp people recommended the tubular since I do crits
Reynolds Assault in tubbie and clincher as well

The Zipp has the firecrest which apparently helps with crosswind but I am somewhat restrained to believing it is as amazing as made out to be. I have heard the Mavic's are a very strong wheelset with good breaking due to the Exalith breaking surface. The Reynolds have all kinds of good reviews but at the same time the Zipps do as well.

I liked the madfibers but they are a bit over my price range although the made in USA is appealing. The Bontrager Aeolus 5 also seems nice.

So I guess my new less blanket question is which would be a better all around racing wheelset taking durability and stiffness into account as well as weight, aero, and hub quality among these wheels

Mavic Cosmic Carbone SLR
Zipp 404 Firecrest in both versions
Reynolds Assaults in both versions
Bontrager Aeolus 5 in both versions

mpath

Much better! Welcome to BF. The wheels you indicate all work, and I'm sure owners of them will chime in. My 2 cents is perhaps more practical.....what category are you racing in? A lot of folks starting out save their "good" carbon bikes and/or wheels for training rides/group rides. Reason: race crashes.

ThinLine

I would go with Zipp, although shimano Dura-Ace carbon clinchers (their new ones) are awesome. Strong, light and most of all, typical shimano high end quality.

M_Wales

+1 Rob builds very nice wheels!!!