Downshift

No hate for Shimano or SRAM, I just plan for the bike to use a Campy drivetrain and don't want to use adapters or gadgets to make my wheels work. Much better to start with a compatible hub if I'm building from scratch.

bikemig 

Then go with a little wider rim which will help you fit a little larger tire. That would have been my recommendation in any case. I'd check out the velocity synergy rims for this build.

rekmeyata

I got my bike through Adrenalin and I can vouch for them, they are great company to do business with. I haven't bought any wheels from them but supposedly they made sure the factory Shimano R500's that came on the bike were properly adjusted before sending out the bike. I wouldn't be hesitant at all getting wheels built by them.

GP

Wow, that's a great price. I paid a little over $400 for the hubs alone.

GP

+1. I've got well over 30K miles on a $350 set.

YOJiMBO20

It pays to work at a shop.

KevinF

I'm about 6'2", 170 pounds (so roughly the same size as the OP). My Campy-equipped bike is setup with Chorus hubs and Velocity Aerohead rims, 32 spokes front and rear. They have about 30,000 miles on them. Surprisingly light. They have never seen a spoke wrench. I had mine built up via Peter White Cycles.

halfspeed

The H Plus Son Archetype is very high quality rim. With Novatec hubs and good spokes, you should be able to meet your budget. Open Pro and Soul are not products I'd recommend.

Downshift

This is what I was thinking originally. I'm not going to crit race or really compete in any way. I'm a solid "B" group rider when in shape. Certainly no grand tours in my future, so I don't see the sense in a crazy pair of wheels.

But I do know myself, and I know it will be cheaper to buy a $600 set that I am happy with than it would be to buy a $300 set I don't like, then a $500 set that is mediocre, then... Been there, done that. So getting it right the first time will be the "cheapest" in the long run.

pgjackson

Trust me, any of the $300-500 suggestions here will be just fine. Heck, I'd recommend the Forte Titans at $180 per set. Bulletproof and good looking. I think you will have serious buyer's remorse if you get something on the higher end. They really don't make that big of a difference, especially for a recreational rider. There is nothing magical about high end wheels...except suddenly you have a lot less money and every pothole sends shivers down your spine.

Bingo Blingo

Campagnolo Zonda's currently $351 plus shipping at ribblecycles.co.uk.

uncrx2003

Zondas are great wheels. They're VERY stiff.

ivan_yulaev

Eh, performance wise, not much of a difference. But two things that higher-end wheels have:

1) Fast-engaging freehub. The difference between a low and high engagement point count freehub is huge. I'm sure performance-wise it's not much of a difference but it feels so good when the freehub engages the instant you put power to the pedals.

2) Wider rims. Going from 19 to 23mm wide rims makes a huge, noticeable difference in ride quality.

rousseau

H Plus Archetype: $150 or thereabouts, maybe a bit more with shipping
Miche Primato hubs: $100 (Wiggle)
Spokes: About $100

Ride: Supreme. Fantastico. Magnifico. Good, in other words. But you gotta build the wheels yourself. Or get someone to do it for you.



I'll never buy a Mavic Open Pro rim again. Or any other Mavic rim, for that matter.