Recommend me a wheel
 

5'11" 170 lbs on a good day
Looking for a comfortable but fast all arounder
Needs to be Campy compatible
Budget: 400-600$
Hand built Preferably.

My previous wheels have been Shimano R550 and a set of Easton's (don't remember the model). Liked the Easton's, hated the Shimanos.

Right now I'm thinking Record hubs with Open Pro rims but if I can do better...

Front or Rear?

Wheelset. Sorry. And it's fairly flat where I ride.

Some of us have had OpenPros crack at the nipple holes. I'd pick something else.

5-600 bucks can find you a used set of campy's on ebay. I payed 250 for some zondas a few years ago and they rock.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=328858http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=328859
used
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CAMPAGNOLO-V...item416995ebd4
Brand new 2013 729
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2013-Wheelse...item460ff2bff2

Campy Shamal Ultra 2 way. If you have the $, your done.

Buy Neutron Ultra new from Wiggle in the UK with free shipping for a smidge over $600:

http://www.wiggle.com/campagnolo-neu...bike-wheelset/

Vuelta Corsa Superlite. Best bang for your buck in that price...heck, maybe any price. About $400, 1465g. Love mine.

Your budget needs to be bigger.

Chris King or White Industry hubs laced to either HED C2 or your favorite Velocity rim. 28 spokes in back, x3 on DS, x2 on NDS, 24 spokes X2 up front. CX-Ray spokes.

This wheelset will probably set you back $800 - $1000. But it'll be a solid/fast wheel that will last you for years.

Eurus?

And some haven't. I have an OP set that's about 4 years old, has done commuting, brevets, training, and racing, with no cracks.

I think it depends on the quality of the build if your Open Pros will crack. (and your weight)

I got a set of Soul 3.0s recently, just under $600 shipped. The wheels roll well, the bladed spokes are trick, the rear hub has mucho engagement points for almost-instance engagement from coasting, and now that I've used 23mm rims, there's no way I'm going back. Buying a new wheelset today, I would not consider anything "standard-width" i.e. less than 23mm.

I vouch for Bicycle Wheel Warehouse. I have Black Race Set with podium build, 1405g, sapim cx-ray spokes, 500$ for the set, hand made in CA of USA. Badass wheels man

KinLin XC279s laced to campy Novatecs with sapim lasers, 24 2x front, 28 3x rear.

You're welcome.

I cracked an Open Pro a few years ago, but that was due to plowing into a pothole at 30mph on a group ride. I think that impact would have trashed any rim, but it was nice to be able to open up the calipers and continue to ride it home.

Thanks for the rec's guys. Lots of good choices to research. I like the idea of those Novatec hubs. Easily switch b/w Campy and Shimano. Sweet. And I have definitely decided on a minimum of 23mm rim/25mm tire combo (28's if they will fit).

1) Newsonsportec 50mm carbon rim
2) Spokes, silver, maker unknown
3) Power Way Hub R13

You'll need to change the freehub to a Campy, but Power Way offers a great $19 solution.

If you could build them yourself this is a $400 Campy wheelset.

Kinda think you need to double your budget, or else just rock what you got.

Or wait for good hubs on eBay. There's a new CK 100mm front hub in a different color every week for $75 buy it now (including this week), and you can often find dirt cheap wheelsets relative to the cost of a new hub.

Problem is, I got no wheels right now. This is a new frame build. What is the sweet spot budget wise? I don't mind spending $600-1000 if its worthwhile. It has been some time since I last bought wheels. I was figuring $600 would do it.

What is the choice if I spend more?

Contact some wheel builders and go from there. You want advice based on you. Your weight, riding style, terrain, etc. Don't rely on internet advice.

I ordered a set of similar last week with White Industries hubs, Velocity A23 rims and Wheelsmith spokes. They were $850.

Don't get caught up in the conspicuous consumerism of expensive wheels. $400-500 is all you need for a great set of wheels. When you go pro, then get some Zipps or something.

What a relief.

Why did you hate the Shimano's?

You should try this place, they have some of the lowest costing custom built wheels around and you can pick and choose your rims, hubs, spokes, nipples, lacing etc; see: http://www.prowheelbuilder.com/shopby/

Or if you just want a low cost yet highly effective set of wheels try http://2013.bikesoul.com/s3-0/

Contact Motomatt who is a member here. He's a wheelbuilder for Adrenaline Bikes. He built me a 1350 gr wheelset (20F, 28R) that holds up even when I ride my road bike through singletrack. I weighed 185 when we spec'd these wheels.

His blog http://www.motomatt.com/?cat=4

Those are pretty much exactly what I built for my Litespeed, except I went 28 2xF and 32 3xR. Cost me a bit under $400, but that's buying everything wholesale and building it myself.