Alias530

I'm baby clyde at 6'6" 240lbs. Pretty light on the bike for my weight, never broken anything due to my size or even had to true a wheel.

Are Dura Ace wheels suitable for everyday riding? The roads here are pretty good, never even had a flat tire once I ditched the crappy stock tires.

Looking at the C24 and C50 models. The C24 is way cheaper but the <1,400g weight makes me a little nervous. Thoughts? I currently have Bontrager Race Lites on my Emonda.

ModeratedUser01142019a

Take a look at this article it reviews the C24's and makes a few recommendations based on rear wheel flex: THE BEST ROAD WHEELS FOR CLIMBING AND DESCENDING | In The Know Cycling

BoJaffa

Thanks for the link.. Very informative.

Juan Foote

You should only put your DA's on if you are riding somewhere nice.

dtrain

RS81 or Fulcrums. DA seems too light and spendy for your purposes. Or go with more spokes like a 24/32 Pacenti SL23 build.

gsa103

Definitely suitable for everyday riding. I'm 160 lbs though, so I don't know how they would last at your weight. What about a set of Boyd Altamonts? Little heavier but cheaper and should be more durable.

bt

those are Sunday's best wheels only.

Doug28450

The information I got is that they are for Holidays only.

Alias530

I just built a carbon mountain bike wheelset @ 1,700g on the dot with 32 rear/28 front DT Competition spokes and DT 350 hubs, none of which is all that lightweight stuff so I guess I'm having a hard time conceiving why I can't accomplish a suitable ~1,500g wheelset, given that I'll be using less spokes and a narrower rim.

I looked at the RS81 but my factory wheels are already 1,700g so unless I gain stiffness (not something I currently have issue with) or aero advantage, I don't see the point in getting another wheelset. I guess what I'm saying is that I don't think the RS81 is enough of an upgrade over what I already have to justify spending money on it.

BoJaffa

The DA C35's look good also. I'm currently wheel shopping too and feel like these may be the ones for me. The research is fun though. So many options out there.

dtrain

Fair enough. I made a false assumption that your current set was more in the 1800-1900 range. I can see how you'd want something a bit lighter and nicer than a typical 'mid-range' (like RS81 or Fulcrum Racing 5) if you are going to do this.

FWIW: My 28/32 Pacenti build weighs ~1570. I probably could have gone with 24 in the front (maybe even 28 in the rear as I weigh a bit less than you). As an everyday set (and for a non-racer), that's plenty light for me.

bigdo13

that pretty much answers your question there... they should be fine and most likely will be... They're expensive so I understand your hesitance, but yeah, I mean, 240 is big for a cyclist, but it's not that big for carbon.. if you were like, 290 lbs I might say something, but most guys your size (and even some that are 290) are fine on carbon frames and/or wheels...

If the roads are nice that's an added bonus, but even if they're not more than likely, your wheels are going to be fine. Don't believe the dogma and anti-hype against carbon, it's not some weak material that's gonna snap on you for no reason. There's a reason why all the pro's ride on it and can ride over bumpy ass, rugged cobbled roads for hours, up and down french mountains for days and in the rain and cold for a week... They may not weigh as much as you, but they transfer WAAAAY more power through those frames and wheels than you do and for longer periods of time.

Alias530

I'm currently on 18 front/24 rear. The website says "14/15g DT Spokes" so I'm assuming they are DT Competition spokes, same as I used on my MTB wheel build. If I was going custom, I might want to go with a CX Ray for road use. Zero issues with stiffness/stability with the current wheelset, just want aero/lighter if I'm going to upgrade.

Curtis Odom

I won't comment on the rims but the DA hubs are some of the best ever made.

Up North

220#'s and rolling on C35's on my Emonda, no issues so far. Have Bontragger RXL TLR on my other bike with no issue in 2 yrs.

Alias530

C50's are the same price so I'd probably go with those... and more carbon I imagine would mean even stronger

Dylnger

I am 225# and had the same concerns you have. I also have an emonda and I went with this wheelset 24/27 Pacenti SL23 / SL85w-SL210 / CX-Rays (1462g) - $549.95 They are fairly light at 1460 grams and also 24mm wide. I have had zero issues with them and I am very happy with the ride.

jeff@work

I've probably got over 10k on my C24's... fantastic wheels... the roads around here aren't the best, plus I've ridden them on dirt roads, cobblestones, jumped them off curbs... in that time I've broken one spoke... but i only weigh around 170 lbs...

just dank

my mate got the aluminum/carbon version of the C50. He loves them and doesn't have anything bad to say about them.

Alias530

That's really cheap for a wheelset with CX Rays... those are some spendy spokes.

softreset

I've only got one bike (commute, for fun, group rides, etc.) and the DA9k C24s came on it. I'm only 1,000 miles into them and they've held up well to everything I've thrown at them and I'm your weight (and only 5'10"). I'm hoping for many happy years on them.

If you're in the NorCal area, I'm happy to arrange a swap for a weekend and I'll ride your RLs.

Alias530

Yep I'm in NorCal. No need for a swap, I'm sold on the wheels as long as they'll hold up to my weight. Thanks for the very generous offer though.

nemeseri

Fulcrum has a 240lbs weight limit on every type of wheel they make (according to their FAQ), so I'd be cautious with that.
Shimano famously doesn't post weight limit on their wheels, also you can find great success stories with dura ace wheels and heavier riders all over the internet. Also at its weight the c24 seems to be a great buy!

FIVE ONE SIX

Shimano wheels do not have a rider weight limit. i'm 230#'s and have been using the Ultegra 6800's tubeless with no problems at all. they should be fine for him...

to the OP, are you looking to go completely carbon or carbon with aluminum braking surface with the C50's?!

bottom line, if you want the lightest option, then go with the DA 23's. if you want something aero, than go with the 50's, but just know they're only about 30 grams lighter than your factory wheels, unless you go with the full carbon 50's. either way, get them overseas cause they're much cheaper than full retail there, i personally recommend bike24...

also, are you planning on going tubeless or with tubes?!

STRANA

At 225 and 6'3" I have put over 10k/km this year on a pair of RS81 (Ultegra, same carbon wheel same hub except steel axel as the DA). They are simply awesome though I came from a heavy set of CXP22. I use them for every day rides and love to go places others yell at me for. My excuse is if you yell "Cyclocross" as you hurl off road it's okay.

I had plenty of people on other forums tell me how wrong I was for looking at carbon wheels. I was very concerned at first but I'm one happy camper.