help me choose some new wheels please

robbie the roadie

I am looking at some new wheels as the ones I've currently got, Fulcrum Racing 5's, I feel are a bit under specced for the rest of the bike, Spesh S works E5 with Ultegra so looking for something new. The ones I'm considering are

Fulcrum Racing 3's

Shimano Ultegra wheels

Mavic Ksyrium Elite, or

these are a wild card entry, American Classics 420

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=19915

From the choices I've made you will get some idea of budget but if anyone has any thoughts on these wheels or others then please let me know.

Cheers.

SteveR_100Milers

What about the Halo Mercurys? C+ rated them well and look good value at under £250. Your weight might influence your choice - balancing wheel weight against strength - the racing 3's are not the lightest, but they are probably amongst the stiiffest so good for big heavy riders. If you're a wiry spider shaped roadie then the Ultegras may suit better...I guess the Mavic's are somewhere in between.l

cheshire-cyclone

Avoid the AC 420's. They are light and fast but not very robust. The bearings don't last very long and they don't stay true. I'd take a look at the Easton range - the Ascent II is very light (1.4kg) and fast for skinny climbers or the tempest II is 100g heavier but offers an aero advantage.

HungryCol

Racing 3's, Racing 3's, Racing 3's. Look the biz on the bike too.

synchronicity

There's nothing wrong with the Ultegras...

chickenlegs

See "CW wheel test" submitted by GBR on this forum.
ANYBODY OUT THERE GOT ANY THOUGHTS?????????

kmahony

All good wheels.

I currently have the 2007 Ksyrium Elites. I'm 98kgs and have done about 4000km on them with no need to true. Still perfect.

I think they're slightly heavier than the Ultegra's and Fulcrum's

Brian B

I had Ksyrium Elites and Racing 3s in 2006 and the 3s are clear winners in terms of performance and looks. If you can stretch your budget I would go Campag Euros or Neutrons as you would be getting so much more for the extra cash.

chickenlegs

Anybody out there got a vote for Easton, Ritchey or Bontrager wheels????????

wildmoustache

I reckon your proposed upgrade is very marginal and not worth doing.

the difference between racing 5s and 3s is minimal. i doubt you will notice it. 3s might even bo less aero? both nice wheels.

I would save up a bit more and buy something that will give you a noticeable advantage.

robbie the roadie

wildmoustache wrote:

I reckon your proposed upgrade is very marginal and not worth doing.

the difference between racing 5s and 3s is minimal. i doubt you will notice it. 3s might even bo less aero? both nice wheels.

I would save up a bit more and buy something that will give you a noticeable advantage.

so really I need to go two or more steps up the wheel ladder as it were before I notice the difference? what sort of money and/or recomendations would you suggest? I run shimano. I weigh 12.5 stone if that helps.

wildmoustache

robbie the roadie wrote:

wildmoustache wrote:

I reckon your proposed upgrade is very marginal and not worth doing.

the difference between racing 5s and 3s is minimal. i doubt you will notice it. 3s might even bo less aero? both nice wheels.

I would save up a bit more and buy something that will give you a noticeable advantage.

so really I need to go two or more steps up the wheel ladder as it were before I notice the difference? what sort of money and/or recomendations would you suggest? I run shimano. I weigh 12.5 stone if that helps.

I'd look at the new shimano dura ace clinchers for a combo of light weight, robustness and reasonable aerodynamics.

I'd also look at campag shamals if that particular look does it for you.

I'd consider Bontrager XXX Lites too.

Perhaps also consdier going handbuilt with some american classic rims ... bit more complicated but if you can get a really good wheelbuilder on the case then it might work out better than factory built

These are all at the £450-500ish price point but i believe will be noticeably better than the wheels you've got now.

locko75

I've just treated myself to a pair of Mavis ksyrium SL's. A superb wheel.
Fat birds are selling them for £400 at the moment

blaz

http://shrani.si/?1O/QG/42iHOyhn/test-odzivnosti.png

I have already posted this link in another topic, but I guess it can come in handy to you too.

popette

Brian B wrote:

I had Ksyrium Elites and Racing 3s in 2006 and the 3s are clear winners in terms of performance and looks. If you can stretch your budget I would go Campag Euros or Neutrons as you would be getting so much more for the extra cash.

hope you don't mind me asking but what is it that you get when you spend more on wheels. I'm sorry it's a really daft question but I guessed that expensive wheels = light wheels. Is there much more to it than that? What difference would you feel if you had a great set of wheels on vs a crappy set? I've just got the ones which came with my Giant SCR3 and didn't really think about upgrading (basically because i'm working on reducing my own body weight before I think about trying to reduce the bike's weight). Would I see a big improvement in bike performance if I changed the wheels?
Cheeers
8)

SteveR_100Milers

wildmoustache wrote:

I reckon your proposed upgrade is very marginal and not worth doing.

the difference between racing 5s and 3s is minimal. i doubt you will notice it. 3s might even bo less aero? both nice wheels.

I would save up a bit more and buy something that will give you a noticeable advantage.

Interestingly, the C+ review sadi exactly the same about Racing 1's compared to 3's, as have some of the net reviews...therefore logically there is little difference between 5's and 1's! Has anyone told Big Tom yet??
Surely wheels are all about suiting the rider, big and heavy or small and light. None of them are "bad" and probably none are better than the other, but for you, one set will be optimum. Have a look in roadbikereview.com for a lot of online user reviews.

blaz

http://shrani.si/?1O/QG/42iHOyhn/test-odzivnosti.png

I believe that the most important difference between a good or cheep wheelset is in stiffness. The cheep wheelset bends, which means that you lose lots of energy for nothing.

Brian B

popette wrote:

Brian B wrote:

I had Ksyrium Elites and Racing 3s in 2006 and the 3s are clear winners in terms of performance and looks. If you can stretch your budget I would go Campag Euros or Neutrons as you would be getting so much more for the extra cash.

hope you don't mind me asking but what is it that you get when you spend more on wheels. I'm sorry it's a really daft question but I guessed that expensive wheels = light wheels. Is there much more to it than that? What difference would you feel if you had a great set of wheels on vs a crappy set? I've just got the ones which came with my Giant SCR3 and didn't really think about upgrading (basically because i'm working on reducing my own body weight before I think about trying to reduce the bike's weight). Would I see a big improvement in bike performance if I changed the wheels?
Cheeers
8)

Better and lighter materials and better hubs and wheels will be more stiffer so less energy is lost and the wheel will probably last much longer too. Your bike will be more responsive and lighter because of a better wheel and is the best upgrade you can do to your bike. I aint no expert on any subject but when I upgraded on my training bike from shimano 105s to Kysruim elites then Racing 3s and finally Mavic ES I certainly noticed the difference each time.

davman

Robbie,

I'll stick my hat in and recommend DT Swiss 1450;

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... heel%20Set

I've got a pair on my good bike and find them excellent - comfortable, stiff, stable at speed and putting on & taking off tyres isn't too difficult either. If you're looking at the Fulcrums, Neutrons etc etc, then these are in the same price range and are slightly lighter as well.


Simon

wheeler585

Shamal ultra's in titanium colour,there the most amazing wheel ever,very very stiff no flex at all!! Unlike ksyriums,light only 1390 grams,carbon hub very fine bladed spokes and look the mutts nuts!! £529 parkers!