£200ish factory wheelset or self build for heavyweight ride

Tinkerbelly

I am currently riding on Shimano 550s that have treated me wheel for 2 years and and thousands of miles though have now started coming out of true very frequently.

I am 95kg and will be doing a supported LEJOG in July so want a new wheelset that is capable of staying true as my 550s have previously done, and I can then keep the old set for the trainer and winter rides.

Through negotiation I have just had approval from the Mrs for £200, which I should be able to strectch as you do, so have been considering options.

My shortlist (with a few questions) so far is:

Self build Dura Ace hubs with Mavic Open Pro/CXP33 rims - is the 7800 hub 9 speed compatible?
Ultegra SL wheelset - this says 10speed only, but would a change fo freehub body solve that?
Mavic Kysrium Equipe
Easton Circuit
Roval Echapee

Are there any other options that people would recommend or advise to avoid for a heavyweight rider?

Thanks for the help

gary_fisher3

Ultegra 9spd hubs with a cermeric open pro rim and put the rest of your budget towards a good set of tyres.

or splash out on Hope pro3 hubs (the road version) on an open-pro rim. Probably just over the £200 budget.

PHcp

The quality of the build will have far more relevance than the components used and a good wheel builder will have had far more feedback on what works than anyone else. Paul Hewitt and Harry Rowland are the two names that always get recommended, I only have experience of the former, I'm 105kg, have had three pairs of his wheels and none of them has ever required attention, even the sub £100 pair.

Tinkerbelly

Thanks for the response.

Would a rider of my size notice the difference of a few hundred grams saved in lighter weight wheelset? Is it worth pushing my budget to save a few hundred grams?

fluff.

Am 80kg myself and went the hope pro3 / handbuilt route recently. Looked at lighter more expensive wheelsets, but while it's nice to save a bit of weight, I couldn't really justify the extra 200 quid it was going to cost me to save about 250-300 grams, esp when you figure this is about 0.25% of total rider & bike weight.

brit66

I'm 80kg and for the first time ever I have ordered some handbuilts - from Dave Hind in fact. Open pro rims and Ultegra hubs and all for only £150.

You 'might' notice a slight 200-300g difference on a climb or under sudden acceleration but definitely not on the flat.

Better to get something strong and reliable and which you don't have to worry about every time you hit a pothole.

Monty Dog

The DuraAce hub is 10 speed only - the 10 speed freehub is actually shorter than the 9 speed. You're going to have to look at Ultegra or an alternative hub. You don't say if you've had any wheel-building experience - given your weight, it would probably be worthwhile getting an experienced builder to build your wheels., such as Paul Hewitt or Harry Rowland. Whatever you do, avoid Dave Hinde - his customer service is woeful and you might be lucky to get your wheels at all! Go for something straightforward like a 36 hole Open Pro rim and double-butted spokes.

munster

IIRC the "new" Dura Ace hub is now multi speed again!
Monty did you see anything about this, it was in the last week or so?

aracer

Correct, munster - the 7800 is 10 only (alu freehub body), the new 7850 is 8/9/10 (ti freehub body).

Tinkerbelly

Good news! Have just checked my bank account and I am now able to spend around the £300 mark which will put the new 7850 9spd Dura Ace and the Hope hubs into my price range.

Are the handbuilts still the best option?

Have just ordered some Conti GP tyres that should reduce the rotating weight a little.

tenor

£250 - 300 will buy a great set of handbuilts provided they are from a top wheel builder. Try Harry Rowlands. I have a pair of Open Pro on Veloce as winter wheeels and they have remained true over three winters. Great wheels.

Tinkerbelly

I have just ordered the Hope Pro 3 hubs with Mavic Open Pro rims - Happy Easter to me.

A friend will be doing the build for/with me (he's an ex wheelbuilder and racer who's wheels are always amazing) so am looking forward to the experience.

Thanks for the help and advice.