What wheels for £150 ?

justa
justa Posts: 64
edited June 2008 in Workshop
Looking to replace the wheels that came on my Trek - got about £150, would like something lighter but pretty tough,

Been offered some Xero XR carbons for £180 but know nothing about them, the Planet X wheels also look good value,

Any advice ?!

thanks

Comments

  • andrewgturnbull
    andrewgturnbull Posts: 3,861
    Hi there.

    Factory-built wheels for £150 will be more of your 'budget' wheels, and probably no better than the original ones supplied on your Trek.

    For that money I'd get a pair of handbuilt wheels - ideally built by yourself (great skill to learn), if not find a local shop with a good reputation.

    Something like Open Pro rims, 105 hubs and double-butted spokes would come in at around your budget. 32 hole, or 36 if you're heavy...

    Cheers, Andy

    ps If you're near central Scotland then Wheelcraft in Clachan of Campsie is the place to go...
    http://www.andyturnbull.co.uk
    http://www.stirlingtri.co.uk
  • gkerr4
    gkerr4 Posts: 3,408
    i'd go for Fulcrum R5's - can be had for around £140ish I believe.

    Handbuilts are an option but will have loads of spokes and be ugly - depends on your priorities.

    you don't mention the current bike or wheel model, but for reference I had a trek Pilot 1.2 which came with the Bontrager SSR aero wheels as std - they were awful - flexed all the time - hit the brake blocks on each out-of saddle effort. I replaced them with Shimano R561's which were £130 at the time - they were an excellent upgrade. Lighter, stiffer and felt much smoother bearings - well worth the upgrade.
  • cydonian74
    cydonian74 Posts: 397
    I have a set of roval Pavé SL wheels that have been ridden just once. They cost me £299, you can get them for £199, i am asking £149.00 + postage, they are great wheels, i just have too many wheels! They have skewers and wheelbags included, PM me if interested.
    Cheers, Andy.
  • andrewgturnbull
    andrewgturnbull Posts: 3,861
    gkerr4 wrote:
    Handbuilts are an option but will have loads of spokes and be ugly - depends on your priorities.

    Hi there.

    Ugly? A bicycle wheel can never be ugly - it's a true triumph of engineering.

    If you want to put form before function, then you'll need some white bar tape to go with your wheels ;-)

    Cheers, Andy
    http://www.andyturnbull.co.uk
    http://www.stirlingtri.co.uk
  • andrewgturnbull
    andrewgturnbull Posts: 3,861
    cydonian74 wrote:
    I have a set of roval Pavé SL wheels that have been ridden just once. They cost me £299, you can get them for £199, i am asking £149.00 + postage, they are great wheels, i just have too many wheels! They have skewers and wheelbags included, PM me if interested.
    Cheers, Andy.

    Hi there.

    In the fastest turnaround of opinion ever, can I just say that the Pave's are great looking wheels!

    You've gotta love those retro high flanges. The guy who sits next to me at work rides them and rates them highly (and he's a big guy).

    Cheers, Andy
    http://www.andyturnbull.co.uk
    http://www.stirlingtri.co.uk
  • gkerr4
    gkerr4 Posts: 3,408
    andrewgturnbull wrote:
    gkerr4 wrote:
    Handbuilts are an option but will have loads of spokes and be ugly - depends on your priorities.

    Hi there.

    Ugly? A bicycle wheel can never be ugly - it's a true triumph of engineering.

    If you want to put form before function, then you'll need some white bar tape to go with your wheels ;-)

    Cheers, Andy

    I have white tape too - of course :-)

    I do however like handbuilts track wheels - even with many spokes - but on road bikes (imo) less spokes rule!!!

    :-)
  • justa
    justa Posts: 64
    cydonian - are they these ?

    http://www.freeborn.co.uk/shop/componen ... al-pave-sl
  • justa
    justa Posts: 64
    Andy - ygm !

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