does this wheel exist?

C-S-B

Im looking for some new wheels, and they need to fulfill all the following criteria:

-deep/mid section; 38-50ish-mm
-low weight; less than 1600g for the set
-preferably metal brake surface
-look good :P
And heres the catch;
-cost less than 500 pounds

Ive found many different wheels, many of which fulfill all but one of these criteria, but have yet to find one that fulfills all of them.

Im just wondering whether this search is a lost cause, as a wheel which fulfills the first 4 never seems to cost that little, and a wheel that costs that little is too heavy if you want the deep section and metal brake surface..

Any ideas anyone?

PS. wouldnt mind buying second hand, so long as theyre in decent nick

giant_man

Reynolds Solitude has a rim depth of 31mm but decent wheel by all accounts, 1590 grams and £283 at Wiggle. Can't be bad.

k-dog

After reading that supplement in ProCycling this month I really fancy some Reynolds wheels - they look fantastically well put together.

aracer

They don't exist. To get something that deep and that light you're pushing the technology limits, and that doesn't come cheap.

If you're prepared to compromise a little on the depth, AC420 wheels are 34mm deep, alu rim, <1500g and £300 at CRC.

Jez mon

Planet X carbon wheels?

Second hand Mavic Cosmic

Second hand Zipps (if you're lucky)

In short, what you are asking for is pretty difficult.

pedylan

giant mancp wrote:

Reynolds Solitude has a rim depth of 31mm but decent wheel by all accounts, 1590 grams and £283 at Wiggle. Can't be bad.

Having read your wish list C-S-B, I thought thatt the Solitude could tick soem of tehse boxes.

I've had these on my Sunday bike for around 3000km and 6 months and they are good value in my view. I did a spoke due to a clumsy bunny hop and that is the only truing they've needed. They're well put together. Check them out - C+ did a grouptest a few months ago so search the site.

C-S-B

The AC 420s look pretty good - anyone have any experience of them? Some reviews seem to say that the spokes are the weak point - would they be replaceable without huge cost if necessary?

About the solitudes; apparently the front wheel 'pulses' under braking?? And do you think there might be a noticeable difference on the flats with a 31mm section?

Thanks for all the quick replies!

Monty Dog

I've been running some CR420s from the beginning of the year on my training bike and so far they've held up pretty well - they were £220 in the CRC sale. Some observations - they aren't the stiffest so if you weight 75kg plus they might be a too flexy because of the low spoke count and narrow hub flanges. It's not the spokes that are a problem, but the nipples - they are soft alloy and so it's critical that you use the right spoke key - I'm going to replace mine with brass ones eventually, alloy nipples are too much of a pain if you use the wheels all year due to corrosion. Finally, they are pretty tough - I was 'brake tested' by a Disco driver where he swerved in front of me and I ended up skidding into his back bumper - I hit it with a thump but the wheel held true. Finally, they are noticeably faster than the Ksyriums they replaced - they spin-up well as 50kph plus. I'd recommend them for the money but like all wheels, they won't last forever..

wildmoustache

If you are getting the AC wheels, you might think about replacing the rear hub for a wider flange and less drag.

Reynolds Solitude have quite cheap hubs, though they seem to work well enough and be pretty smooth. They seem prone to rear spoke breakages though (I have had both solitudes and alta races do this ...)

You can't get what you're after for less than £500 as aracer has said.

I suggest you might look at the new Dura Ace 24mm wheels. Probably about as aerodynamic as ACs (shallower rim, but fewer spokes) and almost certainly better build quality and better hubs, and possibly a stiffer rear wheel also. Slightly lighter into the bargain though nothing in it.

If you must go deep section, then you might want to wait to see how far Cosmic Carbones come down in price ... they are apparently dropping by 30% in price. Heavier than you want, but the sturdiness and aeroness will serve you well.

aracer

Not got CR420 wheels, but got the rims on my handbuilts. To be honest the wheels are better value than my handbuilts, and you can always get them rebuilt if you want. My rear wheel is a bit flexy - but then the way I've built it I'd expect it to be more flexy than stock - the front is fine though (and pretty similar to the stock wheel). I've kind of done what wildmoustache suggests, as I've got an AC front hub, but a Record rear.

Built mine with alu nipples, but don't expect it to be a problem given I've never had to touch any of the previous sets of road wheels I've built.

Lagavulin

Sorry to jump on your wagon but are these any good?

They're 100g lighter than my 30mm DT 1850's, appear to be far more aero and don't appear to be a ridiculous price. I was pointed in the direction of Planet X but I don't like the look of those.

dunc1983

quest cycles do a couple of nice sets of wheels that seem pretty good value, other than that, have a mooch on ebay

andylav

I can tick a couple of your boxes with a set of Vuelta Carbon Pro Matrix wheels that I may be selling.

35mm mid section carbon 'v' rims with metal braking surface.

12 broad Alpina spoked front wheel, 16 rear.

Originally a £650 wheelset (not to be confused with cheaper version that is now available) - Immaculate condition and selling for £400 with wheelbags, new Panaracer Evo Extreme tyres, titanium skewers and new campag freehub body.

Only downside is they come in above your 1600 gramme criterion at closer to 1700.

Andy

C-S-B

This may come as a surprise given the rather strict criteria I stated in the initial post, but I have now decided on - and already ordered :P - some wheels which I had seen a while ago, and about which I had since forgotten; the wheels Lagavulin asked about!

they weigh 1750g and come in at 550 pounds (and are slightly deeper than the range I stated in my post), but I just love them and had to get them!

So thanks for the advice guys, and thanks Lagavulin for reminding me of these wheels!

il_principe

Was going to mention those wheels! http://www.700c.co.uk/dalkiia-six-zero-wheelset-i48.html

Be interested to hear what they're like, keep us posted?

N0bodyOfTheGoat

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DHC-12K-Carbon-Ra ... m153.l1262

If you do like the spec of the Dalkia wheels, this might be a bargain and a half... £550 of wheels as part of a complete carbon bike that costs £1200 in total! :shock:

If the 52cm sloping frame is not right for you, you could sell the bike unused with another, much cheaper set of wheels like Aksiums. I would expect it to surely sell for £900+, effectively making your nice Dalkia wheels cost much less than normal!

Thought I would just add, Dave Harding Cycles (the seller of this bike) is based just over a mile away from me, in Woolston (Southampton). He is a very passionate cylcist, used his shop several times for bits and bobs.

Captain Fagor

wildmoustache wrote:

If you must go deep section, then you might want to wait to see how far Cosmic Carbones come down in price ... they are apparently dropping by 30% in price.

Are you sure about this? 20% discounts are available at the moment. If there's further price drops to come, then I would seriously consider a set of Premiums.

philak

Are you sure about this? 20% discounts are available at the moment. If there's further price drops to come, then I would seriously consider a set of Premiums

According to this it's correct and for good reasons.

http://thisjustin.bicycling.com/2008/06 ... -road.html

I'm itching to buy a new set of aero wheels like the premiums but it's worth waiting for September i think when the new SLR comes out. By the sound of it the new SL will then be even lighter and cheaper than the current offers which will mean further price drops on 2008 stock.

Captain Fagor

Thanks for the link, Philak. I'll keep my eyes peeled for those price reductions!

Lagavulin

C-S-B wrote:

So thanks for the advice guys, and thanks Lagavulin for reminding me of these wheels!

That was a stroke of luck. Would be interested to hear what you make of them.

andrewgturnbull

Captain Fagor wrote:

Thanks for the link, Philak. I'll keep my eyes peeled for those price reductions!

HI there.

I've been riding these this year, and have been really impressed. True aero wheels that are tough enough for everyday use (well dry days anyway*). At a shade under 1800g they were never that heavy in the first place - and aero counts more.

Cheers, Andy

*They do fill with water in the rain though...

Captain Fagor

Thanks andrew - another satisfied Carbone rider. I've not heard anyone say anything bad about them. My hankering for deep section rims continues....