wheels for tour de flanders

weeve

ok..have a dilemma - Ive some kysrium ssc sls which I use for training and all round. I really dont want to bust them in the TdFlander cyclosportive in a couple of weeks..Ive not time to get handmade ones so need to go to LBS for some shimano fit factories. Couple of questions for the experienced out there. 1 Do you reckon I'll shxg the SLs (Ive done about 5km on pave last week and they were fine - although I winced? 2. If so what should I get for circa £200-300 which will do the job but be ok for general all round use afterwards (ie not too heavy as Im only 70kg)
appreciate the advise...my go for Ultegras as easy to find and the Mrs will be on those but anything else better?
ta

Anonymous

mavic open pro on dt swiss 240...

weeve

err - not hand built

Chip \'oyler

You still have time to get some handbuilts made. A good wheelbuilder should be able to build them in a couple of days

Beatmaker

I rode it in 2004 on a set of Ksyriums, they came back in exactly the the same shape as they went.

ACMadone

Bontrager Classics. You can pick them up from between £195 and £225. Sigma sport sell them at £195

Monty Dog

Ksyriums are as tough as they get IME - mine have ridden de Ronde and Roubaix a couple of times, numerous sportives and other races too - the odd crash - and I''ve only ever had to tweak the bearings. Flanders isn't anything like as harsh on equipment as Roubaix - just fit some 25mm tyres and you'll be fine - your arms and legs will give in long before your wheels.

weeve

thanks Nice to hear from 2 x Ksyriums users who have actually done it...thanks for the advise...
Im based in Holland so whilst there are plenty of bike shops handbuilts tend to be a little more pricey unless you know where to go...and I dont...will see what the local bike shop has Saturday and if nothing reasonable then Illl risk it. Ive some 24mm Vittoria Paves order so hopefully they be enough to protect the rims...cheers again

seagulljez

did it on my c50 with askiums and vittoria pave's which was the key, as 25mm tyres pumped up to 6 bar saw me through with no aggro.
be ready for anything wrong with your bike coming to light very quickly on the cobbles..!

Beatmaker

I concur with the posts above RE tyres. I stuck my Conti Gator Skin training tyres on for the event and didn't puncture but still rode 23s. IIRC we had only one puncture between six of us.

Monty Dog

Belgians generally ride with 25 or 28mm tyres for a reason, particularly when it rains. I stopped one year to lend my pump to a rider - German Triathlete - at de Ronde because he'd used up all his spares and flatted four times - he was riding Cosmic Carbones with 20mm GrandPrix tyres!