What new wheels should i get for my carrera virtuoso ?

Frenchy266

I'm looking to upgrade my wheels on my carrera virtuoso can anyone help me & let me know what they think ?

Should i get full carbon or just normal ones ? Whats the difference apart from the price ?
I only started riding last year but have got well into it & am looking at gradually improving my bike.

The reason for the change in the wheels now is that i recently went over a small stone, got a puncture and i'm sure i have buckelled the wheel now ! (not good).

Thanks all & look forward to hearing your comments

whydoesitalwaysrainonme

Depends what wheels you are after really, are you after i light racing pair?
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Fulcrum_Racing_5_Evolution_Wheel_Set/5360026717/
or a strong reliable pair
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/productdetail.asp?productcatalogue=CSNAWHHR375000000000

redddraggon

This thread must be a wind up, right?

whydoesitalwaysrainonme

why would it be a wind up?

redddraggon

Carbon Wheels and a Carrera Virtuoso?

Small stone buckling the wheel?

whydoesitalwaysrainonme

Ah yes i see your point. Ive just read it again and how can a 'small stone' buckle your wheel? how many spokes do they have in them, two!?

giant_man

redddraggon wrote:

This thread must be a wind up, right?

zedders

Frenchy266
Is this a wind up?, or are you a young lad/complete novice looking for advice? Anyways you did make me smile saying your thinking of putting Carbon wheels on a Carrera virtuoso! And because you made me smile I will give a straight answer no matter how silly I appear by replying:

"Come on mate Carbon wheels on a Carrera virtuoso! It's like putting 20" bling alloy wheels on a clapped out T reg Corsa! Or wearing a leather jacket with tracksuit bottoms. I know lots of chavs do it, but surely you get my point?

IMO , and it's only MO, get a basic pair wheels for £60 - £100 max. Anything else would be a waste of money. If your seriously getting into road bikes as you say, save up and upgrade the whole bike! :idea:

Infamous

I never even put expensive tyres on my virtuoso.

GavH

I'll add my comments in support of Zedders (assuming this isn't a blatant troll). I too own a Virtuoso which was my first road bike bought used last year. I upgraded a few parts and the bug bit, enough for me to start to look at the wheels or the groupset as the next upgrade point. The thing is, I too thought about all the chavs who buy a £1k car (Corsa being a good example) and then spend £2K on wheels, exhausts, air intakes, tinted windows and light clusters, various things supposedly made of Carbon Fibre and even some additional pieces which are strictly not road legal. At the end of the day, they still own a 1.2 Corsa, albeit one which costs a LOT more to insure. I chose to just buy a decent bike. It's a bit like buying a proper Ferrari 360 rather than a Toyota MR2 and then adding all the body kit to make it look like a 360.

Don't get me wrong, the Virtuoso is a decent entry level bike and I still use mine for commuting and on the turbo. But compared to the Bianchi I bought, it's stuff of night and day proportions. Rather than upgrade an entry level bike, look at buying something better. It needn't be a 'Ferrari' but it'll certainly be better than the Virtuoso.

Escargot

Why would this be a wind up ?

Ok I have a Carrera and the thought of putting wheels costing more than bike would be a no-no in my book but there are much more ridiculous things done in the cycling world than putting expensive wheels on a budget bike.

It's all about perspective.

I bought my first ever bike mag last month and saw a 26g Bontrager carbon bottle cage costing £30. I then thought what kind of logic says that this is actually worth considering when you are going to stick a bottle with almost 650ml of water in it. Ok so it does look quite nice but why obsess about saving 20g over an £5 alternative when all you need to do is fill the bottle up with 630ml if you really want to save 20g. Are people completely insane?

zedders

Escargot wrote:

Why would this be a wind up ?
Ok I have a Carrera and the thought of putting wheels costing more than bike would be a no-no in my book but there are much more ridiculous things done in the cycling world than putting expensive wheels on a budget bike.

I only asked if it was a wind up because of what others have previously posted, and I didn't want to look a fool. I take your point about others doing things more ridiculous, but what was suggested was pretty ridculous? Surely! & don't get me wrong I don't think there's anything wrong with an entry level bike such as the Carera - everyones got to start somewhere etc & I'm sure you've seen my ride. But surely you would agree expensive wheels is as aready stated, is a waste of money on such as steed, regardless of whether they cost more than the bike or not??? There comes a point when you just have to say right new bike?

Anonymous

Escargot wrote:

Why would this be a wind up ?

Ok I have a Carrera and the thought of putting wheels costing more than bike would be a no-no in my book but there are much more ridiculous things done in the cycling world than putting expensive wheels on a budget bike.

It's all about perspective.

I bought my first ever bike mag last month and saw a 26g Bontrager carbon bottle cage costing £30. I then thought what kind of logic says that this is actually worth considering when you are going to stick a bottle with almost 650ml of water in it. Ok so it does look quite nice but why obsess about saving 20g over an £5 alternative when all you need to do is fill the bottle up with 630ml if you really want to save 20g. Are people completely insane?

Because a 26g carbon cage with a 650ml bottle of water weighs 20g less than a 46g bottle cage with a 650ml bottle of water in it!

Toptube531

Reduced by £337 - bargain!
http://www.parker-international.co.uk/1 ... heels.html

Anonymous

Meh...


http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Lightweight_Obermayer_III_Tubular_Wheel_Set/5360042546/

Escargot

zedders wrote:

I only asked if it was a wind up because of what others have previously posted, and I didn't want to look a fool. I take your point about others doing things more ridiculous, but what was suggested was pretty ridculous? Surely! & don't get me wrong I don't think there's anything wrong with an entry level bike such as the Carera - everyones got to start somewhere etc & I'm sure you've seen my ride. But surely you would agree expensive wheels is as aready stated, is a waste of money on such as steed, regardless of whether they cost more than the bike or not??? There comes a point when you just have to say right new bike?

I don't think you'd look a fool giving out sound advice and I don't think it was taken that you were being rude about Carrera's.

Don't get me wrong I wholeheartedly agree. I thought about replacing my rear hub/wheel as my cassette doesn't rotate true but the thought of spending £40 on the Carrera put me off as it only cost £250 in the first place. Ebay would be my best bet but to be honest I'm not going to bother as any defects will only make me work harder to compensate and I'll just wait till I buy myself something decent later in the year.

My main point was that although seemingly outrageous there are more ludicrous ideas/ideals out there that are considered ok because they are accepted by the masses so was hoping that the poor lad didn't feel too silly for making such a suggestion

alfablue

If your wheel is buckled it can probably be easily fixed by the LBS for maybe £15, or even yourself if you learn how to true a wheel

Droops

spend £2K on wheels, exhausts, air intakes, tinted windows and light clusters, various things supposedly made of Carbon Fibre and even some additional pieces which are strictly not road legal. At the end of the day, they still own a 1.2 Corsa, albeit one which costs a LOT more to insure.

What? Do you really think those scrotes contact their insurance company to discuss (let alone pay) any increase in premium due to their non-standard "upgrades"?
Judging by the 'in the courts' section in my local rag, a good proportion don't even bother with insurance at all. And when they get fined £140 for having no insurance you can see why - it's an absolute bargain! The chances of getting caught are slim, and if you do it'll only cost a fraction of what appropriate insurance would cost.
Bring back the birch, anyone?

Infamous

For the price of a decent set of carbon wheels, he could buy a better bike.

Frenchy266

Ok Thank you all for the advice, It was not a wind up and I do see your point !
So would Getting the wheel Trued Weeken the wheel ? or will it still be fine ?

I swear it was only a smallish stone that I went over, Got a puncture & now the wheel does not feel the same !

Yes I have just started out last year On this bike and I can already see that this is a Begginers Bike, It is a really nice bike as everyone has commented but I can already see the pro's of upgrading the bike now, So maybe by the end of this year I will be able to upgrade.
What would anyone sugest be the next run on the ladder ? I brought the Carrera for £300 so I guess the next bike I'll be looking to spend double that, about £600 Any suggestions ?

Cheers all for your help !!!

Infamous

truing it will strengthen the wheel.

STEFANOS4784

Infamous wrote:

For the price of a decent set of carbon wheels, he could buy a better bike.

But it wont have as nice wheels

I say get'em! If you need new wheels you'd may as well get decent ones then when you do decide to upgrade the rest the wheels are already sorted 8)