Wheel upgrade - calling owners of RS20, Aksium, Fulcrum 7/5
Robi45
Posts: 49
Yes, I apologise as I know wheels are discussed in quite a few places on this forum but I would like to hear from any owners of RS10/20s, Aksiums or Fulcrum 7 or 5s please...
Im currently running R500's which I am looking to upgrade over the winter for next year. They have actually been pretty good and stayed true over the God awful roads around here, just not the lightest things around but will keep them for winter use.
RS20's and Aksiums seem stalwart choices with solid reviews. The Fulcrums donlt fill me with any great sense of anticipation but I might be wrong here. Any good/bad expereince to pass on?? Any other nuggests I might have missed...? Its the usual requirement, training rides at the weekend and the odd sportive. :?
Im currently running R500's which I am looking to upgrade over the winter for next year. They have actually been pretty good and stayed true over the God awful roads around here, just not the lightest things around but will keep them for winter use.
RS20's and Aksiums seem stalwart choices with solid reviews. The Fulcrums donlt fill me with any great sense of anticipation but I might be wrong here. Any good/bad expereince to pass on?? Any other nuggests I might have missed...? Its the usual requirement, training rides at the weekend and the odd sportive. :?
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Who didn't see yet another hijack coming :evil:
Fulcrums are made in the same factory as Campag wheels, so they'd be good.
Also, what colour is your bike? VERY important to some of us
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I've had a pair of Aksiums and Fulcrum 5's and I have to say I preferred the fulcrums.
However both pairs of wheels required little maintenance and stayed true on the awful roads near my home.
It probably comes down to personal preference and choice of colour as mentioned above at the end of the day!If every mistake you make is a new one ... cheer up, you're making progress!0 -
planet x model b0
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I also have a pair of R500 and recently looked into upgrading
I was put off the Aksiums because people have reported creaking under load/stress
http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=15631792
Planet x model b have aluminium freehubs that are prone to chewing-up if using Shimano 10sp cassettes
e.g.
http://www.bikeradar.com/road/forums/vi ... t=12591497
http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=14804326
The RS20's have had good reviews and are currently £111 at Ribble Cycles if you don't mind using them.0 -
Had Aksiums - problem after problem from supposedly tough wheels, not tried Fulcrum so I vote Shimano RS20's, a rear of which I bought to replace the mavic and has been faultless, or hand built open pros0
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I think lightweight is probably the way to go if you're into sportives - I got up Quernmore, the Trough and Waddington Fell on this year's Bill Bradley ride without putting my foot down and much faster than the previous two years.
Of course, the fact that my whole bike weight was about five pounds less than my venerable Giant OCR had something to do with it, also the Campag Zondas are pretty light, especially on the front end.
The Zonda "setup" is being retired now for the winter, it's time for the Ventos, Stelvios, and Race Blades
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Planet X Model B0
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it's not worth upgrading R500's to aksiums or fulcrum7's IMO - you need to aim higher than that to feel any benefit. they arent' high enough up the food chain to be 'that' much better.
R500's are already a bit better than the usual unbranded cack that comes with loads of bikes.
You need to be looking at the fulcrum3 level to see any benefit.0 -
Which is why I notice a difference between the Vento/Stelvio combo and the Zonda/Ultremo setup.
Don't neglect tyre choice either, this can save some weight, as can light inner tubes. But DON'T take them over rough roads like you will if you end up leading "junior section" rides at your local club.........my Ultremo tyres didn't like this type of surface. Then again, given the choice I only ever ride my bike ON THE ROAD :P0 -
I have Fulcrum 7's on my commuter and Fulcrum 5's on my Kharma (best bike).
I got the Fulcrum 7's last year Christmas because I had to have that sound (the clickity of the freehub) in my life.
After having that sound in my life I had to have it on my best bike.
The difference between Fulcrum 5's and 7's are the 5 have slightly bladed spokes.
I love them, they are however some of the most unsociable wheels ever, if you plan to have a conversation with a friend when cycling keep pedalling...Food Chain number = 4
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game0 -
I've been riding RS20's for 2 weeks and broke a spoke this morning. It was a job getting home as the wheel was the shape of an egg!
I only started cycling 2 weeks ago after a 6 year sabbatical so I'm neither fit nor strong and it's the first time I've ever broke a spoke, make of that what you will.
I am looking into hand built ones for the winter.0 -
Have fulcrum 5 EVO's - love them! I am 16.5 st and they've been true for the past year, I too have to have the sound in my life! I ride with someone else on 7's and you can here us coming down the hills!0
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I have the Askiums, and suffered the noise etc but have sorted them.
As I only paid £90 quid for them I wasnt too bothered, but I wouldnt buy factory built Mavics again. They have served me well since sorting the noise issue, and have stayed true even after being knocked down by a van.
Maybe price up some descent handbuilt wheels. Buy cheap, buy twice0 -
I've owned RS10,RS20&Askiums.The shimanos stayed very true with no problems,The Askiums were'nt queit as good at staying true&needed trueing every now&then but nothing too bad.As has been said before at this price point there ain't much difference in how the wheels actualy feel.Infact if you blindfolded me me i don't think i could tell which ones were which-they all do the job.Good for winter training miles.TT photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/steverob/0
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HI all, iv`e had aksiums and they were great nice and fast, for a bout 6 months and....they started creaking and the things would not stay true.The back wheel off side kept coming lose, and the aero spokes where turning on themselves, OH AND THE PAWL SPRINGS ARE CRAP, i had to make some out of pen springs!! has mine had broke, was there a problem with the early aksiums? i bought mine from parker international. and told him a bout the cassette , they said quote " have you used them in the rain" YES, oh well water got in then!!
Has for my fulcrums 7 again nice for 5 months rear wheel off side radial spokes comes loose and the wheel flexes all over the place when out of saddle, My mate who`s a wheel builder says radial off side does not work on rear wheels! he reckons its a crap idea and he has built wheels for 35 years. I have gone though about 5 sets of factory built wheels and have all knackard up in 6 months or so and have to be trued every 2-3 weeks. I am now on bianchi 3 cross ambrosia wheels! see how these go!0 -
I've been riding RS20's all summer with no problems. Wheels stayed true and no spoke breakages. Been running Michelin Pro 's on them. Due to swap to winter bike soon so will service hubs shortly as shimano are a bit tight with the grease usually.0
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Replaced a pair of RS-20s with some Fulcum 5 evos a few months ago. Only had the RS-20s for a year but water was getting into the rear hub and it was corroding and grinding iteself to pieces.
The Fulcrums have been fab. Much more confidence and stability particularly when decending, it's almost like a different bike. Noisy but remove the need for a bell. Absolute ball ache to get tyres on though. Snapped the ends off 3 tyre levers changing a puncture on a Vredestein Ricorso tyre. The RS-20s were very easy to get tyres on in comparison. Wouldn't go back though.0 -
Robi45 wrote:Yes, I apologise as I know wheels are discussed in quite a few places on this forum but I would like to hear from any owners of RS10/20s, Aksiums or Fulcrum 7 or 5s please...
Im currently running R500's which I am looking to upgrade over the winter for next year. They have actually been pretty good and stayed true over the God awful roads around here, just not the lightest things around but will keep them for winter use.
RS20's and Aksiums seem stalwart choices with solid reviews. The Fulcrums donlt fill me with any great sense of anticipation but I might be wrong here. Any good/bad expereince to pass on?? Any other nuggests I might have missed...? Its the usual requirement, training rides at the weekend and the odd sportive. :?
Re. Shimano, I've had R500's, R550's, RS20's, WH-5600's amongst other wheels - the RS20's are well-enough made, whereas the 5600's and 550's perform better imho (and are lighter) - I experienced wobble on a front 500, but again, for the dirt-cheap cost they're competent - its harder to get 550's and 5600's now so RS20's make a nice budget Shimano choice - I'd have them over Aksiums, but I'd prefer Fulcrum 5's over the RS20's - if I was to pick 3 budget wheels I'd choose:
Fulcrum Racing 5's
Model B's/RS20's
in that order - all of them are competent for the price though.
(loved my WH-5600's but they're harder to find now - Ribble might have some - might be more costly though).0 -
The reason for the noise with Fulcrum 7 is the lack of grease in the freehub. It is easy to strip and regrease it though - total solution. My 7s have been good for 2 years with no truing neded despite lots of cattle grids around here.
Ive had a big problem with lack of water-tightness of the rear hub though. I left the bike for a few weeks after a very wet ride (its my winter bike). Went to use it again and the rear hub had siezed needing new bearings. They are supplied with v little lubricant and useless seals - otherwise great budget wheels.0 -
Thanks for all the posts. Bit of a bl***y minefield choosing the perfect set of hoops!
I was erring towards the Shimanos as the 500s have been solid and assuming I can convince myself its an upgrade worth doing, RS20 appeal and look good. But then again, maybe I should aim a little higher...0 -
I would highly recommend Easton, all handbuilt and very reliable. I've got the EA70's and they run as smooth as silk. If you looking for something that can take some real punishment it's worth considering Planet X model B/C I rode 4000k including this years tour of flanders and various other sections of Belgium Pave on them... a great winter hoop and there cheap as chips0
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I'd avoid the RS20s
http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=15690221#156902210 -
cheers drive wrote:I'd avoid the RS20s
http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=15690221#15690221
no disrespect but this hardly qualifies as a reason why we should all avoid RS20's - i mean I feel for you in the position you are in, but in fairness all factory build wheels are difficult to source spares for.0 -
To me it's a damn good reason; the OP may buy RS20s and break a spoke on the first ride and then be without a wheel for months. Yes factory wheels spares have always been a problem but it's normally a case of waiting a week and ordering them in not that the spares aren't available for months!
The article would also point to the RS20 design being suiceptable to spoke breakage
http://www.roadcyclinguk.com/gear-news/shimano-rs20-and-carbon-1380-wheel-update/3742.html0 -
Isn't the issue with snapping spokes because most factory wheels are set to very high tensions?
Then again, it DOES give you MORE SPEED 0
