Please help me decide on new wheels!

Papapete

I know, there are plenty of threads on this very subject, so apologies.

I'm finding myself trawling through website after website to make sure I buy the correct wheelset, and have come to the conclusion, I need help (some would say in more ways than one!)

Anyway, budget wise i'd say up to £250-£300. To be used for Sportive's and training rides, and I'm about 80kg. They will be put on a Trek 1.5 (09)

I've nearly pressed the buy now button on:

Shimano RS30
Easton EA50 sl (also there are Easton EA50 which are slightly heavier but a bit cheaper)
Fulcrum 5

I would like DT Swiss 1900, but tops my budget (£350)

Can anyone offer me advice in this price range, as I'm tempted to just go for Easton EA50 SL although i've read that they are almost impossible to get tires on.

Thanks in advance

Anonymous

Ring this guy and tell him what you are looking for. He will build you the best wheelset for your needs. And he's very reasonable and reputable!

www.wheelsmith.co.uk

torin

I,m currently looking at the same kind of thing

Cranks

You can get a nice set of hand built wheels for that money, custom you your specification. You can try speaking to Steve at www.roadacecomponents.co.uk, he is very honest.

mfin

Here's a good deal that might interest you.
http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/mountain-and-road-bike-wheels/mavic,-fulcrum-and-campagnolo-wheels/shimano-6700-ultegra-wheels-pair.html

akcc05

+1 for the Ultegra 6700. Just bought a pair and went out 1st time today, feel much lighter and more sure footed than my previous Bontrager Race Lites. They are tubeless ready, which means improved puncture resistance at lower psi = more comfort for long rides/sportives. They supposedly roll better than clinchers too because you don't have the tube/tire friction interface. Tubeless tires are expensive but you can always save them for the big day. I have only been riding Michelin Krylion Carbons with them (no rim tape required). Can't wait for the them to wear out so I can go tubeless. Hutchinson Fusion 2 or Atom both look good to me.

pianoman

If you're looking at tubeless ready then many of the Fulcrum and Campag wheels have 2-way fit, even down to your price range

I wouldn't worry about whether rims are known to be resistant to putting tyres on, for want of a beter expression. Campag wheels have a reputation for being very tough in this respect, but with Schwalbe folding tyres I've never had a problem. Don't know what wire-bead tyres such as the Schwalbe Lugano's would be like though.

Papapete

I'm liking the deal on the Ultegra 6700, good price.

As some have mentioned though, I may go down the route of hand built, which have the added bonus of being repair friendly over factory wheels.

Oh so many choices :?

warrior4life

Halo mercury.. Check them on bikeradar, awesome! light and fast, im 88kg and i fly on them... :P

Papapete

Don't do this to me!!!

The Halo also look good and have just seen another thread asking about Hope Pro 3 rs aero, which look like they would suit my bike perfect, but no one can vouch for their ride quality.

Trying to drum in that hand built is the way to go

benjboy

I am in the same boat as you ,dont know what to go for. :?

Papapete

I don't think the wife has this much trouble choosing what shoes to wear!!

I think i've got it down to:

Easton EA50 SL - £210 at Tredz (excludes rim tape & skewers)
Handbuilt IRD Aero as suggested by NapD above (Wheelsmith) - £260 on Ambrosio hubs
And the Hope Pro 3 RS Aero that Benj is toying with - just shy of £300 (really like the look of these)

Common on all is that there 30mm deep (intention of the odd Duathlon next year - might pyschologically make me think I can ride faster!)

STEFANOS4784

You know you can get the DT Swiss R 1900 from fat birds for 305.98 inc delivery, just saying........

Papapete

STEFANOS4784 wrote:

You know you can get the DT Swiss R 1900 from fat birds for 305.98 inc delivery, just saying........

Just when you think you've nailed it down to three...........Cheers Stefano

chrisw12

PianoMan wrote:

If you're looking at tubeless ready then many of the Fulcrum and Campag wheels have 2-way fit, even down to your price range

I wouldn't worry about whether rims are known to be resistant to putting tyres on, for want of a beter expression. Campag wheels have a reputation for being very tough in this respect, but with Schwalbe folding tyres I've never had a problem. Don't know what wire-bead tyres such as the Schwalbe Lugano's would be like though.

Sorry that's a load of rubbish. It should be the main consideration when buying a new set of wheels.

Just have a look at the countless threads on here about tyres that don't fit.

Just look at the countless hours of time and wasted effort people have to spend because tyres don't fit on their chosen wheels.

pianoman

Sorry that's a load of rubbish. It should be the main consideration when buying a new set of wheels.

You want to know how much trouble I've had with wired-on tyres?

And how much easier it was with Schwalbe folders?

If you bothered to go through a few more threads you'd find that there are plenty which discuss certain brands being tricky, or otherwise, to fit.

What I was trying to put across, was that some people always give sweeping statements about how no tyres will ever go on a certain rim, without having tried different brands and tyre widths etc.

cheehee

I recently bought some Shimano RS30's for £130 from Ribble. I'm very pleased with them.



Those Ultegra's look like a bargain though.

Cheehee

Anonymous

chrisw12 wrote:

PianoMan wrote:

If you're looking at tubeless ready then many of the Fulcrum and Campag wheels have 2-way fit, even down to your price range

I wouldn't worry about whether rims are known to be resistant to putting tyres on, for want of a beter expression. Campag wheels have a reputation for being very tough in this respect, but with Schwalbe folding tyres I've never had a problem. Don't know what wire-bead tyres such as the Schwalbe Lugano's would be like though.

Sorry that's a load of rubbish. It should be the main consideration when buying a new set of wheels.

Just have a look at the countless threads on here about tyres that don't fit.

Just look at the countless hours of time and wasted effort people have to spend because tyres don't fit on their chosen wheels.

Then people must be doing it wrong. I've never had an issue.

northpole

This is the first thread I have come upon which mentions the point I really need advice on so I'll start here if I may.
I have dura ace wheels - the ones previous to the current carbon laminate ones.

I think they are great - I have used them for well over two years and they remain absolutely plumb true. However,....

I have Michelin pro race 3's fitted at the moment and I'm finding in town at this time of year they are getting cut to pieces and I'm suffering punctures on a regular basis.

The thing which has me beat is that no matter how I try, I find it nigh on impossible in the comfort of my own home to get the tyre back on when replacing a tube.

My last wheels had mavic open pro rims - probably much cheaper wheels - but any time I had a puncture it was so easy to pop the tyres off and back on - even at the road side.

I would really appreciate any comments from folks who could advise on whether a different tyre type can work much better with the dura ace rims or if shimano were being too clever with a rim which they say can take both tubs and clinchers. I am very close to getting rid of what would otherwise be a great pair of wheels. But what a qualification!!

Peter

northpole

I should add, the last two times I have popped round to my lbs, they went through 4 or 5 tubes each time struggling to get the tyres on, so I'm not convinced it's just me....

Peter