Sportive Wheels and Tyres

dinsdale81

Afternoon,

I'm doing 4 or 5 sportives next year and while my current wheels are perfect for training, i'm looking for something a bit lighter.

One of the Sportives planned for next year is the trois ballon in the Pyrenees and i'm thinking a lightweight wheelset could help lots to get up those bl**dy mountains. My budget for the wheel is only about £300, apparently feeding my daughter is the priority. Has anyone got any recommendations. I've heard varying reports about Pro-Lite Bracciano's and Xero Lite XR-1s but are these wheels actually any good or just cheap tat to be avoided.

Also, can anyone recommend a good tyre to wrap the wheel in. I did the Guildford Cycle Challenge last september and after getting 3 punctures decided that my current set aren't all that kop. I just want something fairly fast rolling and won't punture if someone breathes on them the wrong way.

Any help will be appreacited.

maddog 2

the Ultegra 6700 tubeless at Merlin should be on the list. Not superlight but pretty light.

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/mountain- ... -pair.html

As for tyres, if you go standard tyres+tubes then Mich ProRace3, or Schwalbe Ultremo, or Conti GP4000S are all well reviewed. Look at Mich Ultralight tubes for a good value 75g butyl tube. Or try the Mich latex (go for the narrow version).

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=20485
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=20486

Or you could go tubeless (as i've done) with the Hutch Fusion2s.

Harry182

@ maddog 2 - I've been tempted by the Ultegra 6700 wheelset particularly because of their tubeless potential. How would you compare the tubeless ride to a normal tyre + tube setup?

ps - That Merlin price is amazing.

maddog 2

I've been runing the Fusion2s most of the summer and I'm a big fan. I think they ride very well - supple and grippy - and I like that you can run them at 90-100 psi and still get good RR and puncture protection.

I've had no issues with losing pressure or anything, and that's on Open Pros which needed Stans tape to seal the spoke holes.

The Fusion2 weigh in at 300g so they aren't superlight - equivalent to a 230g tyre and a 70g tube - and if you are a weenie then you might decide this is too heavy, but for normal road use they are light enough for me.

Overall (tyre, valve, tape and sealant) they worked out at 333g per wheel.

maddog 2

a mate has just bought some of the 6700 wheels actually, so I'll see what they are like this weekend as he's bringing them round to have some tyres fitted and the cassette swapped. I'll write some more when I've had them in my hands.

Harry182

@ maddog 2 - Thanks for the reply and comments on road tubeless. I look forward to hearing what you think about the 6700s.

pontarlier_pete

I do a lot of riding in the alps on my training wheels. Last year they were Mavic Ksyriums. This year it'll be Mavic Open Pro's. Not particularly light, but I trust them - essential for going down the other side. I wouldn't be overly concerned with weight, it's not a race so another 30seconds up won't make any difference, and anyway you'll easily make that up going down on wheels you have absolute faith in.

Another personal preference - I prefer tubes to tubs for this, particularly in very hot weather - using brakes for a long time on the way down can cause massive temperature, which might affect the tub glue. It would probably be ok, but I prefer not to run the risk of it happening at all, especially when you're not in the TDF and don't have a helicopter on standby. Of course, the trade off is they're slightly slower around the bends, but again it's not a race so...

term1te

I've been very happy with my Open Pros with DA hubs when cycling around the mountains. The choice of tyre is probably more important. Whilst road conditions tend to be a little better over here, certainly less flints and gravel waiting for you at the bottom of every hill, you will lose a lot more time fixing a flat than that extra 10 g of rubber would have slowed you down.

I hope you don't head off to the pyrenees for les trois ballon, it was in the Vosges, Alsace, last year.

tjshill82

Tyres are a minefield. The are so many types on the market. For me it has to be Michellin Pro Race 3's. So far I have not had any punctures in approx 1000 miles and they are very grippy considering they have no tread.