What wheels!?....

toadontheroad

I guess this is one of many, many "what wheels?" threads so apologies if this has been done to death!

I have £300-£350 for some new wheels. LBS are tempting me with some Hope Pro 3s on Open Pros. Cant fault them or their price but just wondered what else I should consider. I weigh 80kgs and they will be for racing (mixed distance duathlons) rather than commuting. The Open Pros just seem to be quite odd looking with their 32 spokes as opposed to the Fulcrum 5s which seem to be totally different.

Help!....

hopper1

I'd definately get wheels with a lower spoke count if for racing.
Call Derek at wheelsmiths, for good advice.

toadontheroad

the mavic/hope wheels work out at about 1850g without skewers, cassette, tubes and tyres, only 100g or so more than say fulcrum 5s but surely those hope hubs will be far better than anything else in the price range? Does spoke count really matter if the hubs are poorer quality? is fewer spokes just a fashion thing and a psychological thing?

Easton EA70s? Ksyrium SLs?

aogan

You'll get fulcrum racing 3's for your budget won't you?

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/v ... duct=33728

327 pounds above. Great wheels. Look great too, which can be the main thing

Beatmaker

I gets a little boring suggesting these time after time, but have you looked at a set of Planet X Model B's for £99, and spending the extra elsewhere on the bike? If the Hope / Open Pro combo really weigh in at 1850g the Planet X are cheaper, lighter and more aero.

Chip \'oyler

I've heard Planet X Model Bs aren't round?

TimoH

Beatmaker wrote:

I gets a little boring suggesting these time after time, but have you looked at a set of Planet X Model B's for £99, and spending the extra elsewhere on the bike? If the Hope / Open Pro combo really weigh in at 1850g the Planet X are cheaper, lighter and more aero.

Although the Model B's are good wheels, I would say that with 350 pounds you can buy better ones. As suggested above, for example the Fulcrum Racing 3 would be a tempting option.

giant_man

Chip \'oyler wrote:

I've heard Planet X Model Bs aren't round?

yeah right, nice one ....

Garry H

Chip \'oyler wrote:

I've heard Planet X Model Bs aren't round?

You're correct, they're actually oval. This gets rid of the dead spot .

neil²

Chip \'oyler wrote:

I've heard Planet X Model Bs aren't round?

They look like a 700mm x 23mm rectangle to me, when I'm riding. But they are certainly round from the side.

toadontheroad

Beatmaker wrote:

I gets a little boring suggesting these time after time, but have you looked at a set of Planet X Model B's for £99, and spending the extra elsewhere on the bike? If the Hope / Open Pro combo really weigh in at 1850g the Planet X are cheaper, lighter and more aero.

i have seriously thought about the model bs but i cant help think that for £300 there is better out there. I dont really need to upgrade anything else, well, i cant justify upgrading anything else really given it all works fine.

wheels are were i will most likely notice the difference though and it was the hope hubs that made me err towards the mavic/hope combo. Saving weight isnt really an issue, but the smoothest running hubs i can get for the cash would be nice.

Does anyone think that the fulcrums will be better hubs? are they really campag in all but name? should i discount things like the easton ea70s and ksyrium equipes?

thanks all for the help!

dombo6

These look good:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=26447

Only 1635g the pair. I have the next ones up, EA90 SLX at 1450g, and they are fantastic wheels. Very light and true after a couple of Dragon Rides, an Etape and numerous miles (3,000) on crappy Surrey roads. Easy to maintain, too if that interests you - Easton's website has videos showing how to strip the hubs for lubing etc.

They transformed my bike from the OE Bontrager Race wheels it came with.

markos1963

Why don't you save a bit more, bring your budget up to around £600 and get some IRD Cadence rims on Royce Ti hubs and CX Ray spokes from here http://www.wheelsmith.co.uk/wheelprices.htm, totally blows the Planet X Mobel b option out the window.

giant_man

markos1963 wrote:

Why don't you save a bit more, bring your budget up to around £600 and get some IRD Cadence rims on Royce Ti hubs and CX Ray spokes from here http://www.wheelsmith.co.uk/wheelprices.htm, totally blows the Planet X Mobel b option out the window.

well they would do, they're 600 quid!

MikeWW

Mavic Ksyrium Elites would be a good choice

markos1963

giant mancp wrote:

markos1963 wrote:

Why don't you save a bit more, bring your budget up to around £600 and get some IRD Cadence rims on Royce Ti hubs and CX Ray spokes from here http://www.wheelsmith.co.uk/wheelprices.htm, totally blows the Planet X Mobel b option out the window.

well they would do, they're 600 quid!

Yes I know, what I was trying to say very badly is why bother spending a small amount on a wheel upgrade and not notice the difference between a £300 set of wheels and a £150 set. You might as well save up some more and have something really special.