From Alex DA22 to Planet X Model B

zoso7

Would you think this is a worthwhile upgrade?!

I dont know how much the Alex wheels weigh but surely must be a fair bit more than the Model B's!!

I dont commute, just leisure/fitness rides with some longer rides planned for the summer!!

Is it worth getting the Model B's and a new set of tires for a decent upgrade to my bike or will i not notice much improvement at this price point and therefore, run my current wheels into the ground/spend a bit more, although money is tight at the moment!!

Also, i weigh about 83kg, hopefully loose some the more i cycle but im a big lad so don't think i can loose more than 3-4kg without looking anorexic, would Model B's be robust enough for my uses?!

EKIMIKE

If you've got the money then go for it! The Model B's are reasonably light at 1653g and for £99 they offer great value in comparison to other wheels. As for if you will notice the difference, you probably will but it's not going to make you super fast or anything. i seriously doubt you'll be able to substantiate any differences with numbers/figure.

However the ride will probably feel different and if the Model B's are 200-400g lighter than your current wheels you may feel them easier to spin up to speed. Excluding the Frame, wheels and tyres are probably the most significant upgrade you can make to your bike so a pair of Model B's will give you far more than say a new stem, handlebar or seatpost (or even all 3 together).

Durability: i have no experience with them. They should be ok though. I can't see any weight limit specified by PX although most lighter wheels specify a 100KG - 120KG limit. The B's aren't exactly featherweight though.

zoso7

Thanks for the reply Mike, anyone else have an opinion on this?!

amaferanga

I doubt you'll notice much difference, but they will look much nicer.

alfablue

On the contrary, reducing weight on the wheels is the most noticeable upgrade of all - when I did this upgrade the effect was dramatic. Better than saving 4-600g anywhere else on the bike, and bang for buck this upgrade cannot be beaten.

STEFANOS4784

Don't believe the hype too much, expect to notice little to no difference or you run the risk of disappointment. If money is tight and the current wheels are ok then i'd recommend just wacking some new tyres on there for the time being...

alfablue

STEFANOS4784 wrote:

Don't believe the hype too much, expect to notice little to no difference or you run the risk of disappointment. If money is tight and the current wheels are ok then i'd recommend just wacking some new tyres on there for the time being...

I do not think my experience (after 16 years of cycling in all disciplines) is hype, if you don't mind. The OE Alex rims are very heavy old dogs and make most bikes feel dead, and I was surprised by the very clear difference., That said, I still use the old rims on another bike till I can afford to swap, so of course it is all relative to one's finances. But you can spend £200 on Carbon bars, £300 on a DA chainset, £120 on a carbon seatpost, £200 on Ultegra shifters, or whatever else you can think of, or £99 on a pair of wheels that will make more difference to the feel and acceleration of your bike than all the above combined.

STEFANOS4784

I was going on my experience going from RS10's and some super crappo heavy things off ebay that i can't even remember the name of. My point is that if money is tight then the difference is not as much as can sometimes be construed by reading forums :P