planet x model b / mavic aksium / prolites wheel choice

gwillis

Im looking to pull the trigger on one of the above wheelsets as im upgrading my shimano 500 wheels / converting to campag. Ill be using them for training / fitness rides . The area where I live is pretty hilly so im a bit confused what to go for .

any suggestions please

dru

Which model Pro-lites were you looking for and also whats your budget?

Is lightness your number one factor?

Also, just confirming you are looking to run this 'new' wheelset with a campagnolo freehub.

thel33ter

I like my Model B's. They are relatively aero, lightish, and strong enough to survive being hit by a car :roll:

gwillis

Thanks for the reply. Yes they we to run on a campag set up and my budget is under £200. In not sure ill get superight wheels for that price but would settle for a good all rounder. I think the prolite are braccianos or similar.

gwillis

Thanks for the reply. Yes they we to run on a campag set up and my budget is under £200. In not sure ill get superight wheels for that price but would settle for a good all rounder. I think the prolite are braccianos or similar.n

giant_man

Had my model B's for quite a while now. quite, light and simply great vfm, highly recommended

itboffin

FWIW I have the R500s on my cross bike, they seem okay for cheap wheels, I also have/had the planet-x Cs on my campag winter bike, they we're great very hard wearing and solid until I wore through the rims but then two muddy wet winters will do that, I also have Mavic aksium on my sportive bike and other than a slight flat spot on the rear they've been ace, I love the aero look.

I'd buy the planet-x all day because they're cheap and work well, i'd also buy the Mavic because I like the look but best so far have been a hand built mavic open pro, I totally noticed the difference first and every ride and it only cost £100 fully built (rear).

Have a look at parker international for cheap hand builts

http://www.parker-international.co.uk/c/134/Hand-Built-Wheels.html

Good luck.

Edit: Planet-x have a sale on Fulcrums and Campagnolo http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/c/q/wheels

All yummy stuff

pastey_boy

the prolites for £175 from ribble once they get them in cannot be beat although probably wont be in before the sales end. dave hinde is doing some mavic open pros with ambrosio zenith hubs and butted aci spokes for £185. the zenith hubs are as light as hope pro 3,s and the rims are top spec plus you get awesome hand built quality, look good too in black
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-Wheels-Ambros ... 4cf22da4f4

oscarbudgie

Triandrun.com have the Pro-Lite Bracciano's for £197. Fantastic value wheelset at £300 so for £200 they're a must. You'd be in RS80 / Racing 3 territory to get similar weight / quality otherwise

gwillis

Now I'm confused, I like the idea if the open pros given they are hand build . I'm not far away from racing 3's at 275 from px but I was hoping to keep it below 200 If possible. The prolites are a good buy also.

gwillis

Now I'm confused, I like the idea if the open pros given they are hand build . I'm not far away from racing 3's at 275 from px but I was hoping to keep it below 200 If possible. The prolites are a good buy also.

antfly

What about Shimano Ultegras at about £225.

unixnerd

You should be comparing the prolite braccianos with mavic ksyriums, not askiums. The first two sets are around 1500g, the askiums are 1700 or 1800 I think - same for ultegras.

I bought a used set of ksyrium elites but had to send them back. Despite my checking in advance they were campag instead of shimano. I was gutted as the seemed REALLY nice and I was very impressed with the quality of construction and the bearings. A new set is about 400 quid I think.

So I went with new braccianos from Ribble for about 180 quid. Superb wheels and a real joy to ride. But I'd say they look a bit more cheaply made than the mavics, they are half the price though! In particular I'd suspect the mavic bearings would be more durable over very high mileages.

If I had to buy again using my own (limited) funds I'd still take the braccianos. They ride wonderfully. Compared to my old 2kg wheels I feel a very big difference climbing hills and accelerating. They also brake much faster, probably due to a new braking surface and lower angular momentum. If money was no object I'd have Ksyrium Elites.

I also liked the fact they don't have cup and cone bearings that need regular maintenance, the Shimanos do. I'd far rather swap out an integrated bearing then fiddle with cup and cones (have done both in my time).

gwillis

antfly wrote:

What about Shimano Ultegras at about £225.

They have to have a campag fitting

gwillis

Prolites seem a winner, just a shame ribble are out of stock, I've requested an update on their online order system . Failing that triandrun is the next best deal by the looks

antfly

I nearly got the pro-lites but it says on their website that if a spoke pops it has to go to a pro-lite service place to be repaired cos the spoke tensions are crucial and only a pro-lite engineer can do it, or something. It's no good if it can't be easily repaired. They do have instructions online but I can't imagine any LBS bothering to read them and it says if it doesn't get done properly then your spokes will carry on popping.

gwillis

antfly wrote:

I nearly got the pro-lites but it says on their website that if a spoke pops it has to go to a pro-lite service place to be repaired cos the spoke tensions are crucial and only a pro-lite engineer can do it, or something. It's no good if it can't be easily repaired. They do have instructions online but I can't imagine any LBS bothering to read them and it says if it doesn't get done properly then your spokes will carry on popping.

So what did you buy instead. These wheels have had a good write up recently in cycling plus

.http://www.halorims.com/halo/halo-halor ... hp?link=42

unixnerd

Those are 1800g, 300g heavier than the pro-lites. As the hub seem so lightweight I suspect all of the extra is at the rim, where it most impacts performance.

edhornby

are merlin still doing fulcrum 5s for 150 quid? I've got a pair and they're a winner

gwillis

Fool is the man who doesn't jump on a good deal . Triandrun have bumped their price back up to £297 . Doh[/list]

gwillis

Fool is the man who doesn't jump on a good deal . Triandrun have bumped their price back up to £297 . Doh[/list]

antfly

gwillis wrote:

antfly wrote:

I nearly got the pro-lites but it says on their website that if a spoke pops it has to go to a pro-lite service place to be repaired cos the spoke tensions are crucial and only a pro-lite engineer can do it, or something. It's no good if it can't be easily repaired. They do have instructions online but I can't imagine any LBS bothering to read them and it says if it doesn't get done properly then your spokes will carry on popping.

So what did you buy instead. These wheels have had a good write up recently in cycling plus

.http://www.halorims.com/halo/halo-halor ... hp?link=42

I got Shimano RS80s, lovely wheels but that's no good to you as you need Campaq.

gwillis

oscarbudgie wrote:

Triandrun.com have the Pro-Lite Bracciano's for £197. Fantastic value wheelset at £300 so for £200 they're a must. You'd be in RS80 / Racing 3 territory to get similar weight / quality otherwise

Thanks for the heads ip. I rang them today after I failed to get my order through online and the price then going up. They have kindly offered to do them for £197.

Can't wait to get out on them.

Once again thanks for all the info

oscarbudgie

Excellent choice sir!