Sportive Wheelset - £500 budget

sgt822

Hi all,

After some advice. I'm currently rising a 2011 Scott CR1 Team 105 with Mavic Aksium wheels. I'm 38 yrs old, 6'2" tall, 14 stone and do about 100-150 miles a week - mostly involving Lake distict passes. I'm training for the Fred Whitton and other similar climbfest sportives.

I'm after some advice on a wheelset upgrade. Obviously with my build they need to be strong and durable but hopefully light enough to make a real difference on the climbs.

Any advice for wheelsets coming in at under £500 notes? Also I'd welcome advice from those in the know as to whether you really do get the extra bang for your buck out of such an upgrade.

Cheers in advance

Brian B

Mavic Sls or Fulcrums 1s. If you shop around you can get them for around your budget. I use the Mavic Sls myself for sportives and they are reliable, fairly good all rounders(pun intended) look good and okay in the weight dept if not great.

I am 6ft2" myself but a bit lighter than you but I have seen lots of these wheels ridden on sportives by 'larger' rider so if they work for them you'll be fine.

matty boy 80

Il agree with with Brian had my sls for 18 months still as true as the day i brought them.

amaferanga

Wheelsmith

IRD Cadence Aero make a great do everything wheelset. The Stans look interesting if you're after something even lighter, but the Cadence Aero built up with CX Rays with some good hubs will be pretty lightweight.

glasgowbhoy

amaferanga wrote:

Wheelsmith

IRD Cadence Aero make a great do everything wheelset. The Stans look interesting if you're after something even lighter, but the Cadence Aero built up with CX Rays with some good hubs will be pretty lightweight.

I've got these on Hope Pro Hubs and Mich Pro Race 3 Tyres and are strong, light enough and roll really well.

CarbonCopy

PMP hubs all the way they are so smooth.People who have them will know this

MaxwellBygraves

Brian B wrote:

Mavic Sls or Fulcrums 1s. If you shop around you can get them for around your budget. I use the Mavic Sls myself for sportives and they are reliable, fairly good all rounders(pun intended) look good and okay in the weight dept if not great.

I am 6ft2" myself but a bit lighter than you but I have seen lots of these wheels ridden on sportives by 'larger' rider so if they work for them you'll be fine.

+1

Chip \'oyler

amaferanga wrote:

Wheelsmith

IRD Cadence Aero make a great do everything wheelset. The Stans look interesting if you're after something even lighter, but the Cadence Aero built up with CX Rays with some good hubs will be pretty lightweight.

+1. I have a pair. They're superb. Strong and light.

ScottieP

You could also look into the Velocity A23s: http://www.stradawheels.co.uk/shop/velocity-a23-wheelset/ I met Jonathan and Darren from Strada at the TCR Show was really impressed. Very helpful and approachable guys. I'm considering getting some of these wheels too ... but probably with PMP hubs. It's a pretty good website too. They a story about some A23's on their blog too.

AlanS2

+1 for Mavic SLs.

I've had mine since 2002, done a fair bit of off road too and they're still great.

yaya

If the Fulcrum 3 are anything to go by then the 1s should do a good job also

I've got 3's on a CR1 2007 and weigh a couple of kilos more, no problem in 12 months inc. winter training, not even spoke adjustment!

1 annoying thing is the matt finish makes it hard to clean them and the stickers look like a cheap afterthought...

FitzM

amaferanga wrote:

Wheelsmith

IRD Cadence Aero make a great do everything wheelset. The Stans look interesting if you're after something even lighter, but the Cadence Aero built up with CX Rays with some good hubs will be pretty lightweight.

+1 Wheelsmith

Mine are running PMP Hubs, very smooth

sgt822

Cheers Gents but struggling to find any Fulcrum 1's or Mavic SLs within the £500 budget. Anyone any knowledge of American Classic 420 Aero 3's? - Got a good review in Cycling + and look pretty. Any users out there?

Monty Dog

I have some AC420s - the older model that doesn't have the crow's-foot lacing. Light and aero but not the stiffest laterally which has apparently been resolved with the newer ones - they are noticeably quicker at 50kph+ in comparison to a conventional wheel. In terms of others, I would choose Fulcrum 1s over Ksyrium SLs - they have just a little more 'give' and make them less harsh IME.

Alumin-Liam

HED Ardennes - a few of my clubmates recently picked the 2010 wheels up for 450 directly from HED. Absolute bargain! Not sure if they have any left but it might be worth checking. Even at full price those wheels are exceptional.

Planet X have some deals on Ksyriums at the moment. Ribble are cheapest for Fulcrum.

Strada Wheels

Hello - I am Jonathan from Strada mentioned by Scottie earlier in the thread. The A23 rim is the same width as the HED Ardennes rim (23mm) and will make a noticeable difference to the ride quality by smoothing out the road buzz. It is also 40g lighter per rim than the IRD Cadence Aero aka the Kinlin XR300. PMP hubs are well engineered and a good choice and when combined with Sapim CX Ray spokes will be a great set of all rounders and significantly cheaper then Ardennes SLs.

amaferanga

Strada Wheels wrote:

Hello - I am Jonathan from Strada mentioned by Scottie earlier in the thread. The A23 rim is the same width as the HED Ardennes rim (23mm) and will make a noticeable difference to the ride quality by smoothing out the road buzz. It is also 40g lighter per rim than the IRD Cadence Aero aka the Kinlin XR300. PMP hubs are well engineered and a good choice and when combined with Sapim CX Ray spokes will be a great set of all rounders and significantly cheaper then Ardennes SLs.

Isn't your A23 more comparable with the IRD Cadence which is 390g as opposed to Cadence Aero which has a deeper rim?

Strada Wheels

Fair point - I'd take the comfort and reduced weight of the A23 over the aero advantage of the 30mm IRD rim though. I also think the A23s are well finished, build up nicely and hold their shape well.