Wheelset upgrade

tbeat

i am looking to upgrade my wheelset on my 2010 specialized allez elite. i use my bike mainly for training runs and the odd charity run. i was looking at the Mavic akisum 2011 model and the Fulcrum 5 2011 model. what are your experiences of these and would they suit the type of riding i do? both are within my price range.

thanks,

chambers_a3

Hi,

I have some Fulcrum Racing 5's what i use on my winter bike and they are an exceptional wheel for the money. I think I only payed about £150 from Merlin cycles.
The Fulcrum 5's are in comparison with Mavic Ksyrium Equipes (the model above aksiums) and Equipes are very good yet Fulcrums are around half the price.

I have owned both Equipes and Racing 5's and they are a very good all round training wheel, they will both stand all conditions and from my experience my Fulcrums have stayed 100% true and still working smoothly after a good winters use.

Aksiums are the cheapest of Mavics "good range" and the comparison of them in the Fulcrum range is the Racing 7's which in my opinion are fairly poor.
Hope this helps.

HamishD

Both good wheels, and both perfectly good, but neither are that much of an upgrade to be honest.

If you can stretch to Fulcrum 3s or Mavic Kysriums then great, otherwise I would spend the cash on some decent tyres and take the missus out for dinner. If you must go for those that you've stated I would wait until your current wheels have had it, and then just buy as replacements to your existing.

FWIW I have Fulcrum 3s and Fulcrum Zeroes and they are both fantastic wheels, not super light but very strong and stiff and with great hubs.

HamishD

PS Fulcrum 5s for £150 are a good deal but still not THAT much of an upgrade IMVHO . . .

I'm always of the opinion that if you're going to upgrade something don't do it in half measures!

tbeat

Nice one Hamish. my rear wheel is busted so i need something pretty quick. i am tempted to do a 'proper' upgrade but for what i do i might not be able to justify it. i will have to take her out for a few meals to keep the peace lol

HamishD

Ribble have the 2011 Racing 5 wheels for £150. Job done . . .

Bobbinogs

When you say "busted", in which way? I had some Spesh OEM wheels (Spesh hub with CXP22 rims) and had to replace the hub (which was relatively cheap using 105 and rebuilding myself). If the rim has gone then this is only a £20 job (although this will also mean you get to learn how to build a wheel).

If you are looking for something that will do the job until you can actually upgrade then something cheap like the WH500 or RS10 will suffice and probably about the same as what you have, but just buy the rear wheel only (about £50 or £70 respectively). Upgrading will mean jumping up to RS80 or Fulcrum 3 territory and you would be better off saving your pennies until you can jump the gap properly, IMO.

tbeat

yeah Bobbinogs it is the (Spesh hub with CXP22 rims) rear wheel. basically the cassette or hub has seized so i could not freewheel. guy at the bike shop was able to free it, but its very rough when out on the road. i think now would be a good opportunity to upgrade

Bobbinogs

Okey doke. Sounds like the actual freehub itself which has gone (which is exactly the same problem I had). I reckon your options are:

Fix: Get a freehub extractor (£15) and see if you can sort the freehub out by cleaning and regreasing or get a new freehub to replace the faulty unit (£15 + £35) or buy a complete hub and rebuild the wheel (£50 and an hour or two)
Replace: A rear wheel like the WH500, etc. (£50)
Upgrade: A pair of RS80s or Fulcrum 3s, etc. (£300+)

IMHO, you should either be looking at spending up to £50 or over £300. Anything in the middle and you probably won't detect any change at all. However, if you want matching wheels (for purely cosmetic reasons) then the RS10s are pretty good at £100, which will sort you out for now and leave a few quid for when you do want to upgrade.