Will Shimano RS80s survive 2000m a year on Hackney's roads?

danedan679

I'm going to upgrade the stock wheels on my Bianchi hybrid am considering treating myself to some RS80s for Christmas. I don't have experience of good wheels, and am worried the poor roads in Hackney will mean constant trips to the shop to get them fixed. I do about 2000 miles a year around Hackney for work, am about 90kg, average 14.5mph and in the past year and a half have have to get a buckle on the stock wheels fixed once.

Will they be ok?

porker33

Whats the point?

Wouldn't RS10/20/30 be adequate for this use?

I have the DA which has the same rim, they do seem fairly robust so far.

danedan679

It isn't the only cycling I do though, and I only have/want one bike. Just wanted to know if they're strong enough

turnerjohn

your def have more problems and the winter muck will wear them out super fast ! If you really want them I'd get them but only use them in the summer. Get some large volume tyres (25mm min tho make sure frame and forks can clear more), I've got 30mm on my cross bike with Mavic Cosmos wheels and had no problems..

acidstrato

they'll last as long as any other set, they aint made of chocolate

the only difference is you'll feel worse wearing out a 300quid wheelset than you would a 130quid set

speshsteve

they will survive however as above said, possibly a bit overkill for what you intend to use them 4 but if you want them why not?

Only down side i have noticed is braking is not as good compared to the rims on my cxp's, will be going back to these in winter (they beat the cxp's in every other area by a country mile!)

incog24

From experience I'd go with no.

They have fair thin braking surfaces, so you'll need to be up on your maintenance if you're running them through the winter or the muck/rubbish filled brake pads will chew through them. I also had an issue where I dinked the rim in a pinch puncture. There wasn't much damage at all, but it caused the carbon to start delaminating. So, both aspects are avoidable, but may be an issue if you're commuting on dirty pothole filled roads. Nice light wheels otherwise though!

racingcondor

I suspect that they would be fine but (I ride mine in London all the time and have been through some big pot holes without damaging them, I'm only 70kg though).

I would suggest that Fulcrum 3's might be better. They are a stiffer and stronger wheel set so if you're looking for a 'put on and forget' wheel set they're worth looking at.

danedan679

thanks for the advice, i'll go for something a bit more robust

Richa1181

I've been running RS-80's for about 18 months now, including through the winter. Cheshire roads are pretty boned at the moment so they've had a fair amount of pavé thrown at them, even cracked a couple of spectacular craters that I thought would end up in pinch punctures for sure. Wheels are still true, never been touched with a spoke key. The only problem is the braking surfaces, they're pretty chewed up from grit etc but I reckon there's another 6 months in them at least. No complaints from me, I started said 18 months at about 86kg and they've done over 3000 miles according to my Garmin

If you can afford it, I'd say get a pair. Better to take a chance and have some fun on nice wheels than buy cheap, and buy twice. No point buying some cheapies for the winter and then buying the RS-80's next summer when the one set would do you both, all you have to do is keep them clean..

weapons

I wouldn't recommend them for commuting round London roads.

I have a set of Dura Ace CL24s, which is basically the same wheel - I'm on my second front because I hit a pothole in a race and buckled them too far to be trued. The second front has been involved in a minor crash in a race (where they ran into the back of someone who had come down infront of me) and bent a spoke that had to be replaced. It is a pain getting spares for these wheels as your LBS probably won't stock them and so will have to order them from Madison, hence your wheels will be out of action for a bit if you do need any spare parts.

A nice 32 spoke set of handbuilts would be a great upgrade and stand up to the job of commuting better.

edhornby

if you use the bike for commuting and also longer rides, get the posh wheels and keep them in the garage for best (the tyres will last longer so you can treat them to some quicker tyres as well), the stock wheels can continue to be used for commuting

incog is right about the bad weather trashing wheels, the cold and rain that generates potholes, the rims being scrubbed by the dirt, the water and grit in the bearings...

FransJacques

danedan679 wrote:

Will they be ok?

Only 1 way to find out. Buy 'em and report back. You live in London so can't be too skint. Go for it. If you only have 1 bike then you want something nice. Life is too short to ride crappy tyres/wheels.

rocksteadyeddie

weapons wrote:

A nice 32 spoke set of handbuilts would be a great upgrade and stand up to the job of commuting better.

^^^ This

If you are 90kg and carrying a rucksack thats probably 95kg+ all told. Maybe even look at 36s. Lots of good handbuilts on Ebay if you don't fancy forking out for new ones. Will last much better than any factory builts, and the 200g weight difference is neither here nor there.

cooper.michael1

You can buy some Hope / Mavic Open Pro's for £300. Rugged, re-buildable, and light (1650g)....I've just got some and they are a quality piece of kit....plus they a built in the UK!