New wheels under £200

secretsam
secretsam Posts: 5,120
edited December 2011 in Road beginners
Right, I've got a 2010 Cannondale CAAD8 with Maddux 3.0 wheels, on which I've just broken my 3rd spoke in 700 miles of use :(

So I think I need stronger wheels - I'm about (ahem) 90kg so quite a chunky monkey

Ideally they wouldn't be too heavy - or expensive - as I can only really justify around £200 given the quality of the bike, the rider and the other demands on the SecretSam bank account :)

I could swap in a pair of handbuilt Mavic MA3 on Shimano 105 that I picked up second hand (they are a few years old but seem pretty good)

All advice gratefully received
It's just a hill. Get over it.

Comments

  • unixnerd
    unixnerd Posts: 2,864
    Planet-X do a superb wheelset called Model-Bs for 124 quid. They do one for heavier riders called a Model-C with a few more spokes, I think they're the same price.
    http://www.strathspey.co.uk - Quality Binoculars at a Sensible Price.
    Specialized Roubaix SL3 Expert 2012, Cannondale CAAD5,
    Marin Mount Vision (1997), Edinburgh Country tourer, 3 cats!
  • supernotts
    supernotts Posts: 20
    I've got the Planet B's on my Allez and highly recommend them. A massive improvement on the stock Mavic wheels. I weigh 83kg and have no problems with them.

    Just keep on top of checking the spoke's aren't coming loose. Pot holes are your enemy.
    http://www.happyfc.co.uk/Castle_Doningt ... /Home.html
  • g00se
    g00se Posts: 2,221
    The spoke count may make them look too lightweight, but Halo Mercury wheels are fairly bullet-proof, can be had as a pair for £200 and are about 1600g. Wiggle have them on offer.

    Keep an eye out for Hope Hoops RS-Mono Pro3's. They're Mavic Open Pros on Hope hubs. RRP is £300 but sometimes can be had on ebay for £200 odd. Great wheels.
  • Duffer65
    Duffer65 Posts: 341
    Cycling Plus has a review of budget wheels this month.
    Where would you be if you fell down a hole?.. Stuck down a hole... in the fog... Stuck down a hole, in the fog, at night... WITH AN OWL!
  • Diogenes
    Diogenes Posts: 1,628
    I also have a CAAD 8 and could do with giving it a little less weight to haul around (86 kg). I fitted Mavic Aksiums which have been excellent for 3 seasons now. Granted the RRP > 200 but Wiggle have them for £162.

    D :D
  • secretsam
    secretsam Posts: 5,120
    Duffer65 wrote:
    Cycling Plus has a review of budget wheels this month.

    Have read that but their idea of 'budget' isn't necessarily mine!!!!
    It's just a hill. Get over it.
  • Stewie Griffin
    Stewie Griffin Posts: 4,330
    Mavic open pros on shimano 105 hubs, should be under £200 new. Perfect for a 90 kg rider.
  • ceiriog
    ceiriog Posts: 12
    Diogenes wrote:
    I also have a CAAD 8 and could do with giving it a little less weight to haul around (86 kg). I fitted Mavic Aksiums which have been excellent for 3 seasons now. Granted the RRP > 200 but Wiggle have them for £162.

    D :D

    second this I was close to 90kg when I fitted them to my cad 8. Had no problems even hitting a few potholes now and then.
  • STONEMONKEY1972
    STONEMONKEY1972 Posts: 42
    Hi there, I had mavic open pro rims on 105 hubs, brought them after the spokes on the original set of wheels went on me, after breaking more spokes on the open pro x4 I went for mavic akisiums, bomb proof, also the hubs are far better than the 105 on the open pro. I have done just as many miles now as i did on the open pros without any problems, I just wished I listened to other people before I wasted my money on the open pro. I weigh 85kg and like training on hills etc, the akisiums just keep going and the rims are not as worn unlike the open pros were. Hope this helps you.
  • Stewie Griffin
    Stewie Griffin Posts: 4,330
    STONEMONKEY1972 wrote:
    Hi there, I had mavic open pro rims on 105 hubs, brought them after the spokes on the original set of wheels went on me, after breaking more spokes on the open pro x4 I went for mavic akisiums, bomb proof, also the hubs are far better than the 105 on the open pro. I have done just as many miles now as i did on the open pros without any problems, I just wished I listened to other people before I wasted my money on the open pro. I weigh 85kg and like training on hills etc, the akisiums just keep going and the rims are not as worn unlike the open pros were. Hope this helps you.

    5hit spokes then, I was quite a bit more than 85KG when my Open Pros went on my bike several thousand miles ago they are still on it and so are the original spokes.
  • STONEMONKEY1972
    STONEMONKEY1972 Posts: 42
    Yes you may be right as regards shite spokes, they were raleigh built open pro etc!!! they have a new state of the art wheel building set up!! :roll: to be honest my good bike is a raleigh carbon bike, the first bike frame cracked, replaced it under warranty eventually!!! the handpump and main pump went faulty, replaced them, them the set of lights went faulty, replaced them x3 times then changed to another make, also even the top of the range speedo,cadence etc broke x2 and then replace with a cheaper cateye one, no problem. seems all their products they sell aren't up to the job, so probably right as regards to the set of open pro wheels I had.
  • DavidJB
    DavidJB Posts: 2,019
    Fulcrum 5's superb wheels and bomb proof.
  • b16 b3n
    b16 b3n Posts: 301
    DavidJB wrote:
    Fulcrum 5's superb wheels and bomb proof.

    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
    :roll: he is complaining about spokes all ready.

    My suggestion would be to purchase a set of handbuilts with ACI stainless spokes and you will be laughing for years. Im a heavy rider and I currently run 5700 105 hubs 32front 32 rear with ACI stainless spokes and DT Swiss 1.1 rims. BOMB PROOF!
    " GET BACK CROC "
  • DavidJB
    DavidJB Posts: 2,019
    Whats wrong with the spokes on a F5? I've been riding them for 5000 miles and not had one broken spoke and I started off around 13 1/2 stone.
  • secretsam
    secretsam Posts: 5,120
    DavidJB wrote:
    Whats wrong with the spokes on a F5? I've been riding them for 5000 miles and not had one broken spoke and I started off around 13 1/2 stone.

    Yeah, what's wrong with Fulcrum R5s? Can get from Ribble for £160ish at the moment
    It's just a hill. Get over it.
  • albothegreat
    albothegreat Posts: 36
    I'm a heavy guy and have used Mavic Ksyrium Elites, Campag Eurus and am now on the much cheaper 105/open pro option. These are bombproof ( built with ACI SS DB spokes ), if you buy factory built just check the spokes more regularly.
  • secretsam
    secretsam Posts: 5,120
    albothegreat wrote:
    I'm a heavy guy and have used Mavic Ksyrium Elites, Campag Eurus and am now on the much cheaper 105/open pro option. These are bombproof ( built with ACI SS DB spokes ), if you buy factory built just check the spokes more regularly.

    Funnily enough, I've just had a quote from Harry Rowland for a pair of these, £215

    But I've also seen some cheap RS30 Shimano wheels, am totally torn...
    It's just a hill. Get over it.
  • DavidJB
    DavidJB Posts: 2,019
    SecretSam wrote:
    DavidJB wrote:
    Whats wrong with the spokes on a F5? I've been riding them for 5000 miles and not had one broken spoke and I started off around 13 1/2 stone.

    Yeah, what's wrong with Fulcrum R5s? Can get from Ribble for £160ish at the moment

    Nothing at all..he's talking rubbish.
  • secretsam
    secretsam Posts: 5,120
    I may have found my winner - Dave Hinde is offering Mavic Open Pro on 105 with free Vittoria Rubino 3 tyres for £165 - sounds like a bargain to me!
    It's just a hill. Get over it.
  • wasabi_m
    wasabi_m Posts: 164
    Anyone with the cycling plus issue care to say what the best wheels are?
  • Pigtail
    Pigtail Posts: 424
    They went under £300 I think. The most recommended bargain ones I see on here are prolite braccianos and planet x model Bs neither of which were tested. Winners were Paul Hewitt handbuilts.

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