Climbing Wheels - Which?

TMR
TMR Posts: 3,986
edited January 2012 in Road buying advice
I'm after some light weight wheels, am considering either the Mavic R-SYS or these hand builts from Posh Bikes: http://www.poshbikes.com/product.php?id=142

Has anyone got either that can advise?
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Comments

  • What about contacting a reputable wheelbuilder as a first option. Wheelsmith or Harry Rowlands etc.
  • anto164
    anto164 Posts: 3,500
    I'm getting a set of the Giant P-SLR1 wheels when i get my new roady in a few months.

    1350g, £750 rrp (but going to get them thrown in for free with the bike :D)

    But you can't go wrong with the Mavics tbh.
  • TMR
    TMR Posts: 3,986
    Kangarouge wrote:
    What about contacting a reputable wheelbuilder as a first option. Wheelsmith or Harry Rowlands etc.

    I've got no problem doing that. Are Posh Bikes not reputable? I'm considering them on the basis of a friend's recommendation you see, he has a pair.
  • napoleond
    napoleond Posts: 5,992
    Mavic RSys are the stiffest wheels I've ever used. They are fantastic wheels.
    However the (what I assume will be) very expensive repair cost puts me off buying them...
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    ABCC Cycling Coach
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    R-Sys are stiff but aero they ain't. You could build a pair of 20mm carbon rims (Planet X) Chin Haur hubs and CX Rays for under 1200g for less than the cost of either.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • TMR
    TMR Posts: 3,986
    Monty Dog wrote:
    R-Sys are stiff but aero they ain't. You could build a pair of 20mm carbon rims (Planet X) Chin Haur hubs and CX Rays for under 1200g for less than the cost of either.

    They are for climbing. I weigh 95KG, so aero really isn't my top priority ;)
  • TMR
    TMR Posts: 3,986
    NapoleonD wrote:
    Mavic RSys are the stiffest wheels I've ever used. They are fantastic wheels.
    However the (what I assume will be) very expensive repair cost puts me off buying them...

    I've got my house insurance from Hiscox. My bikes are named items, and I've paid an additional premium for fully comprehensive cover for them. If anything breaks, for any reason, I am fully covered on a new for old basis. So the wheels would be covered, should I have a nasty off.
  • pianoman
    pianoman Posts: 706
    Or just do away with weight weenie wheels and get yourself a pair of Vision T42's - they're about 1800g (a pound heavier than most of the options, but no SQUISH SQUISH SQUISH that you can get with flex).

    I used them at the back end of last season at triathlons and hill climb events and went up a 1.6 mile climb over half a minute faster than the year before. Now I'm looking to plug them into a full TT bike for next summer. Don't be put off by the number of grams, you'll love them :D
  • napoleond
    napoleond Posts: 5,992
    It's all about the stiffness. Especially at the clydesdale end of the spectrum.
    RSys manage to be pretty light yet incredibly stiff.
    If getting hand built I'd go for higher spoke count, defo 32 rear.
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    ABCC Cycling Coach
  • Scrumple
    Scrumple Posts: 2,665
    I want some R-sys bad!

    I need someething for the best bike when the cosmics come off.

    I'm dithering in case there is anything I should be considering... They would be for Malllorca mountains, and buggery hard climbing sportives.
  • napoleond
    napoleond Posts: 5,992
    They're perfect for that.

    Mavic made them as a sportive wheel hence they weren't arsed so much about the aero aspect but they were taken on by several proteams due to the stiffness / weight.
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    ABCC Cycling Coach
  • Scrumple
    Scrumple Posts: 2,665
    And then there are the three types....

    Is it worth the extra for the SLR? I can't afford the SL so its down to the others...

    Anyone know any stonking deals at their LBS then pls PM me.
  • TMR
    TMR Posts: 3,986
    NapoleonD wrote:
    It's all about the stiffness. Especially at the clydesdale end of the spectrum.
    RSys manage to be pretty light yet incredibly stiff.
    If getting hand built I'd go for higher spoke count, defo 32 rear.

    Would I be OK with the R-SYS as is? Their real wheel doesn't have 32 spokes.
  • napoleond
    napoleond Posts: 5,992
    Yes definitely. They really are amazingly stiff. They are not harsh in any way though. I wish I had my own pair! It's just hand builts I'd go with the higher spoke count.
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    ABCC Cycling Coach
  • styxd
    styxd Posts: 3,234
    What about some Stans Alpha rims laced to the lightest hubs you can afford? Lace them with 28 spokes, 2 cross lacing and I would have thought they'd be fairly stiff.
  • glasgowbhoy
    glasgowbhoy Posts: 1,341
    There is a set of Mavic R- SYS on sale in the Road Buying section. Bit ugly looking though.
  • napoleond
    napoleond Posts: 5,992
    They'd be mega light but really quite flexy at 95kg. Even with 32h apparently (according to wheelsmith...)
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    ABCC Cycling Coach
  • napoleond
    napoleond Posts: 5,992
    There is a set of Mavic R- SYS on sale in the Road Buying section. Bit ugly looking though.

    I think they look fantastic with the exalith rim!
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    ABCC Cycling Coach
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    styxd wrote:
    What about some Stans Alpha rims laced to the lightest hubs you can afford? Lace them with 28 spokes, 2 cross lacing and I would have thought they'd be fairly stiff.

    "Thought" being the appropriate word - 340s are notoriously flexy - I'd be happy with a pair as I'm 60kg, but not the OP
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • styxd
    styxd Posts: 3,234
    Are they that bad? I almost bought some not long ago but got some Velocity Aeroheads instead. The new Velocity A23 rims are supposed to be nice and stiff, could be worth a look.
  • Monty Dog wrote:
    R-Sys are stiff but aero they ain't. You could build a pair of 20mm carbon rims (Planet X) Chin Haur hubs and CX Rays for under 1200g for less than the cost of either.

    They are for climbing. I weigh 95KG, so aero really isn't my top priority ;)


    This means a few grams in wheels is irrelevant.

    Assume bike now weighs 8 kilo You and bike weigh 103kilo

    Save 500 grams on wheels is an improvement of less than 0.5%

    Trim some weight from you first. Take the £1000 you ar3e thinking of spendingon wheels. Spend a week in spain training properly and you will go better up the hills than you would from wasting money on new wheels.
    Racing is life - everything else is just waiting
  • styxd
    styxd Posts: 3,234
    I wouldnt trust anything "Down the road" says. I trusted him with some money for a set of handlebars and he stole it instead.
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    NapoleonD wrote:
    There is a set of Mavic R- SYS on sale in the Road Buying section. Bit ugly looking though.

    I think they look fantastic with the exalith rim!
    Yeah lovely but the problem is the coating doesn't seem to stay on the rim:

    http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum ... =3&t=88303
  • napoleond
    napoleond Posts: 5,992
    Arse :(
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    ABCC Cycling Coach
  • gwillis
    gwillis Posts: 998
    Monty Dog wrote:
    R-Sys are stiff but aero they ain't. You could build a pair of 20mm carbon rims () Chin Haur hubs and CX Rays for under 1200g for less than the cost of either.

    ive been discussing some climging wheels with y LBS who has offered to build them up for me in Jan. I couldnt decide on rims but the Planet X seem a bargins. My LBS suggested hope hubs dhow do the Chin Haur hibs compare?
  • TMR
    TMR Posts: 3,986
    This means a few grams in wheels is irrelevant.

    It's not a few grams, it's a lb at least. Also, I'd read weight lost from rotational mass was better than weight lost from the frame.
    Trim some weight from you first. Take the £1000 you ar3e thinking of spendingon wheels. Spend a week in spain training properly and you will go better up the hills than you would from wasting money on new wheels.

    I am. Down from 103KG. So 8KG so far. Going as fast as I can ;)
  • napoleond
    napoleond Posts: 5,992
    Nice wheels just 'feel' nicer. They may be a *tiny* bit faster but its the feel i like.
    A Mondeo LX will get you from one side of town to the other the same speed as a Jaguar XF...
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    ABCC Cycling Coach
  • Canny Jock
    Canny Jock Posts: 1,051
    Agree on the 'feel' thing. Swapped my Fulcrum 5's (not bad wheels, just unexciting) for some Campag Neutrons - they only save about 200g at best but the bike seems to fly now, they ride better and roll better.
  • siamon
    siamon Posts: 274
    Performance wise ,the ENVE 25's have to be looked at. Although, I think they are only tubs and the RRP is fairly ugly.
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    gwillis wrote:
    ive been discussing some climging wheels with y LBS who has offered to build them up for me in Jan. I couldnt decide on rims but the Planet X seem a bargins. My LBS suggested hope hubs dhow do the Chin Haur hibs compare?

    Chin Haur make OEM hubs for others including American Classic - their design is basically an AC clone - not the strongest but pretty light and reasonably cheap. The Hope's will obviously be stronger, but easily twice the price.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..