Wheels - For my Carbon/best bike.

itboffin

How about a set of these bad boys ?

spasypaddy

my fulcrum racing 3 freehubs are being a right pain but id buy a new set no question, in fact IP you have PM :P

keyser__soze

+1 on the RS80s. Missus has these, fantastic light, stiff yet comfortable. Rims are the same as the much more expensive Dura Ace 7900 that I have on my best bike, and should ever these die I'd get RS80s to replace them.

DonDaddyD

OK, so what wheels on my list should I get?

bonkstrong

DonDaddyD wrote:

Bonkstrong, the Hope Hoops seem to be the most sensible option. However this is going on a £1800 bike with Ultegra SL do you have a more er XR2i suggestion?

I run mine on a *£2799 Scott Addict R2 blinged out in full SRAM Red and they certainly don't feel out of place. In my humble opinion the only clincher upgrade worth the lavish(ish) spend (that i've ridden) are the Dura-Ace C7850's (http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/components/wheel-sets/product/review-shimano-wh-7850-cl-dura-ace-31460). However, we've got into big money there. After many years of working in a bike shop I can impart this wisdom on the choices above.

Ksyrium - Good, but expensive for what is effectively bottom of the range - more Escort Ghia than XR3i

Fulcrum 3 - More XR3i than the Ksyriums. Very stiff and great for the "more powerfully built" amongst us. But they really are very stiff and it can be a bit tiresome on long rides depending on what surface you're riding on.

Fulcrum 5 - Not if you're considering the 3's - Fiesta Popular Plus

Ultegras - RS80's are more likely to be a better option on paper, but I'm not sure how stiff they are as I've never ridden them. I would think the RS80's would be more XR3i than any of the others.

Wheelsmiths IRD Cadence 30mm wheels are definitely worth considering http://www.wheelsmith.co.uk


Wheels are without doubt my favourite topic. The thing to remember is that there are so many different wheels out there that just because person a) says brand X are good for them doesn't mean that they are good for you. Things to consider are the type of riding you’re doing, your weight, depth of pockets, how much you value function over form, and quite importantly - what you want the wheel to feel like?

Zipp 404's are the best example of how a very good wheel can infact be junk depending on the situation. I rode a pair when I weighed 95kg's and they were the worst feeling wheels I'd ridden for a long long time. It was a hilly 50 miles and I was on the clincher version. The clinchers are far less laterally stiff than their tubular stable mate and they were awful on the ride, truly foul. They were great on the flat but we were doing a lot of climbing and they slopped about all over underneath my gargantuan frame and ungodly climbing technique. I swapped them for a pair of CXP22's and they were far better on the route. I then used the Zipps on a flat 40 mile ride and they were absolutely phenomenal.

My problem is that I'm usually right at the weight limit for some factory stuff and some wheels just weren't designed for the riding I do which can vary from fast rolling chain-gangs to steady slogs in The Dales, and then out for quick our blasts down flat country lanes - so I've gone for an all-rounder that can take the strain (weight).

I do realise that throughout this whole chapter I haven't said which one I'd go for - but if it was my money I'd go for either the Fulcrums or Open Pro's on Hope Hubs (although I will warn you that they are loud when freewheeling) - both of those wheels have far more ability than me so I'm more than happy to stick with them for now

*RRP - I didn't pay that

bonkstrong

DonDaddyD wrote:

OK, so what wheels on my list should I get?

Fulcrum 3

spasypaddy

DDD get the racing 3s. seriously brilliant wheels for the money

DonDaddyD

Wow, thanks for the information BONKSTRONG.

Boils down to Hope Hubs/Open Pro and Fulcrum 5 or 3.

And thanks spassypaddy

itboffin

er why dont you get get a set of hand built ?

mtb-idle

no-one's mentioned Enve wheels.

bloke at work is a cat 1 racer and really rates them, however he is sponsored to ride them so he would say that wouldn't he.

Never had the pleasure of riding any of the wheels mentioned above so i'm not really helping am I....

spasypaddy

do you know how much ENVE wheels cost?

SteppenHerring

Don't know about the Fulcrum's but I know a few people with the Ksyrium Elites and they reckon they're good. I have the SL's which were recommended by a clubmate - even though I am a lardy git.

il_principe

Fucrum all the way...

DonDaddyD

I'm going to gamble and go for the Equipe but if I feel bad then the 5's...

roger_merriman

what do you want to do with these wheels?

and what do you favour? and realistic what sort of riding?

if it's a treat why not go hand built? if you want something a bit more special?

kelsen

I've had Fulcrum 3s on order for over a month. They'd better be worth it!

kelsen

DonDaddyD wrote:

I'm going to gamble and go for the Equipe but if I feel bad then the 5's...

How about Pro-lite Braccianos? They're pretty highly rated I believe.

ste_

Why not treat yourself to a new bike instead?

spasypaddy

kelsen wrote:

I've had Fulcrum 3s on order for over a month. They'd better be worth it!

they are. probably one of the best all round wheelsets for the money on the market.

dhope

DonDaddyD wrote:

I'm going to gamble and go for the Equipe but if I feel bad then the 5's...

DDD, you owe me money, Fulcrums are calling to me thanks to this thread

rolf_f

Of course, the only downside of the Fulcrums for DDD is that they are made by a company that makes a groupset called Athena

meanredspider

Another vote for RS80s here. They made the world of difference to my Cayo - I've used and abused them and they've been great

xscreamsuk

I have Fulcrum 5's as general training wheel, miles better than the standard that came with the bike. Have some hand builts on order for climbing, lighter wheel, etc, I'll also be lighter, hopefully sub 75 kilo. If I get into time trialling I might consider some deep section things.

Canny Jock

First rule of running a poll - you must obey the poll. Get the Fulcrum 3's. Or if you can wangle it the 1's from IP, they would be awesome.

You will thank us, and only regret it if you get Equipe's or 5's.

dhope

Canny Jock wrote:

First rule of running a poll - you must obey the poll. Get the Fulcrum 3's. Or if you can wangle it the 1's from IP, they would be awesome.

You will thank us, and only regret it if you get Equipe's or 5's.

I may have stolen a march on the FR1's.

DrLex

This thread confuses me; I have fulcrum 4s. Are these 5 rims and 3 hubs or vice versa? Time to test google-Fu...

DrLex

.
(double post shenanigans)

iPete

Put the RS80s on today and put a massive smile on my face. I don't think you can get lighter for the money and the spokes make a subtle wooooooosh noise, what more does one want?

Ben6899

Will you get a chance to use 'em?

DonDaddyD

Woke up today, sun beamed through my bedroom window. T'was my turn to have a lay-in as I had the lil'un all day yesterday and Ms DDD wanted to prove a point by allowing me to sleep to 9.45am without having a go at me so I will have to do the same next week when she goes out next Sat and hung over on Sun.

Anyway. The sun beamed through my window and the urge grabbed me, I had to ride my bike.

I checked the Evans cycles website and learned that they had a nifty price match offer. I march myself, Ms DDD's credit card in tow, to the Evans cycles at the end of my road (yes there is a bike shop at the end of my road) and asked whether they had Fulcrum 3's, 5's or Ksyrium (how do you even pronouce it?) in that order.

They had none of those, but they did have these: Cole C24 Lite. I was taken with the fancy (unique - well I've never seen one like that before except similar looking ones on much more expensive wheels) looking hub and the fact that the free hub sounds as loud/quite possibly louder than Fulcrums(i love that sound). So based on those two things (they spun well in the hand) and this review I made the purchase.

A gamble, I'm sure. But 1hr later, having fitted them to the bike and back in the shop to by some new mits I was taken. A first ride review can only take you so far but man those wheels are like a drug fix. Stiff, responsive, climbs well and they roll, roll and roll. Can't wait for next weeks weekend (Saturday) ride.