New wheels

mabbo

Looking at upgrading my current wheels, mavic CXP 22's.

My local LBS is offering Xero lites XR200 for £270. But on the net I can get a set of American Classics Victory 30 for £315.

Any knowledge of either?views on which would be the best for the money?

I am older rider, 80KG, 100 plus miles per week. Hilly club rides and commuting. Giant Defy 1.

cycleclinic

I would always go with custom built wheels built by someone competant. Why not re rim with CXP33 or build with lighter hubs?

I have customer who Audax's and has put 1000's of miles on Mavic open Pro's on Ulegtra hubs with Sapim race sokes on 3x lacing. It kind of dpends what who mean by an upgrade but given the riding you do and milegae you cover I qould go with a Open pro 32 hole built onto either Miche RC2 hubs, shimano 105/ultegra/dura ace or DT 240's with sapim race spokes depending on budget. That should be lighter if you pick the right hub and it will be lighter at the rim. Sapim Laser spokes could be used up front and on the NDS rear if weight is an issue as could 2x lacing on NDS rear. Avoid alu nipples as these will only cause issues in year or two.

smidsy

The American Classic's are standard fitment on Moda bikes so they are becoming more popoular on our roads.

The alu nipples on AC wheels are designed differently to traditional alu nipples which actually puts them in compression and not tension so the usual fatigue fracture issue you often get with normal alu nipples is not supposed to occur.

The AC wheels also feature a unique cam operated set of pawls in the freehub which ensures that all pawls engage together meaning that you get lots more contact points each time you call for forward motion.

They are also nice and light and still stiff due to the spoke and hub design meaning you get nice tension with fewer spokes.

I have the Aero 420 wheels and they have the same hubs.

The only issue with AC wheels is that because they are constantly striving for lighter they sometimes get longevity problems. This can be the case with the bearings in the front hub as it is really thin. But a set of bearings every so often is not the end of the world given the fact they are a good perfoming and good looking wheelset.

mabbo

Finally taken the plunge.
Taken some advice from others and gone for handbuilt. The Cycle Clinic seems to know their stuff. Good prices as well.
DT Swiss rims, Miche RC2 hubs, Sapim laser spokes.

Should look great and roll well. And got to be lighter than my CXP22's.!!!!!

Job done.

I'll report on them once rolling.