Pro lite Bracciano at CRC today - a good deal?

luv2ride

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=29086

These seem good for £218, anyone agree? I know they only got a "middling" review in a recent Cycling Plus group test, but that was at the list price of £350. Previous versions seem to have had a good rep...

ugo.santalucia

It is not a bad deal

Zingzang

Yes, it's not a bad deal (I paid £180 18 months ago).
Personally when I next get a lightweight wheelset I'll be looking at paying somewhat more and getting a nice pair of handbuilts. I've got a pair of training wheels built a few years ago by Threadgolds using my old Shimano 600 hubs, and I'm fonder of them than the Braccianos.
I believe the other respondent to your question has a reputation for producing very fine handbuilts.

luv2ride

Yes I've seen Ugo's posts before, so if he thinks they're not a bad deal at that prIce I may well take a punt on them. I was going to go with handbuilts but id be paying a reasonable amount more. Would rather have paid 180 though

Do they have a ticking freewheel or silent?

ugo.santalucia

Luv2ride wrote:

Yes I've seen Ugo's posts before, so if he thinks they're not a bad deal at that prIce I may well take a punt on them. I was going to go with handbuilts but id be paying a reasonable amount more. Would rather have paid 180 though

Do they have a ticking freewheel or silent?

It is a rebadged Novatec freehub, quiet...

The same set hand built with the same components would be around 240 to 250, but ask not...

Mickyg88

Ugo, are u saying the same hubs/ spokes/rims handbuilt just might be a better option ? Be honest

ugo.santalucia

Mickyg88 wrote:

Ugo, are u saying the same hubs/ spokes/rims handbuilt just might be a better option ? Be honest

No... They might be better built, but Bracciano are not badly built... They just don't last very long, but fair enough, they don't have to

luv2ride

I guess one of the points Ugo is making is that hand built equivalents @ 240 are way better value than the Braccianos at list price, I.e. they are probably overpriced at 350, but also that the discounted price just about makes them reasonable value for money, but probably not a "stellar" deal.

Bit concerned about the longevity comment though, pay more and get a longer lasting wheel I guess...if I'm using these as a predominently summer wheel they probably won't even get that much use given the weather we've had the past couple of years! so hopefully ok.

ugo.santalucia

Luv2ride wrote:

I guess the point Ugo's is making is that hand built equivalents @ 240 are way better value than the Braccianos at list price, I.e. they are probably overpriced at 350, but also that the discounted price just about makes them value for money. Bit concerned about the longevity comment though, pay more and get a longer lasting wheel I guess...if I'm using these as a predominently summer wheel they probably won't even get that much use given the weather we've had the past couple of years!

When you buy a set of wheels that weight under 1500 grams, you can't expect longevity... all conspire against it... light hubs, low spoke count, light rims... money can buy you better bearings and rims which are more durable, but ultimately if you want a set of wheels to do 10-20,000 miles you have to get them heavier and better engineered
If you read the relevant articles on my blog you have a picture. As usual, there is no shortcut or secret potion

http://paolocoppo.drupalgardens.com/

luv2ride

Thanks Ugo. A fair point well made. As ever can't have everything. I'm happy with light wheels given the relatively light use they might get (summer wheels), but am a bit concerned about the battering they're gonna receive on the back roads round here, the surfaces were poor before the recent snow and ice, gonna be much worse now I suspect.

ugo.santalucia

Luv2ride wrote:

Thanks Ugo. A fair point well made. As ever can't have everything. I'm happy with light wheels given the relatively light use they might get (summer wheels), but am a bit concerned about the battering they're gonna receive on the back roads round here, the surfaces were poor before the recent snow and ice, gonna be much worse now I suspect.

That is not a concern... People are too worried about road conditions. They will be fine with that. The killers will be mileage and wet weather.
Moderate Tyre pressure will give you and your wheels all the damping action required for bad road surface

dodgy

I have a set of Braccianos on my winter bike, they were cheap (I paid £176 new from Ribble) but they're not a great choice for bad weather. My rims are very concave at 5435 miles, I'm thinking about ditching them soon.

I wouldn't buy another pair, the bearings are shocking and quite difficult to remove. I'm going for hubs with cup and cone next time (possibly limiting me to Shimano).

ugo.santalucia

dodgy wrote:

I have a set of Braccianos on my winter bike, they were cheap (I paid £176 new from Ribble) but they're not a great choice for bad weather. My rims are very concave at 5435 miles, I'm thinking about ditching them soon.

I wouldn't buy another pair, the bearings are shocking and quite difficult to remove. I'm going for hubs with cup and cone next time (possibly limiting me to Shimano).

That's about right... 6000 miles is what you expect from those rims in all weathers. The bearings are quite easy to replace... just need a bit of practice and heating the hub helps.
Rims can be replaced... I think they are about 70 for the pair (Kinlin)... bearings are 3 pounds each, give or take

dodgy

Thanks Ugo, I had a go at getting the hubs out and just couldn't do it, perhaps heating might help, but in all honesty I'm probably just gonna retire them soon.

dodgy

Actually Ugo, that's quite a cost effective refurb. Any suggestions of suppliers for the Bracciano rim?

ugo.santalucia

dodgy wrote:

Actually Ugo, that's quite a cost effective refurb. Any suggestions of suppliers for the Bracciano rim?

Sdeals.com sell kinlin rims, you just have to match the right holes and the rightish profile, I can't remember if yours are 26-27 mm... if they don't have them, give them a ring, they can be very resourceful.
Otherwise, you might strike lucky and be able to use Archetype rims... they are 26 mm and have ERD 592, the Kinlin won't be far off... those are a bit pricier though and will come at 120 delivered, but a much better rim

luv2ride

Here's my dilemma. I current have some 2011 Ksyrium Equipes on my "best" bike. I'm currently using some Ritchey DS Pro wheels on my winter bike (originally off my Boardman road team). The Ritcheys seem relatively light and have served me well, and I like the Ksyriums which were a decent upgrade over the original CXP22s the Roubaix came with.

Plan was to upgrade the wheels on my Roubaix and move the Equipes onto the winter bike. Are the Bracciano's too much of a side-ways move rather than an upgrade (reckon the answer may be "yes")?

GGBiker

Hi Ugo, what effect if any will wet weather have on the braccianos other than bearing wear and tear ( which as you say are easy to replace)? Any effect on the rims? Are there any more durable rims you would recommend replacing with come the time, ideally keeping weight <1600g?

Fantastic to have someone sharing their knowledge with us. I have the braccianos on my good weather bike ( used 3 times a year probably here in Northern Ireland, have found them to be great for climbing in particular.

dodgy

Wet weather is always damaging on wheels with rim brakes, that noise you hear when you brake? That's microns of alloy being machined off the braking surface every time you brake. It's much worse in wet weather due to all the grit and other rubbish that gets embedded into your brake pads.

luv2ride

Luv2ride wrote:

Here's my dilemma. I current have some 2011 Ksyrium Equipes on my "best" bike. I'm currently using some Ritchey DS Pro wheels on my winter bike (originally off my Boardman road team). The Ritcheys seem relatively light and have served me well, and I like the Ksyriums which were a decent upgrade over the original CXP22s the Roubaix came with.

Plan was to upgrade the wheels on my Roubaix and move the Equipes onto the winter bike. Are the Bracciano's too much of a side-ways move rather than an upgrade (reckon the answer may be "yes")?

Any views on the "upgrade" / "side grade" question? cheers

ugo.santalucia

Luv2ride wrote:

Luv2ride wrote:

Here's my dilemma. I current have some 2011 Ksyrium Equipes on my "best" bike. I'm currently using some Ritchey DS Pro wheels on my winter bike (originally off my Boardman road team). The Ritcheys seem relatively light and have served me well, and I like the Ksyriums which were a decent upgrade over the original CXP22s the Roubaix came with.

Plan was to upgrade the wheels on my Roubaix and move the Equipes onto the winter bike. Are the Bracciano's too much of a side-ways move rather than an upgrade (reckon the answer may be "yes")?

Any views on the "upgrade" / "side grade" question? cheers

You say that they are serving you well... Why upgrade if you are happy?

luv2ride

Hubs are getting a little graunchy despite recent LBS service, and have done a lot of miles (though rims are true and braking surfaces in pretty good shape despite be winter usage).

ugo.santalucia

Luv2ride wrote:

Hubs are getting a little graunchy despite recent LBS service, and have done a lot of miles (though rims are true and braking surfaces in pretty good shape despite be winter usage).

Change the bearings...