What wheels sub £300

ednino
ednino Posts: 684
edited February 2013 in Road buying advice
Recently bought a Giant Defy 2. After a 4 year gap from the sport only taken up road cycling (used to be pretty handy at XC)

I want some lighter wheels for general riding & some 100+mile rides in the summer

Suggestions?
I was thinking Hope Pro3 hubs (my ol XC bike had Pro2) with mavic open pro rims? (used to us XC717 so a mavic fan)

Is there anything sub £300 thats nice & light yet reliable that i don't know about?

Many thanks

Comments

  • eric_draven
    eric_draven Posts: 1,192
    i bought an ultegra 6700 wheel set from merlin cycles £250,i have been running them for 18 months and have been faultless,i weigh 14st and they don't flex much,at least they don't rub my brakes when climbing hard,plus you can run tubless
  • foggymike
    foggymike Posts: 862
    Another vote for the Ultegras - Merlin and Planet X are the best places usually - you'll have change for some nice light tyres too :)
  • sandyballs
    sandyballs Posts: 577
    Cycling Plus Feb 2013 issue has the Ultegra 6700 as the best in class, don't own them I have Ksyrium Elites which are fantastic but out of the £300 range new.
  • antfly
    antfly Posts: 3,276
    If you were getting those you might as well get shimano rs80 wheels, nicer wheels to ride and not much dearer.
    Smarter than the average bear.
  • alanparsons
    alanparsons Posts: 529
    I was thinking of buying some Ultegra hubs and building some wheels with Mavic Open Pro, have been quoted approx £280 all in.
    Is it worth going hand built or shall I just get a pair of factory Ultegras?
    £233+ P&P from Rose

    http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/product/detail/aid:368190

    Also how are these wheels for getting tyres on/off ? Currently using Conti 4000s.
  • foggymike
    foggymike Posts: 862
    Ribble are £240 posted for the Ultegras with a choice of colours. Personally I'd just go with the factory build and get some tyres/tubes to get the rotating weight down further.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,321
    alanparsons wrote:
    I was thinking of buying some Ultegra hubs and building some wheels with Mavic Open Pro, have been quoted approx £280 all in.
    Is it worth going hand built or shall I just get a pair of factory Ultegras?
    £233+ P&P from Rose

    http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/product/detail/aid:368190

    They are very different products. If you are light on your equipment, you might enjoy the 6700, but if you thrash your stuff, best to go for a more reliable set that can also be fixed.
    It is all about how much 100 grams mean to you and how important it is to look at few fat bladed spokes as opposed to many and thin...
    left the forum March 2023
  • alanparsons
    alanparsons Posts: 529
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    alanparsons wrote:
    I was thinking of buying some Ultegra hubs and building some wheels with Mavic Open Pro, have been quoted approx £280 all in.
    Is it worth going hand built or shall I just get a pair of factory Ultegras?
    £233+ P&P from Rose

    http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/product/detail/aid:368190

    They are very different products. If you are light on your equipment, you might enjoy the 6700, but if you thrash your stuff, best to go for a more reliable set that can also be fixed.
    It is all about how much 100 grams mean to you and how important it is to look at few fat bladed spokes as opposed to many and thin...

    Do you advocate the handbuilt route then ?
    Ultegra Hubs
    Sapim Spokes
    Open Pro rims.
    I am currently 91 kg and dropping, will be starting 200 mile per week commute in a couple of weeks.
  • ednino
    ednino Posts: 684
    Thanks guys, all very helpful
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,321
    alanparsons wrote:
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    alanparsons wrote:
    I was thinking of buying some Ultegra hubs and building some wheels with Mavic Open Pro, have been quoted approx £280 all in.
    Is it worth going hand built or shall I just get a pair of factory Ultegras?
    £233+ P&P from Rose

    http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/product/detail/aid:368190

    They are very different products. If you are light on your equipment, you might enjoy the 6700, but if you thrash your stuff, best to go for a more reliable set that can also be fixed.
    It is all about how much 100 grams mean to you and how important it is to look at few fat bladed spokes as opposed to many and thin...

    Do you advocate the handbuilt route then ?
    Ultegra Hubs
    Sapim Spokes
    Open Pro rims.
    I am currently 91 kg and dropping, will be starting 200 mile per week commute in a couple of weeks.

    Well, heavy weight, high mileage, commuting, what do you need light wheels for? You need reliable wheels and wheels where you can replace rims and spokes if need be.
    left the forum March 2023
  • JamesB
    JamesB Posts: 1,184
    Well, heavy weight, high mileage, commuting, what do you need light wheels for? You need reliable wheels and wheels where you can replace rims and spokes if need be.

    once again wise and sensible advice from Ugo :) ; one thing that often gets forgotten, IMHO, in these` what wheels ` threads is that strip / chunk of rubber called a tyre !! It`s one thing thinking of light wheels and then plonking on some heavy dead tyre, it`s another thinking holistically about the wheels + tyre package; AND if the OP is going to use the wheels for commuting a good hard wearing relaible tyre too should be in order
  • alanparsons
    alanparsons Posts: 529
    JamesB wrote:
    Well, heavy weight, high mileage, commuting, what do you need light wheels for? You need reliable wheels and wheels where you can replace rims and spokes if need be.

    once again wise and sensible advice from Ugo :) ; one thing that often gets forgotten, IMHO, in these` what wheels ` threads is that strip / chunk of rubber called a tyre !! It`s one thing thinking of light wheels and then plonking on some heavy dead tyre, it`s another thinking holistically about the wheels + tyre package; AND if the OP is going to use the wheels for commuting a good hard wearing relaible tyre too should be in order

    Sorry but it was not my intention to hi-jack this thread.
    The OP is looking for light weight sportive wheels and was recomended Ultegra factory wheels.
    I am looking for some new wheels and was asking about hand built on Ultegra hubs Vs Factory Ultegra.
    Both myself and the OP have had our questions answered.
    Thankyou all.
  • ednino
    ednino Posts: 684
    Im 60kg, can get away with light parts lol

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