Hope Open Pro3 Clincher, good wheels?

binkybike

Hello, I was told that this a good place to get advice, so here it goes, thanks in advance to anyone who bothers to respond.

I have set myself a big challenge for charity and I have to complete a lot of miles between now and the ride London 100, however I have let myself go over the winter and I am 2 stone overweight. my current bike has some pretty nice Bontrager wheels but with a low spoke count (20/24) and I was thinking perhaps I should get some more robust wheels for the hard miles training and save the Bontragers for the sportives I'll do in the summer and hopefully significantly lighter.

I was looking at these Hope open pro3 clinchers :http://www.wiggle.co.uk/hope-open-pro3-clincher-front-wheel/
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/hope-open-pro3- ... ear-wheel/

Basically, these are at the top of what I am prepared to spend but reviews are hard to come by and I am not sure if they are any good and/or worth the money?

any opinions gratefully received

g00se

Hi,

I've got a pair of these and I swear by them. I've had them for over a year now and I've done about 3000-4000 miles on them and they're still dead on true - never had to take a spoke key to them. They've been out in all weathers and hit a fair few holes but still run perfectly. I would think for factory wheels, they could be perfect for what you need.

There was a thread on here a while back where there seemed to be a few sets that had been poorly built and went out of true very quicky, but that was a while back now and I haven't come across anything else other than good stuff said.

HOWEVER, have you considered hand-built wheels? At that budget, you could have something that would be designed specifically for your needs. Similar quality and maybe better price? Hopefully, if Ugo sees this thread, he may offer some advice.

But back to the Hopes - one thing to check out on youtube is the sound of the Hope Pro 3 rear freehub. They're VERY loud and it drives some folks up the wall.

TheGava

+1

I have some hope pro3 hand built onto some mavic open pro sport rims 32 f&r and they have been excellent, I weighed in at 21 stone when I first got them and I've never had to have them true'd (6 months old)

Edit... I love the noise from the hope hubs

dwanes

Are the Hope open pro3 clinchers not Hand-built?

g00se

I think they're factory part-assembled and finished/checked by hand. But you're right - they're not full factory wheels.

By hand built, I meant custom hand built.

binkybike

Thanks for the responses, I think I might like a noisier freewheel actually, when out with my training mate I always know when I am too slow while in the front because I hear his fairly loud Campy wheels, whereas I am totally silent and he never knows where i am... I was contemplating a bell ... although i suppose there is always talking.

I know nothing about hand-built wheels to be honest, I have no idea how or who you would approach and have just done a google search and it is all a bit impenetrable... but if it saves me money for the same quality I am always interested!

Edited for clarity

ugo.santalucia

g00se wrote:

I think they're factory part-assembled and finished/checked by hand. But you're right - they're not full factory wheels.

By hand built, I meant custom hand built.

They are built by real people in a factory instead of a shed..
The build quality is very patchy as you would expect, but the price is of course attractive

binkybike

ugo.santalucia wrote:

g00se wrote:

I think they're factory part-assembled and finished/checked by hand. But you're right - they're not full factory wheels.

By hand built, I meant custom hand built.

They are built by real people in a factory instead of a shed..
The build quality is very patchy as you would expect, but the price is of course attractive

You seem to be implying that to purchase them would be a mistake, or am I reading too much into your comment?

nevman

I bought a rear one for LeJoG last year and am very glad that I did.If I`d had the money I would have asked Ugo to build up a set specific to me however, so as ever you have to choose.

ugo.santalucia

binkybike wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

g00se wrote:

I think they're factory part-assembled and finished/checked by hand. But you're right - they're not full factory wheels.

By hand built, I meant custom hand built.

They are built by real people in a factory instead of a shed..
The build quality is very patchy as you would expect, but the price is of course attractive

You seem to be implying that to purchase them would be a mistake, or am I reading too much into your comment?

There are reports of badly built ones... That is all I am saying.

iPete

Built right, they are great, ugo built mine with some tarty red Hopes..

Omar Little

I have a set of hand builts based around hope open pro 3 hubs and doing it that way wasn't any more expensive than buying them as a wheelset online. Doing it that way i knew the standard of the wheelbuilder and was also able to choose the colour of hubs that i wanted rather than just going with the black. So would recommend doing it that way.

Nice wheels, strong and reliable - over 10'000+ miles on mine (including winter use in Scotland) and had the bearings on the rear replaced after about 6000. Would buy again.

binkybike

Thanks for the help everyone.

So the general consensus seems to be that if built right they are good wheels, but they might not be built right ... thanks for the responses, i'll have to have a little think, it is basically my bonus this year so it's not like i can spend alot of money to fix it if it goes wrong.. decisions decisions

i am intrigued by the handbuilt option but don't know who is and isn't reputable, anyone know someone good in London, South London would be even better?

ugo.santalucia

binkybike wrote:

Thanks for the help everyone.

So the general consensus seems to be that if built right they are good wheels, but they might not be built right ... thanks for the responses, i'll have to have a little think, it is basically my bonus this year so it's not like i can spend alot of money to fix it if it goes wrong.. decisions decisions

i am intrigued by the handbuilt option but don't know who is and isn't reputable, anyone know someone good in London, South London would be even better?

If Richmond is convenient, pop in for a cup of coffee, I am in building today...

Anonymous

There is a pair for 125 in the parts for sale with 500 miles (ultegra hubs) Hurry before I buy them

binkybike

ugo.santalucia wrote:

binkybike wrote:

Thanks for the help everyone.

So the general consensus seems to be that if built right they are good wheels, but they might not be built right ... thanks for the responses, i'll have to have a little think, it is basically my bonus this year so it's not like i can spend alot of money to fix it if it goes wrong.. decisions decisions

i am intrigued by the handbuilt option but don't know who is and isn't reputable, anyone know someone good in London, South London would be even better?

If Richmond is convenient, pop in for a cup of coffee, I am in building today...

Aaaah I see, I should have been paying attention and reading the rest of this forum rather than just my thread ... you are the Ugo people have mentioned! and you seem to have ALOT of satisfied customers (i have just done some forum snooping...)

I would be delighted to talk about some handbuilts, and Richmond is convenient although sadly not today ... what is your process?

ugo.santalucia

binkybike wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

binkybike wrote:

Thanks for the help everyone.

So the general consensus seems to be that if built right they are good wheels, but they might not be built right ... thanks for the responses, i'll have to have a little think, it is basically my bonus this year so it's not like i can spend alot of money to fix it if it goes wrong.. decisions decisions

i am intrigued by the handbuilt option but don't know who is and isn't reputable, anyone know someone good in London, South London would be even better?

If Richmond is convenient, pop in for a cup of coffee, I am in building today...

Aaaah I see, I should have been paying attention and reading the rest of this forum rather than just my thread ... you are the Ugo people have mentioned! and you seem to have ALOT of satisfied customers (i have just done some forum snooping...)

I would be delighted to talk about some handbuilts, and Richmond is convenient although sadly not today ... what is your process?

The process is that if you are willing to listen to the advice, you save a lot of money. I think a set of Hope hubs for some winter/training wheels are OTT... you should go for Shimano hubs and as Oriordan pointed out there is a rather nice set for very reasonable money in the sales section.
Otherwise, 105 hubs on Ambrosio Evolution or Excursion rims, double butted spokes, you might take them home for less than a set of bare Hope hubs... very nice rims, very durable, very stiff and the unassuming Shimano hubs typically outlast anything out there.

You can contact me via my blog
http://paolocoppo.drupalgardens.com/

iPete

As I had them out doing a bike build I just weighed up my rear wheels, a little surprised at the lack of difference!!

OpenPro Hope hub, regular tube & Mich Pro 4 Endurance: ~1180g
Shimano RS80, superlight tube and Mich Pro 3 ~1260g

ugo.santalucia

iPete wrote:

As I had them out doing a bike build I just weighed up my rear wheels, a little surprised at the lack of difference!!

OpenPro Hope hub, regular tube & Mich Pro 4 Endurance: ~1180g
Shimano RS80, superlight tube and Mich Pro 3 ~1260g

Yours is a 28 if I remember correctly... strange, you must have worn quite a lot of the alloy on the rim...

That proves the point that people spend a lot of money for those numbers that most of the times are just made up.

I have never found a rim that weighs the same as it should weigh... the Chinese are the closest to the declared number, the Italian and French the furthest apart...
Nemesis is the most outrageous: 430 grams is in reality 475! Even so, I love my Nemesis, love them!!!

pippi_langsamer-2

If they're a bargain, buy them then take them to your nearest reputable wheel builder and have them re-squizzle them.

Cheeky as feck I know, but hey.....

binkybike

Just in case anyone is interested, Ugo is building/built me some wheels to the above spec. 105 hubs, Ambrosio rims and Alpina spokes, to be collected tomorrow.

He has been a joy to to deal with and it is a totally smooth process, I'll let people know what the wheels are like when I have a roll on them over the weekend... assuming anyone is actually interested.

nevman

Of course we will be interested-wheels make the world go round (well our world).

smidsy

Excellights? I have them and they are very comfy. No noticeable flex either.

ugo.santalucia

smidsy wrote:

Excellights? I have them and they are very comfy. No noticeable flex either.

Excursion... for real men

smidsy

ugo.santalucia wrote:

smidsy wrote:

Excellights? I have them and they are very comfy. No noticeable flex either.

Excursion... for real men

Oh Ok, I won't be needing those.

ratsbeyfus

binkybike wrote:

Just in case anyone is interested, Ugo is building/built me some wheels to the above spec. 105 hubs, Ambrosio rims and Alpina spokes, to be collected tomorrow.

He has been a joy to to deal with and it is a totally smooth process, I'll let people know what the wheels are like when I have a roll on them over the weekend... assuming anyone is actually interested.

Just wanted to add to the above post. Ugo/paulo has also just built me a set of wheels - very easy guy to deal with whose advice saved me plenty of money. From first speaking to him to receiving the wheels was less than two weeks. I haven't ridden the wheels yet, but I certainly wouldn't hesitate to recommend him, and to deal with him again in the future.

Garry H

smidsy wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

smidsy wrote:

Excellights? I have them and they are very comfy. No noticeable flex either.

Excursion... for real men

Oh Ok, I won't be needing those.

For "real men", read "fat folk"

vs4b

I have been using a pair for 13 months. In that time I've had two spokes repaired and the wheel tried up once. Last week the rim split where a spoke joins it. Hope told me to send it back for replacement without hesitation. So some downside but great service, assuming they get my new wheel out soon as promised!

ugo.santalucia

vs4b wrote:

I have been using a pair for 13 months. In that time I've had two spokes repaired and the wheel tried up once. Last week the rim split where a spoke joins it. Hope told me to send it back for replacement without hesitation. So some downside but great service, assuming they get my new wheel out soon as promised!

Yes, the build quality of those Hope Hoops is sometimes shocking... given the price, related to the price of the single components, it is hardly surprising

binkybike

Garry H wrote:

smidsy wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

smidsy wrote:

Excellights? I have them and they are very comfy. No noticeable flex either.

Excursion... for real men

Oh Ok, I won't be needing those.

For "real men", read "fat folk"

Err ... Hmmm ... Thanks.

I know they are only training wheels but I a pretty excited about getting hold of them, although it looks like the first test will be in the rain as the weather for this weekend looks awful. bum.

ugo.santalucia

binkybike wrote:

Garry H wrote:

smidsy wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

smidsy wrote:

Excellights? I have them and they are very comfy. No noticeable flex either.

Excursion... for real men

Oh Ok, I won't be needing those.

For "real men", read "fat folk"

Err ... Hmmm ... Thanks.

I know they are only training wheels but I a pretty excited about getting hold of them, although it looks like the first test will be in the rain as the weather for this weekend looks awful. bum.

You should be, they are nice... Paris-Roubaix ready... 8)