Archetype+105+Sapim Race?

Camcycle1974

I am thinking of getting a wheelset built up to the spec in the title. Think it will be 28h front and 32 rear. Is this a good all-round option for Sportives/training/club rides and worth the upgrade from the stock wheels (Giant PR-2)? The build will cost about £270 all in from Andy at Bicycle Ambulance who has a good rep as a wheelbuilder.

Worth the cost to upgrade or am I wasting my time/money?

maddog 2

the rim has a good rep. Overall weight won't be super low, but it's at the hub so not as critical. Just ordered an Archetype on a new disc wheel actually (not got it yet)

rrsodl

Camcycle1974 wrote:

I am thinking of getting a wheelset built up to the spec in the title. Think it will be 28h front and 32 rear. Is this a good all-round option for Sportives/training/club rides and worth the upgrade from the stock wheels (Giant PR-2)? The build will cost about £270 all in from Andy at Bicycle Ambulance who has a good rep as a wheelbuilder.

Worth the cost to upgrade or am I wasting my time/money?

105 hubs come in 32 and 36 holes only so you will need a different hub for 28 holes.

smidsy

Do it with 32 front and rear and it will fit the bill of the all-round option you described.

pastey_boy

Ambrosio Zenith hubs are lighter than 105's and as cheap and they come in 28/32 holes.

Camcycle1974

Thanks for the pointers fellas.

32 front and back it is. The current wheels are 24/28 and have already been re-trued by the shop I bought the bike from. They are also heavy and a bit dull tbh. They also developed a rattle after a couple of hundred miles which wasn't great.
Nothing technically wrong with the PR-2's but they cheapen the bike imo and the hubs are not very smooth (in comparison to my old Mavic 501's) If I could re-build on the 501's I would but not compatible with a 10s cassette set-up unless I can find a 10s freewheel somewhere. The wheelbuilder didn't recommend doing this.

Camcycle1974

pastey_boy wrote:

Ambrosio Zenith hubs are lighter than 105's and as cheap and they come in 28/32 holes.

Those are re-branded Novatec though right? I will ask the builders opinion on hubs but I suspect he will say Shimano due to servceability/longevity. Weight not a primary concern but reliability and smoothness of ride is.

letap73

Camcycle1974 wrote:

pastey_boy wrote:

Ambrosio Zenith hubs are lighter than 105's and as cheap and they come in 28/32 holes.

Those are re-branded Novatec though right? I will ask the builders opinion on hubs but I suspect he will say Shimano due to servceability/longevity. Weight not a primary concern but reliability and smoothness of ride is.

Quite right op!

Camcycle1974

RRSODL wrote:

Camcycle1974 wrote:

I am thinking of getting a wheelset built up to the spec in the title. Think it will be 28h front and 32 rear. Is this a good all-round option for Sportives/training/club rides and worth the upgrade from the stock wheels (Giant PR-2)? The build will cost about £270 all in from Andy at Bicycle Ambulance who has a good rep as a wheelbuilder.

Worth the cost to upgrade or am I wasting my time/money?

105 hubs come in 32 and 36 holes only so you will need a different hub for 28 holes.

Funny how Shimano would ignore a large section of the weight-concious cycling community by failing to provide a 28 or 24 hole version but then 105 isn't your lightest hub anyway. If I could justify the jump to Dura-Ace I would but I don't think they will be 4 times better than 105 based on cost alone and maybe 150g lighter.

Camcycle1974

letap73 wrote:

Camcycle1974 wrote:

pastey_boy wrote:

Ambrosio Zenith hubs are lighter than 105's and as cheap and they come in 28/32 holes.

Those are re-branded Novatec though right? I will ask the builders opinion on hubs but I suspect he will say Shimano due to servceability/longevity. Weight not a primary concern but reliability and smoothness of ride is.

Quite right op!

Thank you kind sir!

smidsy

Camcycle1974 wrote:

pastey_boy wrote:

Ambrosio Zenith hubs are lighter than 105's and as cheap and they come in 28/32 holes.

Those are re-branded Novatec though right? I will ask the builders opinion on hubs but I suspect he will say Shimano due to servceability/longevity. Weight not a primary concern but reliability and smoothness of ride is.

Indeed they are. I have them on my Ambrosio Excellight build with DT Swiss Competition Spoked 32/32.

They are a fine set of wheels and the hubs are very smooth and so far reliable.

Camcycle1974

Nothing wrong with Novatech hubs. After all they make hubs for a lot of other companies. My builder has the 105's in stock which is why I guess they recommended them.