Wheelset can't decide please help!!

daynick

Okay so I want a new set of wheels, budget approx £700 -£1000 and i want them to handle sprint Tri's through to IM Lanza and long Hilly sportives. I favour a light wheelset and if I can get ceramic bearings all the better. 20-50mm rim max. Cost is a factor so looking for value at this price point!

I am only interested in clinchers

I think I am between the following (but open to other suggestion)...
- fulcrum racing zero's (available for under £700) and 4.5 stars on bike radar
- Fulcrum Red Wind XLR 50mm Dark Label Wheelset with CULT™ bearings (£950)
- ZIPP 404 Carbon Wheel Set Beyond Black (2012) (£950)
- HYPERSONIC HSC50 CXR: Hand Built Carbon Clincher Race Wheelset (£999)

Thoughts please!!!

FYI I ride a canyon aeroad cf.

Monty Dog

Thoughts....use the search function rather than starting another "what wheels" thread?

passout

Zeros. They are good & cheaper than the other options.

on-yer-bike

If thats an aero frame then at least 35mm deep sections. Aero bikes with thin rims look and are ridiculous. Then you'll need another bike for windy days.

saprkzz

Today I bought a set of 2013 American Classic 420's aero 35mm's. Only cost £600. I use the 2011 version on my stretto and love them, much more than my Zipp 404's. These are a great all rounder for hills to sprints, they weigh in at 1530, and they are really smooth. Worth a look. Also, i have lost count how many potholes i have hit, and also blown both tubes with a deep pothole, and still these wheels run true!

duckson

I'm in the same place and dont know whether to go for 38mm or 50mm carbon clinchers or alloy rims based on the H plus Son Archetypes or similar (only thing i definately want is 23/24mm wide rims!).

Ugo on here builds wheels and is full of knowledge or check out Wheelsmith.co.uk as that is someone else i'm also thinking about ordering from....he also does 24mm wide 50mm carbon clinchers in UD matte with his own hubs and Sapim spokes for £740, weight is ~1440g so pretty light.

sloppyschleckonds

The Mavics

thegreatdivide

The Zeros are great climbing wheels and also have the CULT ceramic bearings. I have a pair and Iove them. Only downside is that due to their stiffness thay can become a bit too harsh on long rides over rough ground (i.e. most UK roads). One of the only alu clinchers still being used by Pro teams btw - you'll always see them on the roof of Lampre team cars.

If you want a deep section wheel that can handle crosswinds then you need to look at super wide (not deep) rims like the Zipp 303 FC and the Enve's but they're out of your budget. I'm not sure if the wider generic Chinese carbon rims that have started appearing can compare to the big guns they’re attempting to copy but I’m looking forward to hearing ride reports.

rudivoller22

saprkzz wrote:

Today I bought a set of 2013 American Classic 420's aero 35mm's. Only cost £600. I use the 2011 version on my stretto and love them, much more than my Zipp 404's. These are a great all rounder for hills to sprints, they weigh in at 1530, and they are really smooth. Worth a look. Also, i have lost count how many potholes i have hit, and also blown both tubes with a deep pothole, and still these wheels run true!

Are they actually anywhere near the advertised weight? They look good

nferrar

Cero AR30's would be my choice (and save you some money), the problem is getting hold of some as they're often out of stock. Semi-aero, £350, sub-1400g and with decent bearings - what's not to like?
http://www.cycledivision.co.uk/product- ... id133.html
http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/tech/com ... elset.html

napoleond

Have a look at www.wheelsmith.co.uk

A set of carbon clinchers tailored to your needs price/performance wise with easily serviceable parts found any where in the world... If you broke a spoke in lanzarote, chances are a bike shop there will carry the right spokes. Not so with a factory build...

markos1963

I think you are asking too much from one wheel set. From sprint Tri's to long hilly sportives is a big divide if you are doing them seriously. With a budget of up to £1k I would look at two sets of wheels, one for the hillier longer rides, lightweight sprint style rims with clinchers and then for short sprint TT efforts then a deep section tubular wheel, I know you said clinchers but if it's a race....

Calpol

I too am researching new wheels at the present time and have looked at some of your shortlist. Another set I have found look interesting and currently with 10% off. Only 1 review of them so far

http://www.velocite-bikes.com/gram-sl-wheels.html?currency=EUR

Review

http://www.headsetpress.co.uk/gear-reviews/velocite-gram-sl-wheelset/

Not particularly cheap for clinchers but
- Carbon fibre with alloy brake track
- low weight c1400g
- Supplied with spare spokes
- Serviceable hubs
- interesting design philosophy

Looks similar to Fulcrum zero but a but lighter. Certainly on my shortlist.

pkripper

I'd get a set of mavic cosmic carbones, upgrade the bearings to.ceramic and add a wheelbuilder disc cover. Should come to about a grand in all and would give a lot of flexibility and durability.

thegreatdivide

Calpol wrote:

I too am researching new wheels at the present time and have looked at some of your shortlist. Another set I have found look interesting and currently with 10% off. Only 1 review of them so far

http://www.velocite-bikes.com/gram-sl-wheels.html?currency=EUR

Review

http://www.headsetpress.co.uk/gear-reviews/velocite-gram-sl-wheelset/

Not particularly cheap for clinchers but
- Carbon fibre with alloy brake track
- low weight c1400g
- Supplied with spare spokes
- Serviceable hubs
- interesting design philosophy

Looks similar to Fulcrum zero but a but lighter. Certainly on my shortlist.

I’d be cautious about that weight claim, it’s most probably the wheels without skewers and you don’t get ceramic bearings.

Calpol

thegreatdivide wrote:

Calpol wrote:

I too am researching new wheels at the present time and have looked at some of your shortlist. Another set I have found look interesting and currently with 10% off. Only 1 review of them so far

http://www.velocite-bikes.com/gram-sl-wheels.html?currency=EUR

Review

http://www.headsetpress.co.uk/gear-reviews/velocite-gram-sl-wheelset/

Not particularly cheap for clinchers but
- Carbon fibre with alloy brake track
- low weight c1400g
- Supplied with spare spokes
- Serviceable hubs
- interesting design philosophy

Looks similar to Fulcrum zero but a but lighter. Certainly on my shortlist.

I’d be cautious about that weight claim, it’s most probably the wheels without skewers and you don’t get ceramic bearings.

Most manufacturers seems to declare the wheel weight without skewers so not a problem I think if its +/- 80g etc. Ceramic bearing I have read mixed things about and to be honest I am probably not a good enough cyclist to notice the difference. I just thought that they looked an interesting alternative to wheels from the big 4/4 manufacturers.