Wheel upgrade

cavasta
cavasta Posts: 49
edited July 2013 in Road buying advice
I'm running a Trek 2.3 and am considering upgrading the wheels. The bike (alu frame), which cost me £1,175 3 years ago, has standard Bonty wheels (front 819g, rear 1153g). I do mostly day/half day rides, club runs, sportives, etc. I'm thinking about spending up to £400-£500 on upgrading the wheels. Is this an excessive amount to spend on this level of bike? Any suggestions on which wheels to consider? Cheers.

(Edit: also posted on Road CC)

Comments

  • napoleond
    napoleond Posts: 5,992
    Suggest standard bonty ones you already have. Until they break.
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  • sharky1029
    sharky1029 Posts: 188
    Wheels are a great thing to upgrade as they are easy to switch to a new bike should you get one and also the whole rotating weight stuff.
    Around that price point the two main ones are:
    Mavic Ksyrium Elite S - Great wheelset with very well built hubs and better sealing than shimano and probably a tad tougher. Sealed rim bead so tubeless compatible. Alloy rim vs carbon on shimano.
    Shimano RS80 C24 - Hybrid wheel with Ultegra level hubs and Dura ace rims. Lighter rim means less rotating mass so feel lighter than mavics. Not tubeless compatible without conversion kit. Standard shimano hubs with cup/cone bearings so easy service. Cheaper than ksyriums but ksyriums include (rubbish) tyres.

    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=76735
    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=87220
  • cycleclinic
    cycleclinic Posts: 6,865
    Depending on your budget and weight handbuilts are an option. Builds from 1550g -1800g are easily possible with the durable Miche hubs in the £250-£350 price range.

    For example Velocity Aerohead rims 24F/28R on Miche Primato hub would be light but limted to lighter riders.
    H plus Archetype build in 24F/28R or 28F/32R and soon for light riders 20F/24R on Miche hubs.
    DT Swiss RR440 rims 24F/28R or 28F/32R on Miche hubs would also work.
    Plenty of 32 spoke options with Mavic Open Pro rim or DT swiss RR465 rims.
    Miche hubs come with 11 speed shimano freehubs now.

    The abover wheels will be below your budget, spending more does not mean better performance but it will mean a lighter overall build and fancier hubs like Dura Ace 9000, that would bring the build cost up. Although Dura ace 9000 hubs will last a very long time. They are good hubs.

    A light build can also be had with Campagnolo Record, these hubs are like Dura ace exceptionally durable. Cheaper than Dura ace and a similar weight with a shimano freehub body but 32H only. Wheels build with these would be around £400 -£500 idepending on rims and spokes used and who builds them.

    Lighter hubs though are hardly noticable as the moment of inertia of a rotating hub is tiny compared to the rim.

    Avoid the temptation of CX-ray spokes a pointless expence for training/club rides for top end racers looking for every last advantage (imaginary or real).

    So many options in the handbuilt worlds and all of these are servicable/repairable. Other hubs could be used and there are many more rims. There are a number of good wheelbuilders about too.

    Factory wheels are an option but I do not think that very low spoke count is suitable for everyone, they may be "boomproof" for many for a some time but problems do occur. Every rider is different. Also some of the wheelsets posted above may be lighter than some of the builds I have mentioned but the weight difference will be mainly in the hub so it will not be that noticeable.

    Or keep your current wheels until you get a problem. A difference in wheel weight of 300-400g will feel different but it does not necessarily make you measurably faster.
    http://www.thecycleclinic.co.uk -wheel building and other stuff.
  • cavasta
    cavasta Posts: 49
    Thanks for the replies. Both the Mavics and Shimanos look good. Hmm...

    Forgot to mention in my OP, I'm 61kg.
  • cycleclinic
    cycleclinic Posts: 6,865
    Your light enough for low spoke counts to work well then.

    Regards

    Malcolm
    http://www.thecycleclinic.co.uk -wheel building and other stuff.