Is this a worthwhile wheel upgrade or am I wasting my money?

plodder73

From this

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-t ... odiwhfr200

These weigh 2.1 kg

To these

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/s?q= ... elset+2013

Weigh about 1750g

Would like to find something that roll and particularly climb well. Any other suggestions up to about£250. Considered Aksiums, PlanetX , any suggestions folks, don't want to buy and end up no different.

diamonddog

PX Model B are good vfm approx 1650gm without skewers had mine over a year now.

plodder73

diamonddog wrote:

PX Model B are good vfm approx 1650gm without skewers had mine over a year now.

They would seem to be out of stock but thanks anyway

shamrock134

My advice is save your money for now and use the Rodis until they wear out. That way you can save up for longer and get an even better/lighter set or maybe put your £250 to some nice clothing.

Bobbinogs

As above, personally, I would bear in mind the season and think of all that gritted/salty road muck that won't be that far away. Also, riding in a strong wind with lashing rain you will lose any subtle benefits that one set of wheels may bring over another. Hence, my advice would be that, unless your current wheels are broken, just make sure you have some decent winter tyres (Gatorskins/4 Seasons/UltremoDD), etc., and then thrash your current wheels over the next few months.

In the meantime, save some dosh and when spring arrives buy some really nice wheels in the £350+ bracket (RS80s, lovely handbuilts, Krysiums, etc.) and match them with some great tyres like GP4000s or Ultremo ZX and fly into the new cycling season...

unixnerd

In the meantime, save some dosh and when spring arrives buy some really nice wheels in the £350+ bracket (RS80s, lovely handbuilts, Krysiums, etc.)

+1 You can get RS80s for around 300, Ribble had them on sale recently.

plodder73

Thanks all, so is the general consensus that the Fulcrums are not much better than the Rodi s ? I am all over the place with this searching, I go from looking for new bikes yesterday and travelling 100 miles looking at them to then deciding to just improve my current bike. This cycling malarkey can drive you nuts. I am doing my first real testing sportive next week and was looking for something that may I've me an edge even if only marginal.

shamrock134

I can't comment on the quality of either wheelset, but that small gap in weight makes no difference to my climbing at least. I have 2 bikes, one is 9.5kg with 2160g wheels and one is 7.5kg with 1750g wheels. The difference between them climbing the same hills is negligible.

If anything, I've put more hill PRs on the "heavy" bike because I seem to try harder on it!

rolf_f

Plodder73 wrote:

Thanks all, so is the general consensus that the Fulcrums are not much better than the Rodi s ? I am all over the place with this searching, I go from looking for new bikes yesterday and travelling 100 miles looking at them to then deciding to just improve my current bike. This cycling malarkey can drive you nuts. I am doing my first real testing sportive next week and was looking for something that may I've me an edge even if only marginal.

No, the Fulcrums are way better than the Rodis but, assuming they came on a bike you got from Ribble, the time for an upgrade at this sort of level was when you got the bike. eg for £20 extra you could have got the ITM 2.4s which weigh a bit less than 1900g

The Fulcrums are actually pretty good - they should be fairly bombproof and they are a reasonable weight. I suspect they'd last a lot better than the Rodis but not feel massively better. On that basis, the logical answer is, as said, to keep using the Rodis till they die and then replace them with the Fulcrums. And in the meantime plan for a pair of lightweight summer wheels that really will make a difference for next year.

Barteos

Plodder73 wrote:

Would like to find something that roll and particularly climb well.

Round wheels generally "roll well"

plodder73

Barteos wrote:

Plodder73 wrote:

Would like to find something that roll and particularly climb well.

Round wheels generally "roll well"

Ha, very true. I didnt buy the bike new so I inherited what I got.

Right I've now upped my price to these £300 inc tyres


http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/w ... -2013.html

Seem good?

Barteos

Plodder73 wrote:

Barteos wrote:

Plodder73 wrote:

Would like to find something that roll and particularly climb well.

Round wheels generally "roll well"

Ha, very true. I didnt buy the bike new so I inherited what I got.

What I meant was that there is nothing (apart from negligible bearings/seal drag) that would make one set of wheels "roll better" (Does anyone actually know what it means... :?:) than the other one. How the bike rolls is determined by the tyre choice and pressure.

As for "fast climbing" wheels, this myth has been debunked hundreds of times before...
The only thing that really matters when going up is the overall weight (you+ bike+...) and your fitness.

diamonddog

Plodder73 wrote:

diamonddog wrote:

PX Model B are good vfm approx 1650gm without skewers had mine over a year now.

They would seem to be out of stock but thanks anyway

Unbadged ones showing in stock, they look better all in black.

Bobbinogs

Plodder73 wrote:

I am doing my first real testing sportive next week ...

In which case my advice would remain the same, keep your current wheels for now. The last thing to do on an important ride is to use brand new kit that has yet to be tested properly in training. Take it easy, relax, get a few easy spins in and eat well afterwards. You want to be nice and fresh for the ride, and I sense you are just stressing yourself by adding another complication in. You don't need "an edge for the ride", you need to just do your best and enjoy it.

trailflow

If you scroll all the way down. Planet X do have 'Lots in stock'. But with no graphics.

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/WPP ... 0_wheelset

daniel_b

Or you could get these Campagnolo Zondas that allegedly weigh 1550 grams -
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/campagnolo-zonda-clincher-wheelset/?lang=en&curr=GBP&dest=1&utm_source=pla&utm_medium=base&utm_campaign=uk&kpid=5360518141

I managed to bag a pair for £255 from Evans earlier this year.

fleshtuxedo

Daniel B wrote:

Or you could get these Campagnolo Zondas that allegedly weigh 1550 grams -
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/campagnolo-zonda-clincher-wheelset/?lang=en&curr=GBP&dest=1&utm_source=pla&utm_medium=base&utm_campaign=uk&kpid=5360518141

I managed to bag a pair for £255 from Evans earlier this year.

+1 for Zondas, but the 1550g is not right. Mine weigh 1520g! . Also strong, fast, unaffected by crosswinds and good looking.

Got mine for £242 from Ribble last Autumn, brilliant value.

plodder73

Bobbinogs wrote:

Plodder73 wrote:

I am doing my first real testing sportive next week ...

In which case my advice would remain the same, keep your current wheels for now. The last thing to do on an important ride is to use brand new kit that has yet to be tested properly in training. Take it easy, relax, get a few easy spins in and eat well afterwards. You want to be nice and fresh for the ride, and I sense you are just stressing yourself by adding another complication in. You don't need "an edge for the ride", you need to just do your best and enjoy it.

Thank you very much, that is very sensible and I will take note. As you say I don't need to complicate things, doesn't matter if I stroll in at the back of the pack.

cycleclinic

£250 will also get you a set of hand built wheels with Kinlin rims with miche or novatec hubs for low spoke count wheels or Mavic Open pro on Novatec or Miche for a higher 32 spoke count wheelset.

Just a thought.
Kinlin XR270 24F/28R with black Sapim Race spokes and Novatec A171/F172 hubs weight 1660g cost about what Zonda's do from ribble on a deal. These should be fine for most riders of average weight.

Still your current wheels are fine training wheels and poor weather wheels until they go wrong (all wheels will eventually it is a matter of time).

mfin

FleshTuxedo wrote:

+1 for Zondas, but the 1550g is not right. Mine weigh 1520g! . Also strong, fast, unaffected by crosswinds and good looking.

Got mine for £242 from Ribble last Autumn, brilliant value.

+1 great wheels. Plus if you move from Shitmano/Sram to Campag or vice versa you can get a new freehub body for £35ish and off you go again. (Of course you can do this with a lot of wheels but not any Shitmano ones).

buzzwold

Rolf F wrote:

Plodder73 wrote:

Thanks all, so is the general consensus that the Fulcrums are not much better than the Rodi s ? I am all over the place with this searching, I go from looking for new bikes yesterday and travelling 100 miles looking at them to then deciding to just improve my current bike. This cycling malarkey can drive you nuts. I am doing my first real testing sportive next week and was looking for something that may I've me an edge even if only marginal.

No, the Fulcrums are way better than the Rodis but, assuming they came on a bike you got from Ribble, the time for an upgrade at this sort of level was when you got the bike. eg for £20 extra you could have got the ITM 2.4s which weigh a bit less than 1900g

The Fulcrums are actually pretty good - they should be fairly bombproof and they are a reasonable weight. I suspect they'd last a lot better than the Rodis but not feel massively better. On that basis, the logical answer is, as said, to keep using the Rodis till they die and then replace them with the Fulcrums. And in the meantime plan for a pair of lightweight summer wheels that really will make a difference for next year.

I've been running F5s since the April and they'e been brilliant and added enormous pleasure to my bike riding. Regarding the onset of poor weather unless you're out and about in all weathers all the time I can't see there being a major issue as long as you keep them clean and lubed. I love mine and the additional easier rolling has been really noticeable.