best wheel (choice of 4) for audax/sportive

dartmoorcyclist

Hi there, I am on Ribble bike builder, creating an audax bike. I want to spend extra on a wheel upgrade and would like some opinions on the best way to go. Here's the choice (below) and thanks for any comments or advice you have. I have only shown the upgrades I can afford below. I'd go for the best of these, but this might not be the most expensive one?

Main use will be long day rides on Dartmoor (mucky, a bit potholed) and I am not a racer but don't want to be weighed down with heavy wheels if I can afford better, looking for a compromise between comfort and speed, I won't be touring on this bike.

Rodi airline 4 clinchers - standard option
Rodi airline evo clincher - add £19
Fulcrum 2013 racing 7 - add £74
Fulcrum 2013 racing 5 - add £115
Fulcrum racing quattro - add £174
ITM aero 2.4 - add £20
Shimano RS501 bladed spoke clincher - £10
Shimano RS501 30mm bladed clincher - £15
Shimano RS10 clincher - add £30
Shimano RS21 clincher - add £70
Shimano Ultegra 6700 clincher - add £199
Shimano RS61 clincher - add £145
Shimano RS30 clincher - add £75
Mavic cosmic elite clincher - add £165

Thank you all

imposter2.0

You haven't said how much you weigh, but if all those wheels are in your budget, then choose the set which offers the best compromise between lowest weight/best reliability.

Comfort and speed are more about tyre choice/pressure - and your own fitness, tbh.

dartmoorcyclist

Thanks - I weigh 10 1/2 stone. I am hoping for some comments from the forum on the wheels that offer the lowest weight/best reliability.

rolf_f

Crikey! The Fulcrum 7 upgrade used to be £28 and a total no brainer to escape the horror of the Rodis. I'm not that up on the Shimano stuff but I suspect the RS10s might not be a bad choice. Obviously, it depends on how much you are prepared to pay for the weight savings though. 1800g is a good target weight for a good wheel at a not excessive price.

slowbike

Merlin have the FR7s for £115 and the FR5s for £165
Not saving huge amounts by buying them with the bike. I'd be tempted to take the stock wheels and buy some decent wheels separately - at least that way you have a spare wheelset.

dartmoorcyclist

Thanks, I am happy to pay for the Mavic cosmic elite, Shimano Ultegra 6700 or Shimano RS61 clincher or the more expensive Fulcrums.... as long as I am not throwing my money away! Sounds like a good move to upgrade on the Rodi's!

dartmoorcyclist

Slowbike wrote:

Merlin have the FR7s for £115 and the FR5s for £165
Not saving huge amounts by buying them with the bike. I'd be tempted to take the stock wheels and buy some decent wheels separately - at least that way you have a spare wheelset.

Hadn't thought of doing that, thanks.

rolf_f

Slowbike wrote:

Merlin have the FR7s for £115 and the FR5s for £165
Not saving huge amounts by buying them with the bike. I'd be tempted to take the stock wheels and buy some decent wheels separately - at least that way you have a spare wheelset.

Not a bad idea. But in that case I think the extra tenner for the RS501s is a bargain you'd thank yourself for.