Help my decide on some wheels

dragonontheedge
dragonontheedge Posts: 496
edited December 2013 in Road buying advice
Following my Mavic Kysrium Elite developing a crack (right on Christmas and after being made redundant, Thanks !) I need to purchase some wheels asap as I am in training for a charity ride to Paris in March.

I am confused by the huge choice. My realistic budget is £300.

Do I go for factory or hand built.

So far my choice is H Plus Son or perhaps saving a few green backs and going down the Askium route (they proved very reliable).

Can anyone else make some suggestions please.

To assist :-

It is Christmas Eve, I weigh 180lb (today :D )

I ride for pleasure and also commutting. Very few sportives. I am not aggresive but do live on the North Downs so I need a good climbing wheel.

Thanks in advance.

Al
Hey, maybe you haven't been keeping up on current events, but we just got our asses kicked, pal!

Comments

  • cycleclinic
    cycleclinic Posts: 6,865
    A wheel builder will say go handbuilts. With the Archetypes a 24F/28R spoke count on Miche or Noavtec A171/F172 hubs will work great for your budget and weight.

    The Mavic wheels will also work but I am not going to mention the downsides that has been done to death. The upside is you will not hae to wait for them being built or find a reliable wheel builder.

    If you want a hand built set then do not exclude the Kinlin XC-279. 23mm wide 28mm deep 500g so only 15-20g heavier than the archetype. They are glossy black build well and they are very stiff. Also they are cheaper and in the U.K.

    Fulcrum racing 5's or Campagnolo Scirocco's are your other options and if I was goinf to buy a factory wheel (which I will never do) then I would go for one of those.
    http://www.thecycleclinic.co.uk -wheel building and other stuff.
  • trooperk
    trooperk Posts: 189
    For £300 you can get some Campy Zonda's, same as racing 3's (apart from the rear lacing) but about £50 cheaper,good wheels for the money and well worth a look.
    Specialized-The clitoris of bikes.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,312
    After your recent experience, it would be suicidal to go for a set of factory wheels again! 8)
    left the forum March 2023
  • sloppyschleckonds
    sloppyschleckonds Posts: 8,019
    Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz
    I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles
  • Semantik
    Semantik Posts: 537
    trooperk wrote:
    For £300 you can get some Campy Zonda's, same as racing 3's (apart from the rear lacing) but about £50 cheaper,good wheels for the money and well worth a look.

    +1

    Just picked these beauties up from my local Halfords today.
    On offer last week on their website and with 10% British Cycling discount on top they came out @ £256 the pair.
    Shimano freehub too.

    Nice!
    11534941143_bf8db73da4_h.jpg
  • brownbosh
    brownbosh Posts: 602
    hope mono rs? Lots of nice colours choice of rims got mine for 319 from westbrook. available immediately and handbuilt by ho so completely fixable and serviceable anywhere plus any future rim wearout you could upgrade the spokes and shave another 180 gms.
  • daviegb
    daviegb Posts: 126
    Fulcrum Racing 3's are currently in stock with Ribble & can be picked up for £330 including delivery - you will need to use SALE10 in the promo code.

    http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-t ... ulcwhfr260
  • fleshtuxedo
    fleshtuxedo Posts: 1,858
    +1 for zondas - light, stiff, attractive, vfm

    I've never had disasters with factory wheels, had far more niggles with handbuilts

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