Cheap wheel upgrade options?

Whiteeddymurphy

Help required please I am buying a trek 3.1 through cyclescheme. I've noticed it gets a good right up apart from brakes & wheels. The brakes are the easier option to replace. My question is what would be a good set of wheels to see a great upgrade to the bike. I will probably look for second hand. Your thoughts would be appreciated

imposter2.0

'Cheap' doesn't really mean much - what's the budget and what's the intended use?

Whiteeddymurphy

General riding. £250ish?

simonj

If you weigh over 80/85kg go for hand builds, but if not in the Shimano range a set of Ultegras may do you we'll.

Whiteeddymurphy

Are mavic kysyrium sl s ok?

simonj

Bit over budget, aksium's probably more in budget or maybe Equipe if pushing it.

ivanoile

Some Ksyrium SL is rang of Fulcrum 1 with their weight about 1450g.Altough spokes will be harder to replace as they are bladed.Ksyrium SLs are more wheels for summer or some races with a lot of hills rather than training every day with them.But if you want them,buy them,they are great wheels.

imposter2.0

Whiteeddymurphy wrote:

General riding. £250ish?

Fulcrum Quattros.

Doony

Zondas are £255 on wiggle at the moment I think

roux_guy

I've just upgraded my Cycle Scheme bike with Mavic Aksiums. 20 flat spokes on each wheel instead of 32 round one. Added 1.6 miles per hour to my average onto a route I do regularly, I'm extremely pleased with them.

nammynake

^^^ More likely you just pedalled harder or had more favourable wind direction. I'm an advocate for decent wheels but for their 'feel' rather than any tangible performance gains. An increase of 1.6mph between two sets of clinchers is just not feasible.

macleod113

£250 isn't cheap for me :-)
I have tried 2 sets of Planet X cheapies though at £100. the AL57 (I killed within 3 months due to being a heffer) and also another pair I bought for winter use. I'd advise spending as much as you can afford to really but for £250 I'm sure you can get something good. Buy cheap, buy twice!
consider your mileage, whether you'll be using them in fair weather or foul and if you can stop them being pinched when locked up at work if they look nice (as naturally they will only be used for commuting )