These wheels worth the investment ?

Kupepe

Hello,

I am riding a modern build of a Colnago Super with Campy/3T equipment these days. It beats the carbon in terms of love, what can I say.

My carbon bike came with a Mavic Aksium wheelset. Bombproof but I always felt that while pedalling something was keeping the bike back from rolling. Changed the wheelset to a Dura ace C24 and bang ... it changed the bicycle.


Nowadays due to budget issues the Colnago has a pair of fulcrum Racing 5 wheels (1645 gr). Initially I as going for the Zondas but I had to get the bike on the road and could not wait another month. The more i ride it and the more I look at it I know that if I will change the wheelset I want it to have a classic look of wheelset. Intended use will be for weekend club rides and audaxes.

So the setup I have ended up is :

Rims : Ambrosio Excellight
Hubs : Campy Record
Spokes Rear: DT Competition x 32
Spokes Front: DT Revolution x 32
Nipples: DT Brass

Tyres: Veloflex Master 25

The weight is almost 100 grams lighter without quick releases.

100 grams is a nice weight reduction on this kind of wheelset. Do you believe the wheelset will be a considerable upgrade compared to the Racing 5s in matters of power transfer, durability and rolling ?

Go for it ... ?

Thanx

drlodge

Kupepe wrote:

So the setup I have ended up is :

Rims : Ambrosio Excellight
Hubs : Campy Record
Spokes Rear: DT Competition x 32
Spokes Front: DT Revolution x 32
Nipples: DT Brass

Tyres: Veloflex Master 25

The weight is almost 100 grams lighter without quick releases.

100 grams is a nice weight reduction on this kind of wheelset. Do you believe the wheelset will be a considerable upgrade compared to the Racing 5s in matters of power transfer, durability and rolling ?

Go for it ... ?

Thanx

Those wheels are identical to the ones on my Rourke, except I have Sapim laser/race spokes and different tyres. They are a very nice wheel but I would potentially make some changes if doing it again but these changes may contradict the classic look you're after:
- move to a wider 23mmm rim like the Achetype
- probably go 20/24 or 24/24 spokes since I simply don't need 32 spokes
- change the hub to something like a Miche since Record are only available in 32 spokes.

I can't say whether they'll ride better than a factory Racing 5, but IMO a pair of hand builts like you're suggesting will certainly ride at least as well and probably better, last longer and be more servicable.

As for tyres, I've tried GP4000S and Pro4 SC as all round training tyres, and Vittoria Open Pave in the summer. The Open Corsa EVO CX is what I'll move to next for summer use and stick with the Pro4 SC when the weather closes in. I'm also using Continental Supersonic tubes that weigh 50g, so that's another cheap and easy 100g or so saved at the rim.

drlodge

Hopefully you can see the photos of Harry building my wheels here https://www.flickr.com/photos/djmclodge/sets/72157631843309220/

holiver

The H Pluss Son TB14 rim might be a good fit for what you are after.

Kupepe

I was told that with my weight 90 kilos .. ( I am 1.92 m tall ) I should go for 32 in the back.

Don't know much about Miche hubs ... know they are quality but dont know anything further than that.

drlodge

32 spokes is certainly bullet proof so best stick with the recommendation...in which case you might as well stick with Record hubs as well. Its then just a matter of selecting the preferred rim...