Stuck on wheel choice.

jgarpotter

Hi all,

I'm currently riding a Scott Foil 15 (from Westbrook) but due to funds at the time I had to go for a cheapish wheelset, Shimano RS21, now having access to more funds I'm looking to upgrade them if possible. I'm looking for wheels that I can use most of the time - for both training and TT's/tri's (I'd like to start entering crits soon as well, although I won't be using my SF for them), aside from Winter and really rainy/hail(y) days, where I'll just use my RS21's.

Having had a look I found 3 wheels that are in my price range (£400) that seem to be good value.

The zondas - £263.51, 1550 grams - lots of positive reviews http://www.wiggle.co.uk/campagnolo-zond ... -wheelset/
CERO AR30 - £379.99 - 1395 grams - few reviews http://www.cycledivision.co.uk/product- ... id133.html

The last option is going second hand on ebay, having found some wheelsmiths being sold there - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281433631037? ... EBIDX%3AIT. The biggest issue I have with these are the fact they are tubular and as I live in two very windy areas (Sheffield and Hull) I'm not sure how beneficial they would be, I haven't used deep rim wheels in long time! There is also the issue of buying second hand carbon wheels, although the seller does seem to be 'legit'.

Any ideas or advice?

Cheers

krogort

I am not certain you will notice a difference between your current wheels and the one you plan to buy.
Don't you want something aero for TTing ?

arlowood

You may already have done so but if not have a read at this thread

viewtopic.php?f=40042&t=12975026

Lots of positive comments on the Zondas (including from yours truly)

I bought the Wiggle offer wheels that you have linked to but on reflection tho' I should probably have saved a bit harder and gone for the 2-way fit versions at £376

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/campagnolo-zond ... -wheelset/

This gives you the option to run tubeless as well as standard clinchers. Seems going tubeless will be the next lowish cost upgrade to get excited about

http://paolocoppo.drupalgardens.com/con ... e-tubeless

jgarpotter

krogort wrote:

I am not certain you will notice a difference between your current wheels and the one you plan to buy.
Don't you want something aero for TTing ?

The wheels I linked from ebay are 50mm deep, so I presume that should be aero enough for now if I were to go for them. Plus the Zonda's seem to be fairly aero, unless I'm reading the data wrong: http://www.cyclingpowerlab.com/componen ... amics.aspx

cycleclinic

Most low spoke wheels are fairly aero the zonda are a decent buy for a factory wheel but like all factory wheels any problems means wrting of the wheel as reapirs can get very expensive. Personally I would not untake a spoke replacement or worse a rim replacement on a Zonda as it would take too much time. Even servicing the hubs can get expensive if you add up a hub renewal kit front and rear + freehub body. Most people will simply run them in until the hubs are shot or a spoke breaks and throw away.

The wheelsmith carbon are possibly decent. Tubular are a non issue if you are willing to take the plunge. Ask if the rim is a U-shaped one these are less effected by cross winds. Braking performace is affected by them being carbon but some carbon rims with the right pads are very good even in the wet. No idea if these are though. Rim wear might be an issue with carbon so check that out too.

trooperk

krogort wrote:

I am not certain you will notice a difference between your current wheels and the one you plan to buy.
Don't you want something aero for TTing ?

I totally disagree, at the beginning of the year I built myself a BMC carbon bike with all new bits, to keep the cost low I use a pair of low mileage RS20 from my old bike, was really disappointed how the bike rode and though I wasted all that money venturing to carbon, then I took the plunge and got a pair of Zonda’s, well it just transform the bike and much more responsive and nicer to ride, no regrets at all.
But can’t comment for use for TT though.

jgarpotter

I've decided against the set from ebay, I'd rather not buy secondhand carbon wheels, and using them will probably be a pain!

I have, however, found some Mavic Ksyrium Elite S WTS for about £330 - £340 ish (import from Germany), it obviously includes tyres as well. This is a very tempting offer. Still unsure on which set to go for, the Zonda's, the Ksyrium or the CERO's. In the link I posted earlier it does, however, state that the Zonda's are actually more aero than the Ksyrium wheels, does anyone know if this is true?

letap73

The CERO AR30 is better than the Mavic Ksyrium SLS - model above the elites in my opinion. I got rid of the SLS recently and have kept the CERO - which have been more reliable and would be much cheaper to repair than the Mavics (not had to do anything with them).

jgarpotter

letap73 wrote:

The CERO AR30 is better than the Mavic Ksyrium SLS - model above the elites in my opinion. I got rid of the SLS recently and have kept the CERO - which have been more reliable and would be much cheaper to repair than the Mavics (not had to do anything with them).

I've read in the forum that they have a few issues in the wet, have you noticed this at all? I believe it was due to the hubs, i.e. a bearing would need replacing often.