New budget wheelset

jonafun

I'm a total cycling newbie and have some questions about wheels.

Unfortunately the wheels of my bike and my girlfriend's bike were stolen from a communal bicycle storage area... who would do that?!

Anywho, since I'm completely new to this I'd like some advice as to what wheels we need because I'm so confused. So many numbers!! My budget is about £100 for per wheelset.

My bike: Specialized Allez 2015
Her bike: Specialized Dolce 2015

After some brief browsing I think I've got my eyes on the Shimano RS31, but any other suggestions would be great. Also, I wouldn't mind knowing what I should be looking for. So far I know I should be looking for 700c, clincher.

Thanks.

bomster

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-track-bike/wheels-factory-built-wheels-factory-road-tri-campagnolo-khamsin-g3-continental-10-11spd-wheel-package/campwhfr916000000000

Something to take a look at.

Sorry to hear you got robbed!

mroli

Remember on your budget you need tyres, inner tubes and cassette. I think Ribble have some good deals on shimano wheels, which are fine too.

Neil_aky

Just replaced my stock wheels with Mavic Aksiums and have been stunned at the difference they have made - they roll really well and because they have cartridge bearings they need no set up. Sure cup and cone bearings are long life and all that but being able to just put the wheels on the bike tighten up and know the bearings are running spot on is so much better in my opinion...

daniel_b

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19691541#p19691541]bomster[/url] wrote:

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-track-bike/wheels-factory-built-wheels-factory-road-tri-campagnolo-khamsin-g3-continental-10-11spd-wheel-package/campwhfr916000000000

Something to take a look at.

Sorry to hear you got robbed!

Cracking deal!

Only thing is I assume as it is not mentioned those will only be campag fitment?
The op would just need to check what groupset his bikes comes with.
I know our tri cross is shimano.

timothyw

About the only wheels that have a halfway decent rep and will hit your budget are the Shimano R501s:
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-track-bike/Shimano-R501-Bladed-Spoke-Wheels-Pair/SHIMWHFR203

Obviously you also need tyres and tubes - these aren't great but will get you back on the road at least:
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-track-bike/tyres-road-tri-track-folding-vittoria-zaffiro-pro-folding-tyre/vitttyrf801
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-track-bike/tubes-inner-panaracer-standard-inner-tube/panatube110

The tricky part is that you also need Cassettes (aka gears) for your rear wheels. Assuming that you've bought the base spec Allez and Dolce bikes (so 8 speed Claris gearing) you want these cassettes in the 11-32 option to maintain the same gearing:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shimano-acera-hg41-8-speed-mtb-cassette/rp-prod68154

Assuming you have a big adjustable spanner or bench vice, you can fit the cassettes yourself using this tool:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/cyclo-pro-series-cassette-lockring-remover/rp-prod7975

So there, that should sneak it in just under £200 for both bikes.

keef66

+1 on the recommendation for R501's from Ribble. I bought a pair as the cheapest way of getting my winter bike up and running. Not exactly featherweights, but a very decent wheel for the money, and they have proved pretty robust. I do a lot of night riding in winter, which inevitably means hitting the occasional pothole, and so far they have stayed perfectly true. Bearings are still smooth and silent, which as they are invariably ridden in the wet I take to be a sign that the seals are doing their job.