New lighter wheelset

chatlow

I have a 2014 Spec tarmac SL4. I love the frame, but I would really like to improve the ride and cut some weight by getting some better wheels.

My knowledge on bikes and components is okay, but I know nothing about wheels, so rather than googling for hours, it would be super helpful to get some advise from you people.

Ideally have a budget of around £200-250. Can anyone recommend a good wheelset?

bendertherobot

What's on there now?

chatlow

bendertherobot wrote:

What's on there now?

Axis 1.0

bendertherobot

Which are a bit heavy. What tyres?

imposter2.0

The Axis are 'average' wheels, but all you will get for £200-250 is another set of average wheels. I'd go for some quality rubber first, as that is likely to have the biggest impact on ride and performance anyway...

chatlow

Yeah, I had a feeling £250 might not get me much better. As for tyres, I currently have espoir elite 23 on the front, and bontrager race elite 25m on the back (using this bike as an indoor trainer at the moment). So yes, I will be on the lookout for new tyres as well.

bendertherobot

At 1645g, a saving of probably 355g over your current wheels, Fulcrum Racing 5 are a good bet. Indeed, they are good wheels. Get the LG version and you will have a nice wheel that makes 25c tyres all the better.

Get it from Merlin with included GP4000iiS tyres in 25c and you're looking at £229.

Still average category I guess but certainly above average stock wheels.

You could go with the venerable Zonda and save 100g more (although average they might just be all the wheel one ever really needs) but those are 15mm internal and don't play as nicely as the Fulcrum LG with 25c tyres.

chatlow

Thanks for these suggestions. Zonda look the part, just wondering if the extra £100 justifies 100g weight saving.

Also, need to check the Fulcrum's LG allow for 23mm in case I decide to come down from 25mm in future.

Will do some research but if anyone's got any other wheels to throw in the mix, then please do.

Thanks again

bendertherobot

There's just no reason to come down to 23mm.

mrb123

Bender's suggestions are spot on. I'm a big advocate of handbuilt wheels but your budget is a bit small to make that option worthwhile.

The Zondas are very well thought of but the Racing 5lg have the benefit of a wider rim, plus seem a great deal with those tyres included. You'll never notice the 100g weight difference.

bendertherobot

Ta!

Hunt are another option. If you can wait till June. They're effectively handbuilt from parts.

bendertherobot

And, finally, if you can stretch to a bit more, http://www.wiggle.co.uk/pro-lite-bortol ... -wheelset/

Lots of good reviews and sub 1500g. But, to be honest, I'd say you wouldn't feel a huge difference between these and the £229 Fulcrum with tyres option

mrb123

If you could stretch to 300 quid, Malcolm at the Cycle Clinic is doing Ryde Pulse Comp rims on Miche hubs. That's a light rim and a very reliable hub with a sensible spoke count and good weight.
http://thecycleclinic.co.uk/collections ... from-1425g

part time waster

Cycle division do some cheap lightweight wheels , never seen a pair though. Zonda`s at ribble are about the only other I can think of.

defycomp2

Cole Rollen Elite from Evans at about £200. Had some of the older ones for 3 years on the Giant with no issues. The newer spec is a bit wider.

darkhairedlord

BR compilation of FACTS about wheels:

1: Stock wheels are awful.
2: Zondas are "bombproof".
3: Fulcrum 5's are the best wheels under £200.
4: Carbon clinchers are death traps.
5: Narrow rims will need higher pressure which will shatter your spine.
6: Everyone's current wheels "roll well".
7: Lighter wheels will make you climb at leat 4mph faster.
8: You "must" stretch your budget for the next level up.
9: You must stretch your budget a little more for Hand built Archetypes on Novatec hubs.
10: If you weigh more than 80kg you cannot even consider a factory wheelset.
11: If you weigh more than 90kg you must have 32 spokes, 36 is better.
12: Don't even think of asking for advise on deep section rims without showing your cat 1 licence.
13: Superstar wheels are poorly tensioned and will pringle as the tyre goes on.
14: Aero wheels are way faster than light wheels.

singleton

darkhairedlord wrote:

BR compilation of FACTS about wheels:

1: Stock wheels are awful.
2: Zondas are "bombproof".
3: Fulcrum 5's are the best wheels under £200.
4: Carbon clinchers are death traps.
5: Narrow rims will need higher pressure which will shatter your spine.
6: Everyone's current wheels "roll well".
7: Lighter wheels will make you climb at leat 4mph faster.
8: You "must" stretch your budget for the next level up.
9: You must stretch your budget a little more for Hand built Archetypes on Novatec hubs.
10: If you weigh more than 80kg you cannot even consider a factory wheelset.
11: If you weigh more than 90kg you must have 32 spokes, 36 is better.
12: Don't even think of asking for advise on deep section rims without showing your cat 1 licence.
13: Superstar wheels are poorly tensioned and will pringle as the tyre goes on.
14: Aero wheels are way faster than light wheels.

Nice list - I think that probably covers most of what I've read on "wheel" threads...

PTestTeam

Miche Syntium can be had for just over £250 http://www.dennecyvelo.co.uk/parts/1335 ... GwodwqAO2A

http://road.cc/content/review/170567-mi ... y-wheelset

chatlow

Last post on this before I buy this week... Campagnolo Zonda with 23/25mm Conti Gatorskin Tyres and tubes for £250 OR Fulcrum racing 5 LG with 25mm Gp4000iiS and tubes for £229?? Also like the Fulcrum LG Quattros, but no package deals on these.

Leaning towards the Zonda's but would like some advice/thoughts..

bendertherobot

Zonda's from where at £250? Ribble?

If so you do realise that, if you use the Conti, you've added 200g of weight over the GP4000iiS thus making the 100g lighter Zonda, 100g heavier than the Racing 5's with 4000?

Chris71127

What groupset are you running? I have a pair of fulcrum racing 3's (2015 two way fit) on a shimano hub which I was going to stick up for sale soon if you're interested give me a pm

MikeBrew

darkhairedlord wrote:

BR compilation of FACTS about wheels:

I love acronyms. Having read some of the oft opined views on wheels, this one was a doodle to get : F.A.C.T.S.....

Frequent Astonishingly Cringe-worthy Twaddle Spoken....

Still working on BR - why are the short one's the most difficult ? Pretty sure that the R is for Repository.... So we have : B....... Repository. Hmmm, I wonder what on earth that could be :arrow:

chatlow

bendertherobot wrote:

Zonda's from where at £250? Ribble?

If so you do realise that, if you use the Conti, you've added 200g of weight over the c thus making the 100g lighter Zonda, 100g heavier than the Racing 5's with 4000?

Good point - didn't take into account the tyre weights. That said, Wiggle are listing the Conti's at 225g and the GP4000iis at 220g?

Think I am between the Zonda's and Fulcrum Quattro atm.

itboffin

darkhairedlord wrote:

BR compilation of FACTS about wheels:

1: Stock wheels are awful.
2: Zondas are "bombproof".
3: Fulcrum 5's are the best wheels under £200.
4: Carbon clinchers are death traps.
5: Narrow rims will need higher pressure which will shatter your spine.
6: Everyone's current wheels "roll well".
7: Lighter wheels will make you climb at leat 4mph faster.
8: You "must" stretch your budget for the next level up.
9: You must stretch your budget a little more for Hand built Archetypes on Novatec hubs.
10: If you weigh more than 80kg you cannot even consider a factory wheelset.
11: If you weigh more than 90kg you must have 32 spokes, 36 is better.
12: Don't even think of asking for advise on deep section rims without showing your cat 1 licence.
13: Superstar wheels are poorly tensioned and will pringle as the tyre goes on.
14: Aero wheels are way faster than light wheels.

Thread killer :-)

bendertherobot

chatlow wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

Zonda's from where at £250? Ribble?

If so you do realise that, if you use the Conti, you've added 200g of weight over the c thus making the 100g lighter Zonda, 100g heavier than the Racing 5's with 4000?

Good point - didn't take into account the tyre weights. That said, Wiggle are listing the Conti's at 225g and the GP4000iis at 220g?

Think I am between the Zonda's and Fulcrum Quattro atm.

Pretty sure they are the Conti Rigid Gators at 325g.

chatlow

I stand corrected - the rigid are around 320 - however the LBS are willing to price match this deal and throw in the folding gatorskins which are 250g.

bendertherobot

Much better. But still £25 more than the 5 LG package to save about 50g and have worse tyres.

What's actually important? Gator Skin are ok but, honestly, the Zonda would be better shod with GP4000iiS, Schwalbe One or, best of all, Michelin Power. Do you plan on getting those later? Are the Gator Skin just a "bonus?"

jonnyc1973

Don't know what colour your bike is but I have just bought this... http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Merida-Reacto-7 ... _81918.htm

I haven't used the bike yet but am going to change the wheels/tyres etc so if you were interested there is a deal there?

fat_tail

I have a set ordered from Hunt Bike Wheels. 4 Season Dura Road seem like a good option at £229. I haven't received mine yet but they are

(1) wide (23mm)
(2) deep (21mm)
(3) 1696 g
(4) tubeless
(5) quite robust spoke count (24 and 28)

only downside is the long wait to get them as they seem to operate on a long lead business model.

chatlow

bendertherobot wrote:

Much better. But still £25 more than the 5 LG package to save about 50g and have worse tyres.

What's actually important? Gator Skin are ok but, honestly, the Zonda would be better shod with GP4000iiS, Schwalbe One or, best of all, Michelin Power. Do you plan on getting those later? Are the Gator Skin just a "bonus?"

Yeah, bonus really. If the LBS only have the rigid in stock, then I would put them on my winter bike and go buy some GP4000iiS or similar.

Only thing that I am worried about is that, although bomb-proof, quite a few people have said that the Zonda's can be a harsh ride.

jonnyc1973 wrote:

Don't know what colour your bike is but I have just bought this... http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Merida-Reacto-7 ... _81918.htm

I haven't used the bike yet but am going to change the wheels/tyres etc so if you were interested there is a deal there?

PM coming your way

Bobbinogs

Don't forget to factor in bearing type. The Zondas are a harsh ride IMO but this can be softened to some degree with 25s run at the right pressure...but having recently swapped from Zondas to a wide rim wheel/tyre combo (H+ Son with 25s) I am now firmly in the 'wider rim' camp from all angles...which is how they can be safely ridden around corners!

Anyway, bearings, the Zondas have some very nice cup/cone which can be easily serviced but, then again, just as well because they need servicing regularly in crap weather. The 5 LGs are cartridge type and, by all accounts, the sealing lasts longer...but there is no servicing as such, just replacement of the bearings.