Wheelset upgrade from Specialized Axis 2.0 - Budget £350

sirichmond

Hi,

I've recently purchased one of these https://www.specialized.com/gb/gb/bikes/road/allez/allez-dsw-sl-comp/106562. Having read the reviews the one complaint was the wheels, I couldn't find an official weight for them but one of the reviews stated the wheel and tyre combo at 2.98KG! So I'm looking to upgrade as I've got to be able to do better than that. Budget is around the £350 mark.

As I'm new to road cycling I've a limited idea of the options but have shortlisted the following after doing a little research.

Shimano Ultegra 6800 Wheelset 1640g £250
Mavic Ksyrium Clincher Wheelset 1690g £300 or Elite 1550g £400

Any views on the above or have I missed an absolute gem? I'm happy to be tubeless as my MTB has been set up tubeless for the last few years. Main riding is quick hours blast on rolling terrain during the week with perhaps a couple of longer rides upto 100 miles during the month.

Thanks in advance

ravey1981

Don't bother, you will save a 2-3 hundred grammes on the actual wheels at most, nothing you will notice. Get some better tyres and tubes if anything, that will improve the ride quality and save you a bit on the overall wheel weight. Unless you are racing and need to accelerate rapidly out of corners a bit of extra weight on the wheels makes sod all difference in the real world.

craigr

Zondas : http://www.wiggle.co.uk/campagnolo-zond ... -wheelset/
Very light, i found them very stiff too first ride out, but since then they have been fine.

Pro Lite A42s : http://www.wiggle.co.uk/pro-lite-bracci ... -wheelset/
Had these for 2 summers and find them amazing. Climb reasonably well, but find they keep the speed well.

Bobbinogs

I would probably go for the Ksyrium Elite 2016 as they have a wide internal rim width and a U shape so bang on trend. They also come with tyres that will be better than your current ones. They are not great tyres but, heh, they are free and ok in the dry. Replace with something sexy when worn out. Keep your current wheels for winter usage as the wet grit makes an ideal grinding paste and will wear rims much quicker.

The Zondas are also very good for the money and come with some good cup/cone bearings so servicing is easy but the seals are not great so they do need servicing more often. They are can be harsh (well, I found them to be harsh) but the lardy boys like them because they are very stiff and this tends to reduce brakerub, which was never a problem for me.

Finally, also look at the other options, loads out there and not least handbuilts. I replaced my Zondas with some DuraAce/H+ Son and the minor increase in weight (100g over the Zondas) just cannot be noticed but the wheels are a real delight for me in terms of ride quality and handling.

slowmart

same question, another thread

viewtopic.php?f=40042&t=13066731&p=19907080&hilit=Axis+2#p19907080