Disk wheelset

dazza007

Hi
I am looking for some disk wheels to replace my giant s-r2 but cannot convince myself that there are wheels out there that are worth the money for the upgrade. I have just replaced my tires for continental gp4000 tires. I moved house recently and have 500 ascent on my local ride one way and 1100 on the other local ride so decided to look at lightening the load. I estimate my current wheels at about 2kg
I have lightened my load I am below 80kg so I was looking at the Fulcrum 5 disks however I am not convinced that the wheel is durable to survive the downhill at 1700g I am looking at about 300g they are only £250
So I was looking at the Mavic Wheels - the Ksyrium Elite which would be 50% of the price of the bike it is going on, the weight of mavic wheels are still 1700g. again looking at saving 300g. They tip the scales at £450
and then there are c17 disc zondas @ £390 saving an extra 25g

The other question is, Are new wheels going to make the bike easier uphill and quicker to get upto speed as I feel the current setup can be energy draining getting up to speed especially on an incline.

Cheers,
Darren

w00dster

Not sure of the figures you mention, is that a total ascent of 500 feet/metres or a single climb of that figure?
Being totally honest, a lighter wheelset won't make the hills any easier. I have an expensive set of carbon aero disc wheels that are approx. 1650 grams and a set of wheels that came with the bike that are approx. 1900 grams - the hills are just as hard, I may be a tad quicker up the hills on the lighter wheels - but the hills are still hills.
Hunt Wheels are highly recommended on this forum. I have a set, have had no issues with them and they are appear to be strong and light, mine don't get used very much as I prefer different wheels - but other people who have rode them a lot more than me appear to like them. Mine will become winter wheels to replace the stock wheels.
My disc brake bike is fairly heavy in modern terms (8.5kgs). When doing very hilly rides I use an 11-32 cassette and in my opinion this helps far more than a slightly lighter set of wheels.
Lighter wheels generally do spin up to speed quicker, that is one of the big differences I notice between my stock wheels and the lighter aero wheels.
Whether something is worth an upgrade is very subjective. In my opinion I would say new wheels are worth the expense if you can afford it. For me the lighter wheels make my bike that little bit sprightlier, I prefer how they look and I enjoy the ride just a little bit more.
Lastly, not sure why a 1700 gram wheel wouldn't be durable? There's a lot of wheels an awful lot lighter than that - just check the rider weight limit.
I imagine you are likely to receive the comments about 80kgs being heavy for a cyclist and that the best way to get faster uphills is to ride them more and keep the wheels you have and invest in a coach instead.....

Wilf Roberts

As well as the Hunts already mentioned, you could check out the Prime Pro Disc wheel set at Wiggle, this is more like 1500g I think, or a set of handbuilts. Both come in considerably cheaper than the Ksyrium elites, as well as lighter.

andyh01

I recently read somewhere the weight isn't the deciding factor, rather the aerodynamics as you need to move the air from in front of you.

noodleman

I have a set of vision metron 40 wheels if you're interested. Thru axle and QR. Not sure if tubular are your thing though?

w00dster

+1 for the Vision wheels. I have the Vision Metron 40 Disc wheels on my bike, they are the good light (ish) ones I have. Mine are clinchers. To buy new they are approx £1350 at CRC, it then gets subjective as to whether or not the wheels provide that big a performance improvement for the price.
Very good wheels, OP has nothing to worry about with regards to durability. Being mid depth I think they look awesome on a non aero bike, and surely the looks are just as important as the performance?!!?

rob.m

I've got a set of Mavic aksium disc wheels, they're plenty good enough and cost around £140.

birdie23

I have the Hunt 4 Season wheels. Impressed with them so far. I'd also be tempted by the Zondas at that price. I've never ridden the disc version but do have the rim brake version and they are excellent.

If anyone comments about 80kg being heavy for a cyclist, remind them that's what Peter Sagan weighs and I'm sure we'd all like to be half as good as he is.

dazza007

Thanks guys, some good advice. Indeed my local rides are 500m and 1000m, gone are the days cycling down the valleys to the sea.
My S-R2 weight 960g front and 1260g rear totalling 2220g
The fulcrums were 850g front and 960g rear totalling 1810g
So a saving of 410g.
Looking forward to taking the bike out for a spin

dinyull

birdie23 wrote:

If anyone comments about 80kg being heavy for a cyclist, remind them that's what Peter Sagan weighs and I'm sure we'd all like to be half as good as he is.

74kg?!

birdie23

Dinyull wrote:

birdie23 wrote:

If anyone comments about 80kg being heavy for a cyclist, remind them that's what Peter Sagan weighs and I'm sure we'd all like to be half as good as he is.

74kg?!

Before he was kicked out of the Tour he said on his Eurosport Q&A thingy that he is 80kg.

http://video.eurosport.co.uk/cycling/tour-de-france/2017/ask-sagan-stage-1-when-will-we-see-the-first-wheelie_vid988215/video.shtml