Aero carbons under £1k second hand....

Tim F

Still building my new Colnago and have decided to up my budget on wheels. I'm after an aero set. My bike is an M10 and will only just take a 25mm tire. As far as I know (and the advice is very confusing) a wider internal rim means the tire won't bulge as much, so would be better for frame clearance.

After something comfortable, preferably aero (50mm rim or less) and under 1600grams (lighter the better). Also would like something that has a proper braking track so that a) I can stop and b) I don't overheat the wheel.

I've shortlisted the Reynolds wheelsets so far but wondering what else you recommend. I have seen other options such as Farsports but don't think they have the brake track. Also looked into the older Zipps but I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) they have poor quality hubs.

Advice appreciated!!

OnTheRopes

Caden are worth checking out, I have a set and they are really good quality wheels. The guy that owns the Co. is very passionate and knowledgeable and there are videos about the construction etc on the website that are worth a look.
Free delivery from Australia and the prices are good.
https://carbonbikewheels.com.au/eu

shirley_basso

It's all the same stuff. It's so marginal unless you are
A) powerhouse
riding regularly in the mountains
C) ride mountains in the wet
D) weight a ton

Otherwise it's much of a muchness

Matthewfalle

Shirley Basso wrote:

It's all the same stuff. It's so marginal unless you are
A) powerhouse
riding regularly in the mountains
C) ride mountains in the wet
D) weight a ton

Otherwise it's much of a muchness

This. At that price it’s all the same so avoid Hunts and just choose the ones with the best logos.

joe_totale-2

Mavic Cosmic Carbons?

https://www.evanscycles.com/mavic-cosmi ... t-EV285996

Campy Bullets?

https://www.wiggle.co.uk/campagnolo-bul ... -wheelset/

It's difficult to find a wheelset with an alloy brake track for under 1600 grams. Also if your bike doesn't have much tyre clearance then it may have issues with wide wheels as well. Wider wheels may not make a tyre bulge so much but they also stretch a tyre and make it larger than more narrow ones.

shirley_basso

Ally brake tracks look abysmal. Maybe the cosmic ultimate with the textured one looks ok.

Not all rim widths are equal as well. I have some 303s which are the first iteration of wide (17mm) but now you can go much much wider, so be aware.

Not all Zipps have bad hubs. It's the one with radial lacing on the rear drive side instead of cross laced you want to be wary of.

You should be ok with a 17mm inner rim width and 23mm tyres (25 at a stretch) or a 15mm inner rim width (older, narrow rim) and 25mm.

I have a c59 with zipp 303s which measure 17mm inner and I think I have 25mm schwalbe ultremos on it and they just miss the stays.

You have you accept that you will get some rubbing under the fork, unless you run very narrow tyres on narrow rims.

svetty

Light Bicycle are excellent......

Borgs are probably a good shout too?

Tim F

Thanks all, I only have fit issues at the back. The fork has plenty of space. This is just a tire height issue too, with the width of the tire I have plenty of space. Just thought I'd be clearer with my description. So to be clear if I run a wider rim will the tire get higher?

I won't look for a wheel with an alloy brake track I believe this is old technology and no-one is investing in this now. Found a tonne of info here https://intheknowcycling.com/ but mainly aimed at high end wheels.

Will check out the recommendations too

Matthewfalle

no need for ali rim track. current carbon rim tracks brake just as well, lighter, look better.

at that money i'd avoid borg/hunt that jazz. no need to go that route.

sloppyschleckonds

Matthewfalle wrote:

no need for ali rim track. current carbon rim tracks brake just as well, lighter, look better.

at that money i'd avoid borg/hunt that jazz. no need to go that route.

Agreed. Whatever happened to buying the best hubs you could and fitting everything around that

Matthewfalle

marketing and trendy bits of paper in the box basically.

oooh - look. a piece of cardboard with a squiggle on it from the "wheelbuilder". we can charge them an extra £50 for that although its just a piece of cardboard with a squiggle on it.

Midlands Grimpeur

Have a look at wheelsmith up in Scotland. They can hand build you a set of brand new 50mm carbon clinchers on hope pro hubs for £990.

I have the 45mm dimpled rims on dura ace hubs and they are excellent wheels. I've used lots of wheels from numerous brands over the years and these are my favourite set overall.

mr_mojo

The latest 77/177 Zipp hubs are a great improvement over the previous generation. I recently bought a brand new Zipp 404 Firecrest front wheel for £460 from Cycle Surgery and a used once (genuinely as it’s in excellent condition) 808 Firecrest rear wheel for £520. Shop around and you’ll find Zipp’s under your £1k target.

lakesluddite

Prime wheelsets from Wiggle/CRC are a good lower budget option - although with their new 'Black Edition' versions they are now more mid-budget than lower end carbon. They go from 28mm to 85mm rims, and the 50mm clincher rims are £800. They will fit tubeless easily as well - my older version 50mm took a tubeless tyre very easily.

the_jackalcp

Svetty wrote:

Light Bicycle are excellent......

This, go for the new grooved graphene brake track. Choice of hubs and depths to suit budget

If you want branded I'd recommend the much underrated bontrager aoelus 3 pro

Tim F

Picked up some Zipp 303 NSW's. Thanks for the suggestions!

mr_mojo

Tim F wrote:

Picked up some Zipp 303 NSW's. Thanks for the suggestions!

For under £1k? If so good price.