Do I need a set of winter wheels?

bmxboy10
bmxboy10 Posts: 1,958
in Road buying advice
Recently sold my winter bike and I only have one bike now, a Supersix with Hollowgram Carbon wheels. I have some cash and wondered if you think I should get a set of winter wheels be they factory or handbuilt to save the expensive carbon wheels getting beat up over winter. Thoughts and opinions please and feel free to recommend as set of wheels and tyres. I suppose I don't need to spend a fortune but would go up to £300 ish. Cheers.

Comments

  • shiznit76
    shiznit76 Posts: 640
    Planet x have some vision 35s down to just £150 just now, a steal at this price
  • thecycleclinic
    thecycleclinic Posts: 395
    edited January 2020
    Winter wheels are just wheels with reliable hubs.

    You dont need more spokes in winter. The only thing that can help are rims with thicker brake tracks. Well since most rims have brake tracks that are pretty much the same thickness just go for the cheapest good rim and a low cost relaible hub.

    Of course I have ignored that advise and in my commutor bike are 20f/24r pacenti sl23 rim on Royce triplet hubs. There is rear load and that should emphasise the point about spoke count.

    So a set of cheap shimano wheels is one option or wheel built for you with shimano or miche hubs.

    Kinlin do rims like the xc 279 which are cheap and decent. £230 will get you a set with miche or shimano hubs.

    £300 allows a more expensive rim and black spokes.
    www.thecycleclinic.co.uk
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,491
    If you don't feel the need for a winter bike then you should't feel the need for winter wheels. If you do feel the need then...
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • shiznit76
    shiznit76 Posts: 640
    should also consider the damage winter cycling will do to your "good" bike. Salt and road grime along with higher risk of having a slide. Might be better investing in a second hand bike for winter use rather than a pair of wheels
  • joeyhalloran
    joeyhalloran Posts: 1,080
    Is the bike disc or rim brake?

    Either way, the difference for me would be tyres. Lightweight tyres which are nice to ride in summer won't survive long in winter and fixing punctures when it's cold and dark and wet is miserable.

    If the bike is rim brake and you intend to be using those wheels along time then i'd say yes.

    If the bike is disc and you only ride on 'nice' winter days then maybe.
  • philbar72
    philbar72 Posts: 2,229
    just ride what you've got to the conditions, surely. if you need a set of wheels for winter (rim brake) then go for cero AR24. cheap, roll well and do everything you need from a decent set of wheels for the price.
  • gsk82
    gsk82 Posts: 3,620
    I'd buy some cheap wheels just to reduce the damage the muck causes to your good wheels. I wouldn't spend more than £150 on some. They're been bought for the sole purpose of getting beat up.
    "Unfortunately these days a lot of people don’t understand the real quality of a bike" Ernesto Colnago
  • bmxboy10
    bmxboy10 Posts: 1,958
    Seen a great deal on some shimano wheels so think I’ll order them and see what they are like. I agree about the tyres so would prefer a second set of wheels as it’s easier to swap over a wheel set. That said what about brake pads!!!
  • shazzz
    shazzz Posts: 1,077
    I've never bothered with a winter bike, but used to use change to cheaper aluminium wheels in the winter when I had rim brakes. Now I have disc brakes I don't bother changing wheels, only tyres.
    I also have a new SuperSix with Hollowgram wheels. I do try to keep it clean by hosing down after a mucky ride to get rid of the grime.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,325
    Get a set of handbuilts with good hubs and inexpensive rims... I am on my third set of rims on the same wheels, which have done about 16k miles in all seasons
    left the forum March 2023
  • bobones
    bobones Posts: 1,215
    edited January 2020
    shiznit76 said:

    Planet x have some vision 35s down to just £150 just now, a steal at this price

    Bloke I ride with bought these and they look nice, but 1900 g is a fair weight.
    philbar72 said:

    just ride what you've got to the conditions, surely. if you need a set of wheels for winter (rim brake) then go for cero AR24. cheap, roll well and do everything you need from a decent set of wheels for the price.

    Got a set of these and wouldn't recommend them for winter riding as the bearings don't last in the wet. I also broke a spoke early doors with mine so they weren't particularly well built either. As for rolling well, what exactly does that mean?
  • bmxboy10
    bmxboy10 Posts: 1,958
    ugo.santalucia said:

    Get a set of handbuilts with good hubs and inexpensive rims... I am on my third set of rims on the same wheels, which have done about 16k miles in all seasons

    Sounds like triggers broom lol.
  • bmxboy10
    bmxboy10 Posts: 1,958
    The wheels I saw are the Shimano RS500TL. Narrow profile but nearly half price at £200 seems good.
  • bobones
    bobones Posts: 1,215
    ugo.santalucia said:

    Get a set of handbuilts with good hubs and inexpensive rims... I am on my third set of rims on the same wheels, which have done about 16k miles in all seasons

    Miche Primato hubs with DT Swiss R460 rims and ACI Alpina spokes would be a good winter combo, and not too dear either.
  • bobones
    bobones Posts: 1,215
    bmxboy10 said:

    The wheels I saw are the Shimano RS500TL. Narrow profile but nearly half price at £200 seems good.

    Beware. TL means tubeless and Shimano TL rims are notoriously difficult to get ordinary tyres on.
  • bobones
    bobones Posts: 1,215
    jeffbale987 said:

    Narrow profile but nearly half price at https://apricot-escort.com/https://apricot-escort.com/ seems good.

    Look like they'd roll well :smile:
  • bmxboy10
    bmxboy10 Posts: 1,958
    bobones said:

    bmxboy10 said:

    The wheels I saw are the Shimano RS500TL. Narrow profile but nearly half price at £200 seems good.

    I’d run them TL I think

  • awavey
    awavey Posts: 2,368
    are the Miche wheels/hubs recommended then ? my LBS is trying to get me to buy some as replacements for my clapped out stock bike wheels, but Id never heard of Miche, and cant find many online reviews.

  • bobones
    bobones Posts: 1,215
    Miche are a well respected Italian component manufacturer. Their Primato Syntesi hubs are a favourite with wheel builders because they're durable and reasonably priced. I would expect their wheels to be decent enough.
  • mrb123
    mrb123 Posts: 4,833
    https://forum.bikeradar.com/discussion/13109903/italian-handbuilt-wheels#latest
  • step83
    step83 Posts: 4,170
    Will depend on your situation but for most you can get away with just a single set.
    If you have some silly expensive wheels or similar yes, cheaper set of winter/training wheels is a good idea. Otherwise just ride to the conditions.

    PS Malcolm does some lovely wheelsets! Not bought anyway but always respected his work.
    Titanium Px Spitfire
    Easty commuter
    Tripster AT
  • philbar72
    philbar72 Posts: 2,229
    bobones said:

    shiznit76 said:

    Planet x have some vision 35s down to just £150 just now, a steal at this price

    Bloke I ride with bought these and they look nice, but 1900 g is a fair weight.
    philbar72 said:

    just ride what you've got to the conditions, surely. if you need a set of wheels for winter (rim brake) then go for cero AR24. cheap, roll well and do everything you need from a decent set of wheels for the price.

    Got a set of these and wouldn't recommend them for winter riding as the bearings don't last in the wet. I also broke a spoke early doors with mine so they weren't particularly well built either. As for rolling well, what exactly does that mean?
    i can only speak from personal experience, they've been good for me all through summer and winter. they are a good set of do it all wheels.
  • schlepcycling
    schlepcycling Posts: 1,614
    How about Hunt 4 Season for £299

    https://www.huntbikewheels.com/collections/road-wheels/products/hunt-4season-aero-road-wheelset-1589g-28deep-22wide
    'Hello to Jason Isaacs'
  • fenix
    fenix Posts: 5,437
    If you're spending £300 on winter wheels you can get a winter bike for not much more money.
  • bmxboy10
    bmxboy10 Posts: 1,958
    edited February 2020
    https://www.fawkes-cycles.co.uk/2497696/products/shimano-rs500-ultegra-tubeless-qr-clincher-road-wheelset-11s.aspx

    Ordered these so will see what they are like before I get them....
    I know they are not on trend with the width etc but looked like a decent deal for £200. Sigma etc are selling them fo twice that...
  • mrb123
    mrb123 Posts: 4,833
    bmxboy10 said:

    https://www.fawkes-cycles.co.uk/2497696/products/shimano-rs500-ultegra-tubeless-qr-clincher-road-wheelset-11s.aspx

    Ordered these so will see what they are like before I get them....
    I know they are not on trend with the width etc but looked like a decent deal for £200. Sigma etc are selling them fo twice that...

    Good buy I reckon. One of the hire companies in Mallorca had them on all their bikes which suggests they must be fairly reliable and robust.

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