Cyclingnews Build a Bike Thread - Week 3: The Wheelset

[El Imbatido]

Bump.

Poll soon?

Yeah mate, real soon. Late couple of days been really busy, so haven't had much time to come on here.

Just a suggestion, since there is obviously a lot of choices and way too many to be included on a poll. Maybe we could have 2 polls! The first poll would be for the type of wheel selection strategy, with choices such as "high-end all round wheel" "cheaper race wheel training wheel combo" "training wheel with powertap" and so on. Let that poll run for a few days and then have a second poll with all choices belonging to the winning category in the first poll. What do you all think?

I think that is an awesome idea, i was thinking just before came online that it would be hard to cover all bases with only a limited amount of spots, so this seems like a good idea. I will post a poll tomorrow during the daytime (Aus time) as i have just got home from going out for the night and need my sleep.

 

[nightfend]

If I had to have one all-around good wheelset for racing and training, then I'd go with one of these:

1.) HED Ardennesse
2.) Ksyrium SLs
3.) Shimano Scandium Tubeless

If I REALLY had to have a training wheelset that was also deep dish, then I'd pick one with an aluminum braking track.
1.) Mavic Cosmic Carbone SL
2.) HED JET C2 60's
3.) Flashpoint 60/SRAM 60

 

[El Imbatido]

Ok i decided to use Cobber's idea and create a poll to decide what sort of wheelset we should use. It has the options:

Cheaper Training & race Wheelset
Cheaper Training & race wheelset with powertap
Mid priced race wheelset + cheaper training set
Mid priced training & race wheelset
High end wheelset
Cheap race set + cheap training set


It is a three day poll (in hindsight 3 is probably a bit long should have made it two) and after this we will use the selected catagory (for lack of a better word) to make a second poll to decide actual wheels.


Please remember:
The aim is to build and all-round bike that can be used in all forms of racing and riding

For anyone just beggining to play now please read the original post of the following thread:

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=2677

The above is just a copy and paste from the original post which has also been updated. Just remember to vote.

 

[steelciocc]

Handbuilt

Although I didn't weigh in during the lead-up discussion I voted for the "high end wheelset".

My definition is a set of Chris King hubs (lets say 28h) laced to a DT Swiss RR 1.1 or equivalent. This is as good a wheelset as anyone needs and fits the mission of this machine perfectly (at half the cost of the other options).

Others will see it differently, I'm sure, but my guess is a handbuilt set will be:

- As light, or lighter, than a boutique set of "race wheels"
- More durable than a run-of-the-mill set of "training wheels" -and-
- Have better hubs than both

 

[ambrose]

Not a brand that anyone out of australia would have heard of but the Bouwmeester yellow dot 50mm carbon tubs are awesome value (1880 US i think)+any reliable training wheelset would be good choice (its the one i made). This could come in at around $2100, so thats not to bad an option

bouwmeester website-
http://www.bouwmeesterwheels.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=56&Itemid=198

 

[LugHugger]

Just for sake of clarity, and for those with short term memory loss, did we finalise the total wheel budget? Was it $1500?

 

[elapid]

I've voted for a high end wheel set, but suppose I am a little confused by the options. When powertap is mentioned, there are two wheel sets - would the PT be on the training or racing wheels? Or is this meant to mean one wheel set for both training and racing? Personally, I have Zipp 303s with PT and I use these for both training and racing. I know this combination is beyond our budget, but that's why I voted for the high end wheel set because I think we can find something that should be a good all-rounder.

 

[Cobber]

I've voted for a high end wheel set, but suppose I am a little confused by the options. When powertap is mentioned, there are two wheel sets - would the PT be on the training or racing wheels? Or is this meant to mean one wheel set for both training and racing? Personally, I have Zipp 303s with PT and I use these for both training and racing. I know this combination is beyond our budget, but that's why I voted for the high end wheel set because I think we can find something that should be a good all-rounder.

I think if there is an "&" then it is a single wheelset to be used for both training and racing, while if there is a "+" then it is 2 wheelsets.

Anyway, I voted for the cheaper set with a powertap. My reason? Well.... as the aim of this thread is to build the best all round bike that we can I think a Powertap is a very attractive option. Having just bought a new bike I have to take it easy for a while, but I do plan on dropping some serious hints to my wife once she forgets how much the bike cost!

 

[runninboy]

the poll is kind of confusing, what about tubular or clincher?

 

[elapid]

I think if there is an "&" then it is a single wheelset to be used for both training and racing, while if there is a "+" then it is 2 wheelsets.

Anyway, I voted for the cheaper set with a powertap. My reason? Well.... as the aim of this thread is to build the best all round bike that we can I think a Powertap is a very attractive option. Having just bought a new bike I have to take it easy for a while, but I do plan on dropping some serious hints to my wife once she forgets how much the bike cost!

They don't forget! Three years later and I'm still defending buying my bike!

 

[elapid]

Having just bought a new bike I have to take it easy for a while, but I do plan on dropping some serious hints to my wife once she forgets how much the bike cost!

They don't forget! Three years later and I'm still defending buying my bike!

 

[El Imbatido]

I think if there is an "&" then it is a single wheelset to be used for both training and racing, while if there is a "+" then it is 2 wheelsets.

That is exactly right. Well that is the way i meant fo it to be.
& = single set
+ = two wheelsets

So,
Cheaper Training & race Wheelset - 1 set that can be used for racing and training
Cheaper Training & race wheelset with powertap - 1 set that can be used for racing and training with a powertap
Mid priced race wheelset + cheaper training set - 2 wheelsets
Mid priced training & race wheelset - 1 set mid priced to be used for racing and training
High end wheelset - 1 set
Cheap race set + cheap training set - 2 sets, both cheaper.

the poll is kind of confusing, what about tubular or clincher?

Well the idea of the poll was to decide between 1 or 2 sets, and powertap or not and also how high quality of a wheelset(s) we want. Then we can decide on things like that once we have narrowed down the options.

Sorry if it was a bit confusing. I always read my post back to myself to try and make sure others will understand it, but i guess it doesn't work all the time.

 

[davidg]

They don't forget! Three years later and I'm still defending buying my bike!

You have to make sure they are always the same colour. SWMBO doesn't notice.

 

[Cobber]

You have to make sure they are always the same colour. SWMBO doesn't notice.

Ha ha ha ha..... that seems like a good strategy!

 

[steelciocc]

Oops...

El Imbatido,

I'm not too smart and didn't really understand the options.

Would you please change my vote to mid priced training & race wheelset from high end wheelset.

I explained my thoughts on the specific wheelset a couple of pages back...

Thanks

 

[El Imbatido]

El Imbatido,

I'm not too smart and didn't really understand the options.

Would you please change my vote to mid priced training & race wheelset from high end wheelset.

I explained my thoughts on the specific wheelset a couple of pages back...

Thanks

I would if i could, i don't even think moderators would be able to change polls. But i'll just keep it in mind when looking at the results. No biggie really.
Cheers

 

[TheDude]

Although I didn't weigh in during the lead-up discussion I voted for the "high end wheelset".

My definition is a set of Chris King hubs (lets say 28h) laced to a DT Swiss RR 1.1 or equivalent. This is as good a wheelset as anyone needs and fits the mission of this machine perfectly (at half the cost of the other options).

Others will see it differently, I'm sure, but my guess is a handbuilt set will be:

- As light, or lighter, than a boutique set of "race wheels"
- More durable than a run-of-the-mill set of "training wheels" -and-
- Have better hubs than both

Yeah - I get that. This is an all-around bike afterall (now what does all-around mean in another question - for me an all-arounder has to be able to take the childseat on the back, as I have to drop my son daily at preeschool). I was trying to figure out how to deal with the SRAM thing (as I would have built with record hubs), but Chris King sounds like the right option. I looked at the CK cyclocross hubs before going with record for my cross wheels.