New Wheels

[bandaddy1]

I had been deliberating about getting new wheels for my 2014 Allez Elite for months before taking the plunge.The other option was to upgrade the bike but had a restricted budget so after much research,I opted for the Shimano RS81 C50's. I had read about, and heard people say that the best upgrade for your bike are the wheels and how right this has proved to be. The difference is just amazing and I now wish I had done this earlier. I highly recommend that if anyone who has a mid range bike like mine,you have the funds, and are considering upgrading to do it, you won't regret it!!. The other bonus of course is that the bike looks fantastic as well!!

 

[Master50]

I concur. a good set of wheels changes the game. I have a set of new MTB wheels arriving in the next day or so. they will be nearly 300 grams lighter than the Bontrager I have on my bike now.

I have come to love Campy and Fulcrum wheels. they make some of the lightest aluminum rimed wheels and often as light or lighter than carbon in their MTB wheels.

I might wish for a pair of lightweight clinchers but I would settle for a new pair of Campy Bora 50 clinchers at 1/2 the price of lightweights yet lighter than almost any aluminum rimmed clincher.

 

[King Boonen]

Caqmpag/Fulcrum do seem to offer some brilliantly specc'd wheels for the price, but I worry a bit about the G3 pattern on rough roads. One mis-timed pot-hole and it's likely to break the rim surely?

 

[Master50]

Caqmpag/Fulcrum do seem to offer some brilliantly specc'd wheels for the price, but I worry a bit about the G3 pattern on rough roads. One mis-timed pot-hole and it's likely to break the rim surely?

The g3 spoking reduces a lot of rim stresses and also look at the structure of the rims. No holes in the inside of the rim makes them stronger. I have Shamal wheels, my wife has them Lisa has them and so does Dave. 1 broken spoke when another rider got her quick release in my wife's wheels. Not even out of true. She finished the ride on 20 spokes and the brakes did not rub. Frankly everything about these wheels impresses me. light stiff and fast. often as fast as aero wheels as they are semi aero. plenty stiff enough for sprinters. Truly a wheel that can do it all.

I finde them to be plenty strong and rough roads are never a concern. we have pot holes here too and so far not even a dent.

 

[King Boonen]

Fair enough, I may add them back into contention then.

 

[winkybiker]

Caqmpag/Fulcrum do seem to offer some brilliantly specc'd wheels for the price, but I worry a bit about the G3 pattern on rough roads. One mis-timed pot-hole and it's likely to break the rim surely?

The G3 lacing makes an incredible amount of sense from an engineering perspective. All rear wheels should have 2:1 lacing in my view.

 

[King Boonen]

The G3 lacing makes an incredible amount of sense from an engineering perspective. All rear wheels should have 2:1 lacing in my view.

It's the large sections of unspoked rim I was worried about really. I figured the pattern was grounded in sound principles, I'm just worried hitting a pothole at the wrong point on the wheel is more likely to cause damage without the spokes bracing it.

 

[ray j willings]

My friend just built me a super light set of clinchers. I got hold of some Kinlin xr200 rims "silver"
Dahti super light hubs and we used the sapim super spokes which are very very light and cost more than the rims or the hubs. Spoke count is 20/24. Straight spokes front ,crossed once on the drive side and straight on the non drive side
weigh less than 1200grms "1190grms, kitchen scales" pair and so far so good and cost just over ?300.

I think I am going to put the super spokes on my other set of light clinchers I have. They weigh 1182 "pair with the super spokes they will drop another 30grms ....you cant beat hand built wheels IMO.

 

[King Boonen]

I will most likely go hand built Ray. I'm fortunate to have two highly respected wheel builders within cycling/driving distance of me and the thought of even attempting to source Campag/Fulcrum/Shimano rims and spokes makes me uneasy, but it's nice to know that some of my worries about their wheels are unfounded.

Light weight I couldn't care less about! I ride a steel frame, full build comes in just under 9.5kgs and to be honest any wheels I get are probably going to be lighter than the RS21's I currently have

My bike:

Love it. If I ever replace it it'll be with another steel frame, Colnago or custom.

 

[ray j willings]

I will most likely go hand built Ray. I'm fortunate to have two highly respected wheel builders within cycling/driving distance of me and the thought of even attempting to source Campag/Fulcrum/Shimano rims and spokes makes me uneasy, but it's nice to know that some of my worries about their wheels are unfounded.

Light weight I couldn't care less about! I ride a steel frame, full build comes in just under 9.5kgs and to be honest any wheels I get are probably going to be lighter than the RS21's I currently have

My bike:

Love it. If I ever replace it it'll be with another steel frame, Colnago or custom.

That's a nice looking bike. Nice colour scheme. If you happen to be near " Just riding along" Jon who builds wheels there is excellent. Highly recommended.
I have spent quite a few quid on premade wheels and all the issues that come with them. The thing about hand built wheels is they are easy to service yourself and the cost is way cheaper and the quality standard is high. Def get your moneys worth.

 

[TourOfTexas]

My friend just built me a super light set of clinchers. I got hold of some Kinlin xr200 rims "silver"
Dahti super light hubs and we used the sapim super spokes which are very very light and cost more than the rims or the hubs. Spoke count is 20/24. Straight spokes front ,crossed once on the drive side and straight on the non drive side
weigh less than 1200grms "1190grms, kitchen scales" pair and so far so good and cost just over ?300.

I think I am going to put the super spokes on my other set of light clinchers I have. They weigh 1182 "pair with the super spokes they will drop another 30grms ....you cant beat hand built wheels IMO.

You sure its 1x drive side? 2x should be minimum.

 

[Master50]

I will most likely go hand built Ray. I'm fortunate to have two highly respected wheel builders within cycling/driving distance of me and the thought of even attempting to source Campag/Fulcrum/Shimano rims and spokes makes me uneasy, but it's nice to know that some of my worries about their wheels are unfounded.

Light weight I couldn't care less about! I ride a steel frame, full build comes in just under 9.5kgs and to be honest any wheels I get are probably going to be lighter than the RS21's I currently have

My bike:

Love it. If I ever replace it it'll be with another steel frame, Colnago or custom.

I too like the color scheme. if I could get the components for some of the super exotics like Shamal I would build my own wheels too and I have all the gear to do so. I am a decent wheel builder but in general the parts to make super light and aero are hard to come by. I.E. you need to special order all the parts and in the end the factory wheel while more money is often also the better performing wheel. I do wonder if you bought all the parts if the total would be greater than the already built wheels? A set of spokes can cost more than $100 a wheel. rims at $200, hubs? I guess you might save a few dollars on a pair of 1200 dollar wheels but I think the parts would be close to the same $$$ as the built up wheels.

 

[King Boonen]

That's a nice looking bike. Nice colour scheme. If you happen to be near " Just riding along" Jon who builds wheels there is excellent. Highly recommended.
I have spent quite a few quid on premade wheels and all the issues that come with them. The thing about hand built wheels is they are easy to service yourself and the cost is way cheaper and the quality standard is high. Def get your moneys worth.

Thanks, I bought it both because of the 853 frame but also because it uses the classic Reynolds 853 badge colours. Almost looks like I'm part of a pro team when I wear my Reynolds jersey. Until I start pedalling of course!

I have family very close to justridingalong and their prices are very good. I'm closer to Wheelcraft and Wheelsmith though. His Archetype build on 350 hubs is very tempting... maybe even Hopes.

I too like the color scheme. if I could get the components for some of the super exotics like Shamal I would build my own wheels too and I have all the gear to do so. I am a decent wheel builder but in general the parts to make super light and aero are hard to come by. I.E. you need to special order all the parts and in the end the factory wheel while more money is often also the better performing wheel. I do wonder if you bought all the parts if the total would be greater than the already built wheels? A set of spokes can cost more than $100 a wheel. rims at $200, hubs? I guess you might save a few dollars on a pair of 1200 dollar wheels but I think the parts would be close to the same $$$ as the built up wheels.

Thanks, ride as as nice as it looks! I actually looked into building my own wheels when I bought some for my mountain bike. Because of the discounts the wheelbuilder could get on hubs it worked out cheaper to buy built wheels from someone who knew what they were doing rather than try do it myself, so at least in my case I can confirm it was cheaper to have someone else do it. Plus I wanted some ridiculously big, out of production rims that only he had...

I've done a lot of looking into it and, for me, hand built are really the only option, even for the road. I only want one wheel set, if I go handbuilt I'll get standard spokes (and I can actually get 32 or 36), rims, hubs, replacements for which are kept in stock and will mean 1-3 days turn around max usually. Go for factory wheels and it could mean weeks without them and even having to junk them if I can't get hold of replacement rims. I'm not racing or trying to beat people in Sportives/on Strava so I just want a decent set of year round, strong wheels that can take high milage.

But I think even if I was racing I'd be looking at handbuilt. Wheelsmith do some very nice aero, carbon clinchers and tubulars that are significantly cheaper than comparable branded wheels.

 

[ray j willings]

You sure its 1x drive side? 2x should be minimum.

Yeah , I don't know if you have seen the sapim super spokes

http://www.starbike.com/en/sapim-super-spoke/

It was not the easiest rear wheel build but they cross just once on the drive side and are straight on the non drive. They ride very well.
It was the first time that my friend built a rear wheel like this. The spokes are very thin almost half the size of normal spokes. He had to re think the build to make them work.

 

[ray j willings]

I too like the color scheme. if I could get the components for some of the super exotics like Shamal I would build my own wheels too and I have all the gear to do so. I am a decent wheel builder but in general the parts to make super light and aero are hard to come by. I.E. you need to special order all the parts and in the end the factory wheel while more money is often also the better performing wheel. I do wonder if you bought all the parts if the total would be greater than the already built wheels? A set of spokes can cost more than $100 a wheel. rims at $200, hubs? I guess you might save a few dollars on a pair of 1200 dollar wheels but I think the parts would be close to the same $$$ as the built up wheels.

Just to say I'm a weight weenie . I prefer clinchers [no tyre to carry]
I picked up some kinlin xr200 rims from ebay for $45 from asia. I would put up a link but he's not there any more. Bike hub sell them http://www.bikehubstore.com/Kinlin-XR200-Rim-p/xr200.htm
I don't know of any lighter clincher rims apart from Johnson rims and Don Becker has them all. I asked if he would sell me a set, no joy though. http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=96441

You can also pick up some really light hubs from asia on ebay . They will match the weight of Tune hubs and a set will cost you around the ?100 mark.

I used to spend at least a ?1000 pounds to get a set of clincher wheels under or around the 1300 grms a pair. Now I spend ?300 and get a set of handbuilt wheels well under 1200 grms.

Donalds Fred Johnson wheels "clinchers " weigh just over 700grms ...that is lighter than most super light tubs.

 

[TourOfTexas]

Yeah , I don't know if you have seen the sapim super spokes

http://www.starbike.com/en/sapim-super-spoke/

It was not the easiest rear wheel build but they cross just once on the drive side and are straight on the non drive. They ride very well.
It was the first time that my friend built a rear wheel like this. The spokes are very thin almost half the size of normal spokes. He had to re think the build to make them work.

Yeah, I know what those spokes are. 1x is going to crack your flange if you put some miles on these wheels. It has nothing to do with the spoke.

I have a bunch of XR200 rims for $12 back when Wheelsmfg was having its sale. But you can get them for $35 from Pandora any time.

 

[ray j willings]

Yeah, I know what those spokes are. 1x is going to crack your flange if you put some miles on these wheels. It has nothing to do with the spoke.

I have a bunch of XR200 rims for $12 back when Wheelsmfg was having its sale. But you can get them for $35 from Pandora any time.

We did try to make them cross more but they just would not. We had to use change to shorter spokes to get the wheel to work. They seem ok " fingers crossed"
I already have given them a few good workouts and the odd pot hole jump

Tyres sit really nice in the xr200 rims. My lightest wheels have are stans and it was a pain at first trying to fit the conti 50grm inner tubes and veloflex master tyres. I got a lot of pinch flats just mounting them. The xr200's are so easy in comparison. The rims not quite as light as the old Stans . the new ones are a wee it heavier.

I checked out Pandora. nice one. thanks

 

[King Boonen]

Yeah, I know what those spokes are. 1x is going to crack your flange if you put some miles on these wheels. It has nothing to do with the spoke.

I have a bunch of XR200 rims for $12 back when Wheelsmfg was having its sale. But you can get them for $35 from Pandora any time.

Is this in general or with Ray's particular parts combination?

1x seems quite popular on some wheels, pretty sure my RS21's are one cross but not certain.

 

[TourOfTexas]

Your RS21s look like virtual 3 cross. The Dati hubs have a traditional flange with j-bend spokes. With a 1x, the bracing angle is slightly improved for a better tension ratio between sides, but there is an increase in stress on the flange from drive torque. There are some posts from pro wheel builders in the weight weenies "The wheelbuilding thread" about doing 1x on the BikeHubStore hubs (very similar to Dati) and getting cracked flanges.

There are some production wheels with 1x patterns (Synchros comes to mind) but the hubs are purpose engineered for it.