OK, I'm hoping my 2009 Aksium Races hold out a little while longer, but the warnings from GM and BK about mavic's quality control have got me worried now.
I haven't been on my road bike much in the last 9 months, riding a MTB instead. Found a new training partner and we're motivating each other to start getting really fit and ride imperial centuries again.
I live and ride in the Northern Rivers of NSW, which is a pretty and hilly place to ride by Aussie standards - I did a new 56km loop last Sunday and did over 1000m of gain. Real steep, up and down stuff, but never getting higher than 200m ASL.
But the roads are really quite awful - uneven, potholed blue-metal mix. In some places there's only half a road on hillcrests, the shoulders disappearing like flesh on a zombie's face, so riding on the gravel is sometimes mandatory and prudent.
So, I'll be looking at some reliable, handbuilt training clinchers - no racing for me anymore. Something reliable, bullet-proof and long-lasting. My fave old wheels were Mavic Open4CD clinchers with Athena hubs, 32-spoke three-cross DT double-butted.
I'm 69kg and 172cm. Like climbing a bit, jumping like a cricket, but I'm not too concerned with weight. Horrible roads and will run Conti 25mm tires on a Cannondale carbon.
Any suggestions welcome. Thanks in advance.
EDIT: Oh, and budget is a concern. Up to about $800US. And I run a compact crankset and like to spin.