Cheap wheels: Mavic Aksium or Oval Concepts 327

[moose8]

My friend had a guy run over his front wheel while commuting the other day - the guy right hooked him. Fortunately all that was hurt was the wheel. Anyway, he needs to replace the wheel and is looking for a cheap set. I suggested the Aksium (currently $200) or the Oval Concepts ($139). I told him I'd go with the Aksiums as I have Ksyriums and have been happy with them. Anyone have any thoughts or any suggestions for similarly inexpensive wheelsets? He doesn't weigh very much so they don't need to be super stout.

[AngryScientist]

I bet both will perform similarly. Now, if the other guys insurance is paying, go for zipps!

[moose8]

I bet both will perform similarly. Now, if the other guys insurance is paying, go for zipps!

That's what I told him! He was in a bike lane at a stop light, when the light turned green he went to go straight, the guy started going right, my friend yelled, the guy looked at him straight in the eyes and they exchanged words, and then the guy just gunned it and went over my friend's front wheel. My friend then opened the guy's front door, got in the car and sat down, and said "we're waiting until the police get here." So it does look like the guy's insurance will pay, as he got all the information when the police arrived. A bunch of people stopped saying it was totally the driver's fault, but none of them would wait for the police. Such is the life of a bike commuter in Boston!

[tch]

....a pair of Easton EA90 SL's on closeout at Nashbar. $300 total.

[BumbleBeeDave]

That's what I told him! He was in a bike lane at a stop light, when the light turned green he went to go straight, the guy started going right, my friend yelled, the guy looked at him straight in the eyes and they exchanged words, and then the guy just gunned it and went over my friend's front wheel. My friend then opened the guy's front door, got in the car and sat down, and said "we're waiting until the police get here." So it does look like the guy's insurance will pay, as he got all the information when the police arrived. A bunch of people stopped saying it was totally the driver's fault, but none of them would wait for the police. Such is the life of a bike commuter in Boston!

. . . to watch this! :p

BBD

[moose8]

1697865407
His wheel after the incident

[tsarpepe]

I am not sure whether they are still available, but there was a pair of Easton Vista wheels for sale here, $110 shipped.

[aramis]

The aksiums are pretty heavy, but will probably stay true forever which might be good for a commuter, they also look a little nicer if it means anything.

[josephr]

Really like the EA90 from nashbar idea. Vuelta Corsa Lites are cheap all over the place.

Shimano RS10 - $100 on amazon I've got 800 miles on a set and no problems. Not my favorite wheel, but seems ok for inexpensive, reliable.

There's a pair of Shimano 105 hubs on the boards for dirt cheap...build up with some Open Pros and he'll never need wheels again.
Joe

[dana_e]

they were nice

but the campagnolo khamsin was nicer

[tsarpepe]

Honestly, if I were you, I would wait for the next sale on the Ultegra 6700 and be done with it. Ribble had them earlier this year for $270 shipped to the US, or something ridiculous like that. A world class wheel that allows you to go tubeless for under $300?! How can you say no that?!

[tsarpepe]

A punto:

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-track-bike/shimano-ultegra-6700-clincher-wheels-pair/shimwhfr615

[dana_e]

But can it go to 11?

[Keith A]

This is only one data point, but a friend just put together a new bike using some cost conscious parts and has some Oval Concepts wheels. On his 2nd or 3rd ride, the spokes on the front wheel started becoming loosing on our ride. First it was one spoke, then another and a another -- and he had to hobble back home with this wheel. I don't know which model this is (I can find out) and this maybe an isolated problem, but I'd certainly do some research before I bought a set of wheels from them.

Honestly, if I were you, I would wait for the next sale on the Ultegra 6700 and be done with it. Ribble had them earlier this year for $270 shipped to the US, or something ridiculous like that. A world class wheel that allows you to go tubeless for under $300?! How can you say no that?!Agreed. This is a great set of wheels!

[classtimesailer]

Ultegra/OpenPro if I could only afford to maintain one set of wheels.

[shovelhd]

Aksiums will not stay true forever. I could not even get a year.

Anything but Mavic.

[Louis]

Neuvation? (http://www.neuvationcycling.com/itemlist.cfm?rb_ct=1321)

[jds108]

another choice from ribble:

Fulcrum 7s with a Shimano freehub:

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-track-bike/fulcrum-fulcrum-wheels-factory-road-tri-fulcrum-racing-7-wheels-pair/fulcwhfr290

I have two pairs of Fulcrums (both further up the model chart than these), and just like any other Campy wheels they've been really reliable and low-maintenance.

[cmbicycles]

I would never buy oval wheels, you will be much better off with round wheels.:banana:

[Louis]

I would never buy oval wheels, you will be much better off with round wheels.:banana:

It all depends on the road you're riding...

http://sections.maa.org/northcen/newsletters/pre_09_newsletters/Macalester.squarewheels.PRES.edited.S04.jpg

[moose8]

In the good news department, this thread may now be moot. The insurance appraiser who came and took pictures of the bike submitted an appraisal for $1000 saying he thought the fork and wheel should be replaced. My friend thought the appraisal would be for $200 or something for the front wheel, but looks like the bike specialist appraiser they sent decided it should be higher. Now my friend is just waiting to see if that's what he actually gets. So instead of wheels he may just end up looking for a new used bike if he really gets such a big check for an old wheel on an old bike. I guess sometimes it pays to get runover.

[tuxbailey]

In the good news department, this thread may now be moot. The insurance appraiser who came and took pictures of the bike submitted an appraisal for $1000 saying he thought the fork and wheel should be replaced. My friend thought the appraisal would be for $200 or something for the front wheel, but looks like the bike specialist appraiser they sent decided it should be higher. Now my friend is just waiting to see if that's what he actually gets. So instead of wheels he may just end up looking for a new used bike if he really gets such a big check for an old wheel on an old bike. I guess sometimes it pays to get runover.

It never pays to get run over. You friend had a fast reaction in getting into the car. How did he manage that?

[moose8]

It never pays to get run over. You friend had a fast reaction in getting into the car. How did he manage that?

My last comment was in jest. I agree it never pays to get run over. When he got hit in the front wheel he dropped the bike and opened the guy's door and got in. He was already on high alert since they had just exchanged words. I dont think he went down just his bike. I think he was a little crazy but in the heat of the moment it's easy to get a little crazy. Commuting through a city every day seems to provide at least one incident a year with bad drivers.

[mike p]

+1 very nice wheel for the money.

Mike

Neuvation? (http://www.neuvationcycling.com/itemlist.cfm?rb_ct=1321)