Which wheelset do I keep?

[NHAero]

The bike is the Firefly #275 I bought from Ari (many many thanks!). It has Hed Belgium C2 rims and White Industries T11 hubs. Spokes are 28/32, they are black and butted each end. Campy freehub to go with the Record 11 drivetrain. These wheels have hardly been ridden, it's hard to tell them from new. Rims, spokes and hubs are black. I don't know who built them, but they look and feel as though it was an experienced pro - tension feels even by hand.

The other wheelset is from the CAAD10 this bike replaces. Built for me by OP, hard to do better. They are also WI T11 hubs, 24/28, Sapim Race dbl butted spokes, DT Swiss RR411 rims. Rear rim is asymmetric. Silver hubs and spokes. Have about 500 miles on them, the rear is perfect, front is true but has a slight inward hop from a spill I took over a year ago, undetectable while riding. Shimano freehub.
I'm going to use an Ultegra 11-34 cassette - tested on a ride yesterday, works great with the Record 11 medium cage rear derailleur.

The Belgium rim is 1.5mm wider and 3mm deeper, and weighs 30g more. I thought the Belgium wheelset was notably heavier, but it's the 28 Corsa G+ tires, heavier tubes, and Salsa skewers instead of the Zipps on the DT wheels. Stripped of cassettes, tires and tubes, and skewers, I was surprised to see that the Belgium wheels are a total of only 60g more, which is the difference between the two published rim weights. The lower spoke count on the DT wheels apparently has little effect (assuming the rim weights published are correct.)

My inclination is to swap the freehubs and keep the Belgiums, thinking they are essentially new, and the slightly heavier rim and higher spoke count if anything adds durability. They look nicer on the bike, with the black Campy drivetrain and black cockpit.

I'd appreciate considered opinions pro or con.

[pdmtong]

Since you described yourself in another thread as "a weaselly 145 pound 65 year old" , I suspect you really do not need to consider durability.
kidding aside...pick the one that look best and go for a ride....

[NHAero]

Winter weight, sir, may be up to 149 or so.
I've ridden both on the bike, but without swapping the Corsa tires onto the Dt wheels, so feel has been more determined by the tire. The DT wheels have Mavic Yksion Pro 25mm, nothing to write home about.

Since you described yourself in another thread as "a weaselly 145 pound 65 year old" , I suspect you really do not need to consider durability.
kidding aside...pick the one that look best and go for a ride....

[AngryScientist]

i personally think the black fits better with this particular bike than the silver does, so i would keep those.

that said, living in the northeast, it's never a bad idea to have a back-up set of wheels with some different tires for rain rides, wet weather, salty roads etc. keep the nicer rubber and nicer wheels nice...


https://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1697975396&stc=1&d=1551383353

[pdmtong]

Black, and don't look back.

Silver. no no no.

149? the horror....

[vincenz]

Just keep both? You can’t be hurting that much for the cash? If you have to sell, just pick the older one or the one you like the looks of less

[jtbadge]

https://i.imgur.com/s4eamxv.jpg?fb

IMO, road bikes look best with silver spokes, but Belgium/T11 is infallible, so that would be my choice. Wider is mo betta.

[Tony T]

Keep both ;)

[72gmc]

Every bike needs 2 sets of wheels, just in case.

(pay no mind to my 4 sets of road wheels to just 1 for the mtb)

[NHAero]

So in this case, unless I buy and install a new freehub, the second set has the Campy freehub and cassette. Guess that's OK.

Every bike needs 2 sets of wheels, just in case.

(pay no mind to my 4 sets of road wheels to just 1 for the mtb)

[berserk87]

Compromise and keep a front from one set and the rear from the other!

Well, that's not good advice - just funning with you. I hate these kinda decisions myself. Good luck.

[72gmc]

So in this case, unless I buy and install a new freehub, the second set has the Campy freehub and cassette. Guess that's OK.

You can buy a Shimano freehub from WI, can't you?

I have the Fulcrum Shimano freehub (https://www.amazon.com/Campagnolo-Fh-bu15x1-Shimano-11-speed-Spares/dp/B00BNZZ678/ref=asc_df_B00BNZZ678/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312144750238&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8627491118421116026&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9061307&hvtargid=pla-420001274780&psc=1) on my Record wheelset. The cassette gouges the freehub a little too easily, but aside from that it works a treat.

[jtbadge]

You can buy a Shimano freehub from WI, can't you?

I have the Fulcrum Shimano freehub (https://www.amazon.com/Campagnolo-Fh-bu15x1-Shimano-11-speed-Spares/dp/B00BNZZ678/ref=asc_df_B00BNZZ678/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312144750238&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8627491118421116026&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9061307&hvtargid=pla-420001274780&psc=1) on my Record wheelset. The cassette gouges the freehub a little too easily, but aside from that it works a treat.

Luckily the T11 hubs the OP has have a ti freehub body that doesn't gouge very easily.

[sparky33]

Keep both ;)


Sell both.
That Firefly deserves perfect wheels, 24h campy White Industries laced to HED or Easton rims.

[AngryScientist]

Sell both.
That Firefly deserves perfect wheels, 24h campy White Industries laced to HED or Easton rims.

i think you used too many letters to spell Shamal Mille

https://s27394.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/9O5B1692.jpg

[sparky33]

i think you used too many letters to spell Shamal Mille

https://s27394.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/9O5B1692.jpg

Correct. I was disoriented by the proprietary lacing pattern.

also Industry Nine i25TL because we want to hear you before we see you.

[yakstone]

Keep both.
ROI on the used wheel market sucks.

[oldpotatoe]

You can buy a Shimano freehub from WI, can't you?

Fulcrum Shimano freehub[/URL] on my Record wheelset. The cassette gouges the freehub a little too easily, but aside from that it works a treat.

Get the steel version..heavier but it ain't 'heavy'...

[Jeff N.]

Fulcrum Racing One's (the newer C17's).

[72gmc]

Get the steel version..heavier but it ain't 'heavy'...

I know now, thanks to you! Didn't find the steel version when I researched the purchase. I use four-letter words to coax cassettes on and off the aluminum freehub.