View Full Version : Wheel "Round"table (opinions needed)
jmeloy
05-29-2009, 01:17 PM
Looking to get a better feel for options to move up from Kysrium Elites and Mavic Cosmos for 190 lb. rider who won't be racing and appreciates comfort.
What I'd like to get a feel for is better performing pre-builts and price range on aluminum options and then thoughts as to an entry point for carbons without breaking the bank.
Terrain is rolling and the roads in OZ are generally quite good where I ride.
Happy to then move into customs (Ergott, etc.) but wanted to frame the pricing, etc. first.
Thanks!!
rdparadise
05-29-2009, 01:20 PM
May want to move this post to "General."
Just my 2 cents.
Bob
jmeloy
05-29-2009, 01:26 PM
thanks!
wenjtu
05-29-2009, 01:59 PM
I would check out Easton's EC70SL. Its a carbon Clincher. I have a pair and they are a lot less harsh than my Ksyriums SLs and are still stiff if you want to get up and go. Not the lightest(1690g) but they are half the price of Zipps.
gearguywb
05-29-2009, 02:13 PM
I just went from Ksyriu ES to a hand built Joe Young wheel with DT 240's and DT 1.1 rims, Vittoria 320tpi 25mm tires. What a difference!
BTW, I weigh in at 205-210.
jmeloy
05-29-2009, 02:34 PM
wenjtu and ggw, that's exactly the type of input I'm looking for.... many thanks!
I just tried tubeless and I'm a convert. I picked up a set of Fulcrum Racing Zeros for less than a grand across the pond. Being an impulsive kind of guy who was sitting on some discretionary funds and liking the Fulcrums so much, I just also got a set of the new Shimano carbon rim-with aluminum braking surface tubeless wheel (just available - the regular clincher version has been available for a while) and these are even nicer than the Fulcrums. These are about $1400 now but may come down after the supply gets out there. Lighter feeling (both wheelsets come in around 1400 grams - the Shimanos are about 20 grams less and the Fulcrums are about 20 grams more), spin up faster, feel more responsive all around. And they have what must be the carbon wheel sound - I'd heard it on rides with other folks before but never heard it coming from my bike, but its pretty readily apparent.
I'm not sure if this is "break the bank" territory or not, but I don't think carbon comes a lot cheaper and I don't think aluminum comes a lot better (although there are plenty of other great alu wheels out there).
But as nice as the wheels are, I think the tubeless thing is what really makes them feel like more than just light, responsive wheels. Dropping the pressure down to 80-85 psi does things for the ride you can't imagine. Incredibly supple and holds the road really well, especially when the road isn't great. I wouldn't risk pressures that low with a clincher, but I could go lower with the tubeless without problems. I took the Fulcrums on a tour I did in Vermont last week running 23s. I wouldn't ordinarily think of doing a tour with less than 25 or 28 mm tires, but the 23 tubeless were great, even on bad roads and plenty of sections of dirt roads.
I like it so much I converted my Ksyriums over to tubeless (very easy since there are no spoke holes in the inner wall of the rim) and those wheels improved about 300%. As stiff and responsive as ever, but all of the harshness was gone.
Worth a try if any of these are in your price range.
-Ray
Jeff Weir
05-29-2009, 03:16 PM
A while back I went from Ksyriums to a pair of open pros, 3x, etc. It was a MUCH smoother riding set of wheels.
Nathanrtaylor
05-29-2009, 03:29 PM
I'm in the same boat as Jeff.
I moved from Bontrager RaceXLite to 3x Mavic OPs and couldn't be happier. It seems like you really can't go wrong with hand-builts if they are put together by someone who knows their stuff.
For comparison, I'm between 180-190.
jmeloy
05-29-2009, 03:38 PM
lots of options for me. the tubeless is intriguing... Ray are there any hassles involved I am not aware of?
lots of options for me. the tubeless is intriguing... Ray are there any hassles involved I am not aware of?
I haven't found any, but I've only been using them for about a month or so. With the rims that were built for tubeless, its really seamless - just mount 'em up and pump them up. With the Ksyrium conversion, you couldn't just pump them up - it took a shot of CO2 to get the tire bead to seat on the rim and hold air. I suspect that could be an issue with flatting on the road, but I just carry a tube and pump like I always did and figure that would be the easiest on-road repair and then repair and reinflate without the tube once back home. The tubeless valve just pops right out so using a tube is no problem.
At this point the only real limitation is the lack of tire selection. Its all Hutchinson all the time and, for the moment, its all Fusion 2 all the time. Not that this is a BAD thing, but its all there is. They have two more tires coming out soon - one a lighter 23mm tire and another a more durable 25, but I'm not aware of other makers getting into it. But there was only one wheel specifically built for tubeless up until a year or so ago and now there are several. I suspect the tire options will expand pretty quickly once this gets a bit more traction, as it were.
-Ray
rnhood
05-29-2009, 05:38 PM
The tubless Shimanos are a good option and, if you don't want tubless then get the tubed version (7850-24CL). To say they are great wheels is almost an understatement.
The tubless Shimanos are a good option and, if you don't want tubless then get the tubed version (7850-24CL). To say they are great wheels is almost an understatement.
Even if you're not sure about tubeless, the option is only $100 more than the clincher version and you can use the tubeless version either way - with tubeless or with regular clinchers. I know $100 isn't chump change, but when you're playing in this neighborhood, its not much more.
-Ray
rdparadise
05-29-2009, 08:39 PM
I have a pair of Campy Netrons on my Legend Ti. These are very nice all around wheels, light and comfortable. And, they won't break the bank at about $600 if you shop around. They came with two nice campy wheelbags too.
BTW, I don't race. I just to recreational rides and they are great for flat or hilly terrain.
Good luck,
Bob
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