Best Road Wheelset under $500

[alfordjo]

I am in the process of building up a road bike. This is my first try at this. My next step is looking for wheels. A little about me and my riding:
185 lbs
normal ride is around 30 miles with some centuries
I like to climb
11sp Shimano.
Clincher...have never used tubeless so not necessary
Rim Brakes

Any recommendations?

thanks,

Jonathan

[AngryScientist]

C17 Zondas and done.

[echelon_john]

Ultegra hubs, H+Son Archetype rims, 32/32 or 32/28, Sapim Laser spokes with Race DS Rear. Brass nipples.

[biker72]

Another vote for Zondas.

[GregL]

Handbuilts! Some great professional builders contribute to this forum (e.g., oldpotatoe, ergott). Have one of them build a set of wheels just for you.

Greg

[BagelMaster]

For that price I would find a wheelbuilder that will build you a wheel with Kinlin XR31T rims. I just ran through a build on ProWheelBuilder and a pair drilled for 24 spokes and Bitex hubs will should have a weight of 1490g, and being 31mm deep gives you some aero advantage as well for $538.12. You can find these built up cheaper, or just buy the parts yourself and have a local wheelbuilder lace them up for you.

I think that's a little optimistic about weight, I have a set of them that weight in at 15400 or so, but with tubeless tape installed.

Campagnolo Zonda if you want stock for light-ish alloy clinchers.

[zmalwo]

If you want to go cheap, don't care about weight then Shimano RS-300 105 wheelset. $170 straight pull at 1800g, cup and cone bearings no fancy lace pattern. If you care about the weight C17 Zondas are $350 comes in at around 1500g also neutron ultras are also a good choice, $600, lots of spokes, carbon hubs.. and light + classic looking.

[alfordjo]

Seems like custom hand built is the most prevalent response.

Would I not get better components purchasing pre-built wheels instead of putting the limited funds I have into the labor for hand built?

[rheosibal]

Unless you want new, I'd just wait for something in the classifieds to pop up around your budget. There are tons of lightly used handbuilt wheels that pop up here

[kppolich]

Used set of HED Belgium+ for when you want to go tubeless. Wide and tubeless ready. Used sets can be had for ~$300-500 depending on what hubs are laced.

[wc1934]

would this be of any interest?

https://www.coloradocyclist.com/shim...-ust-rims-700c

https://www.coloradocyclist.com/cust...bike-wheelsets

[stien]

Originally Posted by kppolich

Used set of HED Belgium+ for when you want to go tubeless. Wide and tubeless ready. Used sets can be had for ~$300-500 depending on what hubs are laced.

+1, there were several sets for under 500 here in the classifieds. 9000 hubs and T11 I think.

[velomateo]

I'm very happy with the Easton EA90 wheelset I picked a couple months back. I got mine on sale from Colorado Cyclist for around $450 with a new cassette. I run them with tubes, but they can be used tubeless.

[parallelfish]

Zonda!!!

[old_fat_and_slow]

Used Neutrons. Oops you're running Shimano, nevermind. Maybe something in the Fulcrum line-up. Racing 3's.