Pandora's Wheel
Discussion
Oh dear, what have I done?
The rear wheel on my old Allez Comp is dying, can no longer be kept in tru thanks to dented rim :-(
So I looked at new wheel/wheelsets- Holy Excessive Choice Batman! At each price point there is about 100 comparible sets from different manufacturers and loads of overlap from above and below- how does anyone choose one set? (My head hurts just looking at the options)
The current wheels are not very light and rather frightening 16spoke Shimano radials from about 2003-ish. Despite that I rather like the look of them (I know thats not important) :-)
I'm struggling to decide what a direct replacement would be, let alone a mild upgrade!
Most of my riding is on rural roads in Sportives or training with lots of hills, I suppose I need something light yet reliable and easy to get spares/repairs, nothing requiring hard to find expensive parts (like the current hen's teeth rims and spokes)
The rear wheel on my old Allez Comp is dying, can no longer be kept in tru thanks to dented rim :-(
So I looked at new wheel/wheelsets- Holy Excessive Choice Batman! At each price point there is about 100 comparible sets from different manufacturers and loads of overlap from above and below- how does anyone choose one set? (My head hurts just looking at the options)
The current wheels are not very light and rather frightening 16spoke Shimano radials from about 2003-ish. Despite that I rather like the look of them (I know thats not important) :-)
I'm struggling to decide what a direct replacement would be, let alone a mild upgrade!
Most of my riding is on rural roads in Sportives or training with lots of hills, I suppose I need something light yet reliable and easy to get spares/repairs, nothing requiring hard to find expensive parts (like the current hen's teeth rims and spokes)
A set of Ultegra hubs should be under £100. A set of Mavic Open Pro rims should but about £80. Leaving you a bit to get them built properly for you.
I run those on 36 holes because I'm a fat knacker and rid on London roads a lot. They've been pretty good, strength wise anyway, but I suspect lighter options are available.
I run those on 36 holes because I'm a fat knacker and rid on London roads a lot. They've been pretty good, strength wise anyway, but I suspect lighter options are available.
There are current designs around using 'paired' spokes - I think there's a fulcrum that's similar... but frankly they're trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist - might well be why they won't stay round!
If off the shelf, I'd try to get something with replaceable cartridge bearings. I've found cone/cup ones prone to self destruction in the wet, and it always seems to put the hub side. Finished up (re)building my own with a combination of novatec hubs and DT Swiss rear/whatever the unbranded front already was - very impressed with the hubs for off-brand cheapness.
Might be worth having a look at the wheelsmith.co.uk site / talking to your LBS, and see what it costs to get something to suit you?
If off the shelf, I'd try to get something with replaceable cartridge bearings. I've found cone/cup ones prone to self destruction in the wet, and it always seems to put the hub side. Finished up (re)building my own with a combination of novatec hubs and DT Swiss rear/whatever the unbranded front already was - very impressed with the hubs for off-brand cheapness.
Might be worth having a look at the wheelsmith.co.uk site / talking to your LBS, and see what it costs to get something to suit you?
Jimbo. said:
Markp13 said:
Fulcrum quattros for £260.
I've ridden them sinse January and they have been bullet proof.
Four months on UK roads? It's not the sternest test of a wheel set.I've ridden them sinse January and they have been bullet proof.
It's all about opinions folks. They've taken some batterings more expensive wheels would have gave up on.
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