new wheels for SWMBO, recommendations needed please!

[T1berious]

My Mrs got a Cannondale Synapse 6 last year, it was a cautious toe in the water to see if she could a) get into road biking and b) not hate road biking with a passion.

Anyway, much to her surprise (she's an avid MTB'er) she not only got on with it but actually enjoys it (appreciating the fact on a road bike you can just go do it rather than load up car, drive an hour, unload car, hit trail, come back, wash bike, you get the drift....) so I think it's time she got some decent wheels as the ones that came with the Synapse are at best functional and I think is one of the heaviest items on the bike.

Can you recommend me a nice factory wheelset? budget is <£600 and has to be clinchers.

Really looking for something quite lightweight but able to take a battering as SWMBO is allergic to any bike cleaning or maintenance of any kind.....

Cheers

T1b

[anonymous-user]

Campag zondas for £300 are superb value for money, 1500gs and resist buckling against my 80kgs. Campag Neutrons if you're feeling flush, £500, bit lighter, ceramic bearings etc.

[Raven Flyer]

The benchmark wheel at this price is the Mavic Ksyrium Elite.

It is hard to recommend anything else that will be as bullet proof and as responsive to ride.

The 2015 ones have a new rim profile, look for them over the 2014 ones.

[T1berious]

I'll look into the mavics, as I've got some Krysium SL's that have lasted me years

[Usget]

I've got some Ksyrium Elites for sale if you want them. Not new, but not much use, and 1/3 of your budget...

ETA - 2012 models, not new ones, as I'm sure you'd gathered from the price!

[Barchettaman]

Nice budget. I'd go handbuilt.

http://www.wheelsmith.co.uk/race24

That should do the job. But even a set of Aksiums for £150 would be worth thinking about.

[Raven Flyer]

Barchettaman said:

Nice budget. I'd go handbuilt.

http://www.wheelsmith.co.uk/race24
That should do the job.

wheelsmith said:

These are "race" wheels, designed to offer the user a competitive benefit by way of light weight, stiffness and tyre comfort. They are not designed for everyday commuting and high mileage 4 season use.

I wouldn't.

[Rocksteadyeddie]

Seems a lot of money for occasional use. I'd have a look at Usget's wheels. Sounds like they could be a bargain. £200 for a set of Ksyriums is cracking value.

[richardxjr]

^ Agree with that. I'd have 'em if I hadn't already blown the secret bike bits fund for this month already.

[T1berious]

IT's mainly to lighten her bike and nowt against Usegets wheels (ta for the offer!) but I'd rather say "there you go love, brand new wheels! That's lightened up your bike a treat eh?" and barely within the space it takes to draw breath, I'll cautiously mention "About that Cervelo for next season....."

Plans within plans within plans gents

[MadDad]

pablo said:

Campag zondas for £300 are superb value for money, 1500gs and resist buckling against my 80kgs. Campag Neutrons if you're feeling flush, £500, bit lighter, ceramic bearings etc.

I have these on my Ti bike (replaced Mavic Ksyrium Equips), and highly recommend them. They are light, spin up quickly and are easy to keep spinning, the only downside is that they are very stiff but that makes for extremely good handling. They seem to be very robust - I have ridden some terrible surfaces on these, and hit some monster pot-holes at speed and they are still as true as the day I bought them. Aesthetically I kinda like the spoke pattern as well (although this sort of thing should not influence your choice when buying wheels....)!

If it were my money I would buy the Zonda's and pocket the extra couple of hundred quid (actually I would spend what I saved on bike bits)....