Best bargain 700c wheels

[Accelebrate]

I've worn the rim into a concave shape on the rear of my commuting bike. What's the best bargain on a wheel set that's around at the moment?

Looking at...

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/Bike+Shop/Wheels/Roa...

Would the Fulcrum 7 set be worth the extra over the Shimano R500? Any others worth looking at?

[itsnotarace]

None of those

I would buy a pair of handbuilt wheels which would be infinitely more serviceable, totally bombproof and about the same weight as the factory wheels. Mavic Open Pro / Ambrosio Excellence / DT Swiss RR

Example - Shimano 5700 hubs, Mavic Open Pro rims fully built pair for £140

http://davehinde.veriovps.co.uk/Merchant2/merchant...

or

http://www.harryrowland.co.uk/

[OneDs]

I've just brought the Fulcrum 5's from merlin (and if the 7's are anywhere as good as the 5's you're on to a good deal). They spin so well, if I'm being picky the freewheel is a bit clicky and the 2 counterweighted balancing spokes seems a bit of a faff. But for factory wheels for a good price and average standard they well and truly exceeded my expectations.

[anonymous-user]

i bought a pair of fulcrm 7s from planet x earlier this month for £105. havent put a cassette on them yet but as first impression go they are really good value for money.
definately the bargain of the year and the campag variant was cheaper still. cant see what else is better for the money but i have seen fulcrum 5s for £150 and you dont find them on complete bikes under £1750.... you might get a good deal on shimano RS20s if you look around but both racing 7s and RS20s are better than aksiums so really its probably one of those two.

[cervelo]

advise against the Fulcrums, they are very tight getting tyres on and off. very bad. just not worth the hassle. better wheels out there.
( made by campagnolo )

[cervelo]

advise against the Fulcrums, they are very tight getting tyres on and off. very bad. just not worth the hassle. better wheels out there.
( made by campagnolo )

[AndrewM]

I was chatting with the guy at my lbs yesterday - very knowledgeable on these things and he's of the opinion that Fulcrum wheels in this price point aren't a patch on the Aksiums. As mentioned, they are campag made and don't have the long life of the Mavics.

This only came up because I'd seen the Racing 5s so cheap with Merlin. I'm sure all of these rims would be better than the standard Alex S500s on my bike though!

[hullbilly]

I bought a Mavic Aksium yesterday, because my old rear wheel fell apart after only 2000miles

Only rode it home last night, and it was bloody impressive, it was quick, quiet and light, saving over 250grams on the old wheel. Liked it so much I have just ordered the matching front from chain reactions... £45!

[Accelebrate]

The Fulcrums seem to be a bit of a minefield, some rave reviews, some terrible. The Shimanos seem to receive consistently mediocre reviews, but then you'd expect that for the price. The Planet X wheels look good, although they aren't that much of a bargain compared to some of the Merlin sale items.

Quite like the look of the Mavics...

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/Basket/Mavic+Aksium+...

They come out at £135 with the current discount.

[okgo]

I've got aksiums.

They are fine, I'm a big guy at over 15 stone and they ride fine, not buckled yet over the awful west london roads. They seem to spin well, and are quite stiff too.

I got mine for £100 with tyres and tubes.

[Chicane-UK]

Have just gone for a set of Askium's for the road bike I'm building.. seem to have gone up in price (best I found was about £150) but the reviews seem very positive and seemingly hard to beat for the money.

[SkinnyBoy]

bit of a dumb question but are campy hubs and cassettes compatible with shimano 9 speed setups? Reason I ask is I have the opportunity to buy some lovely Campy rims but don't really want to change the whole groupset just to incorporate the fancy rims.

[OneDs]

SkinnyBoy said:

bit of a dumb question but are campy hubs and cassettes compatible with shimano 9 speed setups? Reason I ask is I have the opportunity to buy some lovely Campy rims but don't really want to change the whole groupset just to incorporate the fancy rims.

I don't think it is as straight forward as simply swapping the freehub body, on searching the internet before I brought my Fulcrum 5's there wasn't obvious and definitive answers, which leads me to believe it is not a common or simple(ie. cheap) thing to do.

[SkinnyBoy]

aye thats the rub, I might get them and stash them for a project bike that i want to build out of a Softride with full campy groupo.

[AndrewM]

Just ordered a set of Shimano fitment Aksiums from Merlin - £135 including their online discount - I hope they are as good as I'm told!

[AndrewM]

The Aksiums have just arrived - look fantastic, nice and light too - just need some decent tyres - looking to spend about £25 each - any recommendations?

[OneDs]

If it's still a commuter then some bontrager hardcases would be quite sturdy and resilient but not lightening quick.

Edited by OneDs on Tuesday 1st February 12:40

[okgo]

Agree.

Never had a puncture in over 2000 miles on those.

Although my GP400s are doing ok on my commute so far too, 800 miles down and no punctures.

[hullbilly]

My Front Aksium arrived today, to compliment the new rear. saved another 150grams on the old wheel.

I use Gatorskins, 2k down and only 1 puncture, take a fair bit of abuse and taking it no problem! Fairly light and quick as well, if I remember rightly cheap too!

[AndrewM]

I'm not commuting on these - a few sportives and longer rides our - prob about 600 miles for the year, so sportier tyres are what I fancy - I have the original wheels with new Michelin Speedium 2s which are fine if I commute on it or if the weather is poor.