Decent, cheapish road wheels.
Discussion
Hi all,
I'm incredibly slowly putting together a bike based around a Trek 5500 OCLV frame, need to get that resprayed but that's another story. I'll be using it for slogging around on trying to lose the blubber I've acquired over the last decade, rather than entering next years TDF!
I have bought a set of wheels (Ambrosio rims on Miche hubs) but they're pretty weighty, with rubber on they weigh more than my 15 year old Mavic OpenCDs on Mirage hubs. So I've been thinking about selling them on and getting something different. I've got a few on the list and have checked out general online reviews and typically got mixed bag of info, so I thought I'd try the same here.
Campag Khamsin: very cheap, gets decent reviews though for the price.
Campag Vento: Bit pricier, many complaints about getting tyres on and off though.
Fulcrum Racing 7: Cheap again, get decent reviews, one comment about the rim being pinned not welded
Fulcrum Racing 5: Bit more than 7s, good reviews.
Mavic Aksium: Good reviews, pinned rim mentioned again.
None of them are going to set the world on fire, they're all on the 1.8-2kg/pair weight range and all priced on the £100-150 bracket.
My main concern though is the low spoke count due to my fat barsteward nature at the moment and the roads I've got to cycle on are rough as hell.
Cheers,
Rob
I'm incredibly slowly putting together a bike based around a Trek 5500 OCLV frame, need to get that resprayed but that's another story. I'll be using it for slogging around on trying to lose the blubber I've acquired over the last decade, rather than entering next years TDF!
I have bought a set of wheels (Ambrosio rims on Miche hubs) but they're pretty weighty, with rubber on they weigh more than my 15 year old Mavic OpenCDs on Mirage hubs. So I've been thinking about selling them on and getting something different. I've got a few on the list and have checked out general online reviews and typically got mixed bag of info, so I thought I'd try the same here.
Campag Khamsin: very cheap, gets decent reviews though for the price.
Campag Vento: Bit pricier, many complaints about getting tyres on and off though.
Fulcrum Racing 7: Cheap again, get decent reviews, one comment about the rim being pinned not welded
Fulcrum Racing 5: Bit more than 7s, good reviews.
Mavic Aksium: Good reviews, pinned rim mentioned again.
None of them are going to set the world on fire, they're all on the 1.8-2kg/pair weight range and all priced on the £100-150 bracket.
My main concern though is the low spoke count due to my fat barsteward nature at the moment and the roads I've got to cycle on are rough as hell.
Cheers,
Rob
I'd be tempted to go custom build with Open Pro rims and either 105/Ultegra or Veloce/Centaur depending on budget/brand preference - you can also choose the right spoke count to address your weight concerns. I would have put together a similar short-list as you - all of which would be fine unless your in the 100kg + range! but like the idea of conventional spokes with the Mavic's.
Khamsins - I have used these on my commute bike for the past year. I've found them to be utterly bombproof.
Fulcrum Racing 7 - came with my most recent bike purchase. I've limited mileage on them but they also seem strong. Perhaps slightly heavier than the Khamsins but not much in it.
Both have lovely loud hubs so nothing to choose between the two there. Personally I prefer the look of the Fulcrums with the red anodised hubs, although my gold Khamsins are quite eyecatching too! </biketart>
EDIT: just checked the weights - there's barely anything in it. The Khamsin front wheel is 11g lighter and the rear 1g heavier than the Fulcrums.
Fulcrum Racing 7 - came with my most recent bike purchase. I've limited mileage on them but they also seem strong. Perhaps slightly heavier than the Khamsins but not much in it.
Both have lovely loud hubs so nothing to choose between the two there. Personally I prefer the look of the Fulcrums with the red anodised hubs, although my gold Khamsins are quite eyecatching too! </biketart>
EDIT: just checked the weights - there's barely anything in it. The Khamsin front wheel is 11g lighter and the rear 1g heavier than the Fulcrums.
Edited by option click on Thursday 15th July 17:42
)OK, job done, went for Ventos for £112 form Shiny bikes, couple of rough and ready Vittoria Rubinos and some inner tubes, all from a touch under £150 inc delivery.
I couldn't find any compelling evidence as to why Sciroccos are more expensive than Ventos, certainly don't seem to differ much, only obvious thing is the from radial spokes, weights are pretty much identical.
I'll be able to bung the front on my ancient hack when it arrives, shame I can't do the same on the rear but you can't stick 8sp cassettes on 10sp hubs apparently.
Cheers,
Rob
I couldn't find any compelling evidence as to why Sciroccos are more expensive than Ventos, certainly don't seem to differ much, only obvious thing is the from radial spokes, weights are pretty much identical.
I'll be able to bung the front on my ancient hack when it arrives, shame I can't do the same on the rear but you can't stick 8sp cassettes on 10sp hubs apparently.
Cheers,
Rob
Just a quick update, the wheels arrived yesterday. There was a delay in dispatch as they didn't have the tyres in but I had a nice chat with Natelie from Shiny Bikes about how crap it is cycling in East Anglia compared to Cheshire 
Anyway, popped the front on the old bone shaker and got out on it tonight. To be honest it didn't feel any different at all to my ancient Mavics but maybe there was a shiny new kit psychological boost, or maybe I just went the right way around tonight to avoid the worst of the headwind, but my average speed was up by 1mph, still a tragic 17.8mpg over 15 miles leaving legs like rubber at the end - shut up fit people. Really looking forward to getting the new(ish) bike built up now. Frame is being sprayed up this week so hopefully it'll be all built up within a month. Should weigh in the mid-teens (fingers crossed) compared to the boat anchor 531 which weighs in at 30lb. How the hell did I lug that around the Pennines?!!
Cheers,
Rob
Anyway, popped the front on the old bone shaker and got out on it tonight. To be honest it didn't feel any different at all to my ancient Mavics but maybe there was a shiny new kit psychological boost, or maybe I just went the right way around tonight to avoid the worst of the headwind, but my average speed was up by 1mph, still a tragic 17.8mpg over 15 miles leaving legs like rubber at the end - shut up fit people. Really looking forward to getting the new(ish) bike built up now. Frame is being sprayed up this week so hopefully it'll be all built up within a month. Should weigh in the mid-teens (fingers crossed) compared to the boat anchor 531 which weighs in at 30lb. How the hell did I lug that around the Pennines?!!
Cheers,
Rob
Cheap, light and strong - pick 2.
Seriously though, the Open Pro/Ultegra (or campy equivalent) combo is pretty much the best all round wheel you can buy for under £400 - minimal maintenance and if anything untoward does happen, spares are easy to get hold of and repairs are a piece of piss.
IMHO, it doesn't make sense to get anything else as a training/everyday use wheel - loads of factory wheels may be a bit more bling, but in that price bracket, bling means nothing.
If you only have one wheelset, then IMHO it should be an Open Pro/Ultregra set - I ride mine every day and have commuted on them loads too - obviously they aren't as nice as the deep section race wheels, but they aren't supposed to be - they have survived 1000's of miles on crappy Scottish roads in all weathers, and made it through Paris Roubaix without needing to be trued afterwards - if that isn't a good advert for how bombproof they are, I don't know what is.
Seriously though, the Open Pro/Ultegra (or campy equivalent) combo is pretty much the best all round wheel you can buy for under £400 - minimal maintenance and if anything untoward does happen, spares are easy to get hold of and repairs are a piece of piss.
IMHO, it doesn't make sense to get anything else as a training/everyday use wheel - loads of factory wheels may be a bit more bling, but in that price bracket, bling means nothing.
If you only have one wheelset, then IMHO it should be an Open Pro/Ultregra set - I ride mine every day and have commuted on them loads too - obviously they aren't as nice as the deep section race wheels, but they aren't supposed to be - they have survived 1000's of miles on crappy Scottish roads in all weathers, and made it through Paris Roubaix without needing to be trued afterwards - if that isn't a good advert for how bombproof they are, I don't know what is.
Parsnip said:
Cheap, light and strong - pick 2.
Seriously though, the Open Pro/Ultegra (or campy equivalent) combo is pretty much the best all round wheel you can buy for under £400 - minimal maintenance and if anything untoward does happen, spares are easy to get hold of and repairs are a piece of piss.
IMHO, it doesn't make sense to get anything else as a training/everyday use wheel - loads of factory wheels may be a bit more bling, but in that price bracket, bling means nothing.
If you only have one wheelset, then IMHO it should be an Open Pro/Ultregra set - I ride mine every day and have commuted on them loads too - obviously they aren't as nice as the deep section race wheels, but they aren't supposed to be - they have survived 1000's of miles on crappy Scottish roads in all weathers, and made it through Paris Roubaix without needing to be trued afterwards - if that isn't a good advert for how bombproof they are, I don't know what is.
open pros on hope 3s are under £300 and the hope hub will be just as realiable as the ultegra if not quite as light.Seriously though, the Open Pro/Ultegra (or campy equivalent) combo is pretty much the best all round wheel you can buy for under £400 - minimal maintenance and if anything untoward does happen, spares are easy to get hold of and repairs are a piece of piss.
IMHO, it doesn't make sense to get anything else as a training/everyday use wheel - loads of factory wheels may be a bit more bling, but in that price bracket, bling means nothing.
If you only have one wheelset, then IMHO it should be an Open Pro/Ultregra set - I ride mine every day and have commuted on them loads too - obviously they aren't as nice as the deep section race wheels, but they aren't supposed to be - they have survived 1000's of miles on crappy Scottish roads in all weathers, and made it through Paris Roubaix without needing to be trued afterwards - if that isn't a good advert for how bombproof they are, I don't know what is.
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