What road wheels, clincher ~£400

[Talksteer]

I find the concept of worrying about the weight limits on carbon wheels a bit strange.

The load case on a wheel is complex and they will be much stronger than is required for static and peddling loads.

Three things are going to kill a carbon wheel, impact damage (dropping off a curb) matrix damage from foreign bodies and the rim touching the ground and thermal damage from braking.

The weight limits on wheels will just be some designers estimates based on empirical evidence. There is no consistency of these estimates between designers.

But so long as you don't hop up curbs, ride on cobbles or descend Alps the fact that you're 5-15% over a weight limit won't matter very much. Not least because I'm sure a 90kg guy can be 15% harsher to his kit.

I'm currently riding a set of these, rated at 90kg and I'm 105kg

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cosine-55mm-full-carbon-cl...

[stripy7]

Talksteer said:

...

Three things are going to kill a carbon wheel, impact damage (dropping off a curb) ... and thermal damage from braking.

^ Both weight dependant.

[Black can man]

https://www.merlincycles.com/dt-swiss-r23-spline-r...

I have just put these on my posh bike, Look nice, sound nice & the price is right,

What's not to like ?

[Talksteer]

stripy7 said:

Talksteer said:

...

Three things are going to kill a carbon wheel, impact damage (dropping off a curb) ... and thermal damage from braking.

^ Both weight dependant.

No both rider choice dependant. The variance in rider actions are much greater than the differences in rider weight.

Skinny pro riders manage to wreck wheels crashing or hopping roundabouts.

Hence my point not to worry about weight ratings and just avoid doing harsh things to your wheels.

[okgo]

Hopping kerbs does not break wheels.

At 105kg I would not be riding anything that had a weight limit, that much I am sure of.

[PorkRind]

Black can man said:

https://www.merlincycles.com/dt-swiss-r23-spline-r...

I have just put these on my posh bike, Look nice, sound nice & the price is right,

What's not to like ?

they look great, dont know much about dt hoops though, but theyve been in the spoke business forever?!

[anonymous-user]

HardtopManual said:

Zondas.

Yep, that's pretty much all that needed to said.

[Talksteer]

okgo said:

Hopping kerbs does not break wheels.

At 105kg I would not be riding anything that had a weight limit, that much I am sure of.

Depends if you manage to land on the edge hard enough to damage the rim.

Go on then what does kill carbon wheels?

I also covered thermal failure and foreign object damage to the rim.

Both of which I can control for.

[ClassicMercs]

My bike came with Ksyrium Elite's and I have been very happy. I did consider getting some Zonda's for winter but stuck with the Mavic's. At £425 whilst they are top of budget I would definitely consider them.
I now plan to use these as the standard/winter wheel - and in the end of season sales get some Exlaith's for next summer.

[DamienCBR]

Greg66 said:

Yep, that's pretty much all that needed to said.

Are they that good? I need to replace my Siroccos as the bearing have gone again, being replaced under warranty. I can put extra £ to them and upgrade to something else. Zonda is a possible, along with Cosmic elite.
D

[bakerstreet]

DamienCBR said:

I wouldnt bother with RS81's. I had the C24 version and they lasted 1 year. I was about 98kg at the time and they went out of true for no reason on a flat road very smooth road, they flexed and the braking surface is very thin. Based on above i would suggest Elites or Zonda or Cosmic Elites. Not that i have tried any of them.
D

I really rate my old RS80s, but I do agree with you on the thickness of the braking surface. Several shops have told me that my rims are well past their best and should be replaced. Think they have only done about 4k, but that was through all weathers and I commuted on them for a while too.

[anonymous-user]

DamienCBR said:

Are they that good? I need to replace my Siroccos as the bearing have gone again, being replaced under warranty. I can put extra £ to them and upgrade to something else. Zonda is a possible, along with Cosmic elite.
D

In terms of value for your money, personally I'd put them very high on a list of all the wheels* I've ridden. The bearings spin forever. they are not too heavy, nor are they too expensive, and they (at least the set I had) are basically indestructible. I rode for them for a few years not caring what I hit or rode over, and they never fell out of true even by a fraction of something very small.


* to give that some context, I've run Mavic box rims, the Campag alloy clincher range from Sciroccos to Shamals, Reynolds carbon clinchers (Assaults and Strikes), Boras, Zipp 808 (tubs) and Lightweight Standards. Possibly some others I can't now remember.

[DamienCBR]

Greg66 said:

In terms of value for your money, personally I'd put them very high on a list of all the wheels* I've ridden. The bearings spin forever. they are not too heavy, nor are they too expensive, and they (at least the set I had) are basically indestructible. I rode for them for a few years not caring what I hit or rode over, and they never fell out of true even by a fraction of something very small.


* to give that some context, I've run Mavic box rims, the Campag alloy clincher range from Sciroccos to Shamals, Reynolds carbon clinchers (Assaults and Strikes), Boras, Zipp 808 (tubs) and Lightweight Standards. Possibly some others I can't now remember.

Thank. I had the rear replaced on the Sciroccos as the bearings were shot after about 900 miles. They replaced the bearings but this didnt work so replaced the axle, still play if running smooth and gritty if no play so they replaced the wheel. It has happened again after 600 miles and used in wet weather once, never washed with water. Obviously going to replace with something else but has put a bit of a downer on my view of Campag wheels.
D

[Black can man]

PorkRind said:

Black can man said:

https://www.merlincycles.com/dt-swiss-r23-spline-r...

I have just put these on my posh bike, Look nice, sound nice & the price is right,

What's not to like ?

they look great, dont know much about dt hoops though, but theyve been in the spoke business forever?!

I have them on both of my better bikes , they roll nice, sound great & i'm a big lump & they seem to be very robust.

They are heavier than the wheels they re[placed but we are talking a few grammes & i guess if you carry an extra water bottle that would just make up for it.

They seem to do the job for me.

[PorkRind]

I should probably buy a PH cycling jersey before any wheels ...

[Matt_N]

Greg66 said:

In terms of value for your money, personally I'd put them very high on a list of all the wheels* I've ridden. The bearings spin forever. they are not too heavy, nor are they too expensive, and they (at least the set I had) are basically indestructible. I rode for them for a few years not caring what I hit or rode over, and they never fell out of true even by a fraction of something very small.


* to give that some context, I've run Mavic box rims, the Campag alloy clincher range from Sciroccos to Shamals, Reynolds carbon clinchers (Assaults and Strikes), Boras, Zipp 808 (tubs) and Lightweight Standards. Possibly some others I can't now remember.

Don't come on here spouting real world experiences!

[HardtopManual]

DamienCBR said:

Are they that good? I need to replace my Siroccos as the bearing have gone again, being replaced under warranty.

I have put 12,000 km on my Zondas in the last 2 years, including everything from winter commuting to Dolomite descents. I've regreased the bearings twice. They spin like nothing else (except maybe Boras).

I'm surprised to hear about your Scirocco problems, as my missus has the same bearings in her Fulcrum Racing 5s, where they seem to be problem-free.

[DamienCBR]

HardtopManual said:

I have put 12,000 km on my Zondas in the last 2 years, including everything from winter commuting to Dolomite descents. I've regreased the bearings twice. They spin like nothing else (except maybe Boras).

I'm surprised to hear about your Scirocco problems, as my missus has the same bearings in her Fulcrum Racing 5s, where they seem to be problem-free.

I know it is very frustrating, the Zonda's will cost me £77 to upgrade.
Sorry to highjack thread.
D

[DamienCBR]

OK so decision time.
Ultegra 6800 wheelset - £80 extra
Zonda wheelset - £77 extra

Pros and cons of each, what would you get?

D

[anonymous-user]

1 vote for zondas

I generally prefer campag over shimano and on these types of wheel there isn't much to choose so I would go campy