Road Bike Wheelsets - £ for kg. Where's the sweet spot?
Discussion
I have a Specialized Roubaix (10 speed Shimano) which came with a Fulcrum Racing 6 wheelset.
I'm looking to upgrade to a lighter wheelset but want to get views on where the sweet spot is price v weight.
These need to be well made and durable, but light. Not interesting in aero-wheels due to cross wind and climibing.
Just looking at the Fulcrum range (as an example for £ v kg).
- Fulcrum Racing 7 LG - 1,763g @ £135 (8p per g)
- Fulcrum Racing 5 LG - 1,645g @ £185 (11p per g)
- Fulcrum Racing Quattro - 1,725g @ £225 (13p per g)
- Fulcrum Racing 3 - 1,550g @ £319 (21p per g)
- Fulcrum Racing Zero - 1,440g @ £660 (46p per g)
- Fulcrum Racing Zero Carbon - 1,358g @ £1,175 (87p per g)
What do people class light (below 1,550g)?
What weight feels noticeably lighter?
Where is the sweet spot?
I'm looking to upgrade to a lighter wheelset but want to get views on where the sweet spot is price v weight.
These need to be well made and durable, but light. Not interesting in aero-wheels due to cross wind and climibing.
Just looking at the Fulcrum range (as an example for £ v kg).
- Fulcrum Racing 7 LG - 1,763g @ £135 (8p per g)
- Fulcrum Racing 5 LG - 1,645g @ £185 (11p per g)
- Fulcrum Racing Quattro - 1,725g @ £225 (13p per g)
- Fulcrum Racing 3 - 1,550g @ £319 (21p per g)
- Fulcrum Racing Zero - 1,440g @ £660 (46p per g)
- Fulcrum Racing Zero Carbon - 1,358g @ £1,175 (87p per g)
What do people class light (below 1,550g)?
What weight feels noticeably lighter?
Where is the sweet spot?
Edited by g7jhp on Thursday 6th July 10:06
I did a bit of research into this, and I ended up buying Fulcrum Racing 3 in 2015, so with the older, narrower rim.
I read some German magazine tests, you know the type - technical.
One graph was interesting and that was weight versus cost...the Campag Zonda and the similar Fulcrum Racing 3 were outliers on the graph, they represented good value to me. What sealed it for me was the good reputation for reliability, the excellent lateral stiffness and competitive rotational inertia values, as I like to ride like a bit of an idiot sometimes, sue me.
I read some German magazine tests, you know the type - technical.
One graph was interesting and that was weight versus cost...the Campag Zonda and the similar Fulcrum Racing 3 were outliers on the graph, they represented good value to me. What sealed it for me was the good reputation for reliability, the excellent lateral stiffness and competitive rotational inertia values, as I like to ride like a bit of an idiot sometimes, sue me.
I bought a set of secondhand Racing 3's did maybe 3k km on them, the rear rim got a ding in it going through a big pothole.
The replacement cost of a rim and new spokes etc. had me researching new wheels which were rebuildable. I am now a convert of handbuilt wheels, running DA hubs with a SL23 front and Kinlin 30mm rear. All built by Malcolm Borg.
The rear SL23 did suffer 4 spoke failures, and the wheels were completely rebuilt due to rim wear. However, the failure was repaired at no cost to myself (however a new SL23 rim was swapped for a Kinlin 30).
Even with some wear to the front DA hub races they roll very well compared to friends other wheels.
I think once past about £400-500 either factory built or hand built you are into diminishing returns.
Case in point was riding away from people during the Marmotte who were running £4k Lightweight wheelsets.
Spend the money on a PM or training!
The replacement cost of a rim and new spokes etc. had me researching new wheels which were rebuildable. I am now a convert of handbuilt wheels, running DA hubs with a SL23 front and Kinlin 30mm rear. All built by Malcolm Borg.
The rear SL23 did suffer 4 spoke failures, and the wheels were completely rebuilt due to rim wear. However, the failure was repaired at no cost to myself (however a new SL23 rim was swapped for a Kinlin 30).
Even with some wear to the front DA hub races they roll very well compared to friends other wheels.
I think once past about £400-500 either factory built or hand built you are into diminishing returns.
Case in point was riding away from people during the Marmotte who were running £4k Lightweight wheelsets.
Spend the money on a PM or training!
z4RRSchris said:
I'd be inclined to look at Hunt wheels as well. I really rate mine, they're lightweight, stiff and so far have proved totally reliable despite quite a bit of abuse!On my Giant Defy I went from the standard 2kg 32 spoke wheels to some hand built 1600g 24 spoke DT Swiss/Novatech and according to Strava I wasn't any quicker with the new wheels. In fact, I'd go as far to say that with a blind test, I'm not sure I could tell the difference at all.... despite what all the mags and armchair experts say about 'being able to spin up the wheels quicker'.... I'd go with what is reliable and what looks the most bad ass.
I currently have a F85 2011 and when I bought the wheels its came with a set of Campag Scirocco 35mm wheels which weigh in at 1725g.
Is it worth me upgrading these to something that weight around the 1500g mark? Or is the different not that noticeable. I'm by no means a number chaser and the wheels seem to be doing okay so far but if there's room for a bit of easy improvement I'm all for it.
Is it worth me upgrading these to something that weight around the 1500g mark? Or is the different not that noticeable. I'm by no means a number chaser and the wheels seem to be doing okay so far but if there's room for a bit of easy improvement I'm all for it.
GrantD5 said:
I currently have a F85 2011 and when I bought the wheels its came with a set of Campag Scirocco 35mm wheels which weigh in at 1725g.
Is it worth me upgrading these to something that weight around the 1500g mark? Or is the different not that noticeable. I'm by no means a number chaser and the wheels seem to be doing okay so far but if there's room for a bit of easy improvement I'm all for it.
Depends who you ask. If you're asking me.... No. Is it worth me upgrading these to something that weight around the 1500g mark? Or is the different not that noticeable. I'm by no means a number chaser and the wheels seem to be doing okay so far but if there's room for a bit of easy improvement I'm all for it.
t James.IMO loads of the "big upgrade" feel from factory fulcrum 6.5 to what I have now is actually because I replaced cack 9 quid tyres with gp4000s. Meanwhile, my worn out bearings became brand new bearings.
Thing is, I love my Chinese carbon wheels. They look ace, and make that rewarding sound when you bury yourself.
If I had your remit, I'd be looking at zondas (same as fulcrum3 but have a cooler spoke pattern and look a bit groovy).
Thing is, I love my Chinese carbon wheels. They look ace, and make that rewarding sound when you bury yourself.
If I had your remit, I'd be looking at zondas (same as fulcrum3 but have a cooler spoke pattern and look a bit groovy).
TwistingMyMelon said:
Will a couple of 100 grams either side of 1500 really make much difference, if it does just have a poo before hand
timnoyce said:
GrantD5 said:
I currently have a F85 2011 and when I bought the wheels its came with a set of Campag Scirocco 35mm wheels which weigh in at 1725g.
Is it worth me upgrading these to something that weight around the 1500g mark? Or is the different not that noticeable. I'm by no means a number chaser and the wheels seem to be doing okay so far but if there's room for a bit of easy improvement I'm all for it.
Depends who you ask. If you're asking me.... No. Is it worth me upgrading these to something that weight around the 1500g mark? Or is the different not that noticeable. I'm by no means a number chaser and the wheels seem to be doing okay so far but if there's room for a bit of easy improvement I'm all for it.
Zondas seem to be a level or 2 up from my Scirocco 35mm wheels
Just on a slightly nerdy note, your metric does not demonstrate what you want it to. A wheelset with a low £/g value could either be a bargain or a hefty piece of pig iron.
Your comparison may work better as price per gram saved from an arbitrary baseline, say 1.8kg. This would allow you to demonstrate the law of diminishing returns much better.
Can you tell I'm avoiding doing proper work?
Your comparison may work better as price per gram saved from an arbitrary baseline, say 1.8kg. This would allow you to demonstrate the law of diminishing returns much better.
Can you tell I'm avoiding doing proper work?
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