Need New Wheels!
Discussion
how heavy are you and what are they for?
I'd suggest you cant go far wrong with fulcrum racing 3s which are around £300 and weigh about 1550g bare. they will transform the bike. they are bombproof too and can easily cope with riders up to 100kgs.
If thats a bit too much cash, have a look at the Racing 5s whic you can get ofr under £200. Racing 7s are quite heavy although they do roll well.
If thats too little cash, you are probably too limited by the rest of the bike to notice much more of a difference.
I'd suggest you cant go far wrong with fulcrum racing 3s which are around £300 and weigh about 1550g bare. they will transform the bike. they are bombproof too and can easily cope with riders up to 100kgs.
If thats a bit too much cash, have a look at the Racing 5s whic you can get ofr under £200. Racing 7s are quite heavy although they do roll well.
If thats too little cash, you are probably too limited by the rest of the bike to notice much more of a difference.
Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 25th October 15:56
Here you go chap. A bargain 24% off at the moment too. Under 1200grams for a set of aero wheels!
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...
as there is a tendency for scope creep in these threads, I thought I'd save us all some time
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...
as there is a tendency for scope creep in these threads, I thought I'd save us all some time
pablo said:
Racing 7s are quite heavy although they do roll well.
Got two sets of these, one I use for training on, and the other is the cyclocross specific, both have been good so far. Only thing to report is one bent spoke, but that was due to me putting my foot through them, whoops.Do I need new wheels?
I'm currently sporting a pair of rather budget Shimano RS20s. From the sounds of some of you lot, upgrading will make a reasonable difference.
How much more will I need to spend to get some markedly better performing wheels? I guess someone will be along shortly to ask whether I do mostly flat or climbing. To answer that, I'm normally found climbing the giant ranges in Richmond Park on the weekend.
Also, how much of a difference do having nice hubs make, and do they make up most of the price differential between what I'm currently riding and the proposed new wheels.
Budget: up to £500.
Over to you, my learned pedalistas.
I'm currently sporting a pair of rather budget Shimano RS20s. From the sounds of some of you lot, upgrading will make a reasonable difference.
How much more will I need to spend to get some markedly better performing wheels? I guess someone will be along shortly to ask whether I do mostly flat or climbing. To answer that, I'm normally found climbing the giant ranges in Richmond Park on the weekend.
Also, how much of a difference do having nice hubs make, and do they make up most of the price differential between what I'm currently riding and the proposed new wheels.
Budget: up to £500.
Over to you, my learned pedalistas.
HurryUpAndWait said:
Do I need new wheels?
I'm currently sporting a pair of rather budget Shimano RS20s. From the sounds of some of you lot, upgrading will make a reasonable difference.
How much more will I need to spend to get some markedly better performing wheels? I guess someone will be along shortly to ask whether I do mostly flat or climbing. To answer that, I'm normally found climbing the giant ranges in Richmond Park on the weekend.
Also, how much of a difference do having nice hubs make, and do they make up most of the price differential between what I'm currently riding and the proposed new wheels.
Budget: up to £500.
Over to you, my learned pedalistas.
ok so they are £589 but the Shimano RS80 50mm carbon clinchers are perfect for you. I'm currently sporting a pair of rather budget Shimano RS20s. From the sounds of some of you lot, upgrading will make a reasonable difference.
How much more will I need to spend to get some markedly better performing wheels? I guess someone will be along shortly to ask whether I do mostly flat or climbing. To answer that, I'm normally found climbing the giant ranges in Richmond Park on the weekend.
Also, how much of a difference do having nice hubs make, and do they make up most of the price differential between what I'm currently riding and the proposed new wheels.
Budget: up to £500.
Over to you, my learned pedalistas.
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/WPSHRS8050/shi...
as are the £539 American Classic AC420s
http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/american-classic-42...
The RS80 has a carbon laminate on an alu rim with a carbon fairing. The AC is an all alu rim but with a high aero profile. Personally I'd go with the AC 420s, you get some genuine aero benefits but the wheelset only weighs only 1585 grams.
Quality hubs do make a difference in that they will roll better but only if they are fitted with good bearings (japanese bearings end to be the best) and serviced. the hub is just one part of a good wheel though, spoke, tension and rim are essential to a good all round wheelset.
you could also try the likes of paul hewitt and www.wheelsmith.co.uk for a superb set of hand built custom wheels. The latter will build a really nice set of IRD 30mm aero rims on Novatec Superlite hubs and SApim CX Ray (the best spokes in the world!) for under £500..... which is probably what I am treating myself to later this month!
Christ.
Like I'd bet most are on PH, once I get my head into something my 'want' and my budget just run away with the insane. I know the Boardman isnt the most fancy bike in the world (it took everything I've got to no spend ££££££'s on a fully carbon Cube) but it's a cracker for the money...
But now you lot have got me looking at super wheels, and spending a fortune!!! ; )
Like I'd bet most are on PH, once I get my head into something my 'want' and my budget just run away with the insane. I know the Boardman isnt the most fancy bike in the world (it took everything I've got to no spend ££££££'s on a fully carbon Cube) but it's a cracker for the money...
But now you lot have got me looking at super wheels, and spending a fortune!!! ; )
TonyHetherington said:
I had not-great standard Bottecchia Racing wheels (on a ~£1000 bike, to give an idea of price point) and the £300ish I spent on Fulcrum 3s, the difference was utterly amazing. It was like a new bike - I was probably 2 gears higher over all of my ride.
wow, is it really that obvious a difference?I'm already thinking of wheels as my first upgrade and sone in budget are 7-800g lighter than my current, I can see how not lugging half a bag of sugar up every hill would benefit but do you really actually notice it ride to ride (if that makes sense?)
Edited by Jayfish on Thursday 25th October 20:50
MocMocaMoc said:
Christ.
Like I'd bet most are on PH, once I get my head into something my 'want' and my budget just run away with the insane. I know the Boardman isnt the most fancy bike in the world (it took everything I've got to no spend ££££££'s on a fully carbon Cube) but it's a cracker for the money...
But now you lot have got me looking at super wheels, and spending a fortune!!! ; )
I had a Boardman road team in 2008 and it was great, did me proud on loads of long rides. i uprated the wheels to fulcrum 7s and they were miles better than the stndard ritchey ones on the bike but even if you only spend £200 on Fulcrum 5s, honestly it will transform the bike.Like I'd bet most are on PH, once I get my head into something my 'want' and my budget just run away with the insane. I know the Boardman isnt the most fancy bike in the world (it took everything I've got to no spend ££££££'s on a fully carbon Cube) but it's a cracker for the money...
But now you lot have got me looking at super wheels, and spending a fortune!!! ; )
Fulcrums are impossible to beat in terms of value for money and they are wholly owned by campagnolo so they come from a reputable stable
Jayfish said:
wow, is it really that obvious a difference?
I'm already thinking of wheels as my first upgrade and sone in budget are 7-800g lighter than my current, I can see how not lugging half a bag of sugar up every hill would benefit but do you really actually notice it ride to ride (if that makes sense?)
Very much so - difference really was night and day. The weight saving itself is felt of course but that doesn't tell the hole story, it's because it's rotating mass that the difference is so big. Ie if u saved the same weight from your seat it wouldn't feel as big a gainI'm already thinking of wheels as my first upgrade and sone in budget are 7-800g lighter than my current, I can see how not lugging half a bag of sugar up every hill would benefit but do you really actually notice it ride to ride (if that makes sense?)
Edited by Jayfish on Thursday 25th October 20:50
pablo said:
ok so they are £589 but the Shimano RS80 50mm carbon clinchers are perfect for you.
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/WPSHRS8050/shi...
as are the £539 American Classic AC420s
http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/american-classic-42...
The RS80 has a carbon laminate on an alu rim with a carbon fairing. The AC is an all alu rim but with a high aero profile. Personally I'd go with the AC 420s, you get some genuine aero benefits but the wheelset only weighs only 1585 grams.
Quality hubs do make a difference in that they will roll better but only if they are fitted with good bearings (japanese bearings end to be the best) and serviced. the hub is just one part of a good wheel though, spoke, tension and rim are essential to a good all round wheelset.
you could also try the likes of paul hewitt and www.wheelsmith.co.uk for a superb set of hand built custom wheels. The latter will build a really nice set of IRD 30mm aero rims on Novatec Superlite hubs and SApim CX Ray (the best spokes in the world!) for under £500..... which is probably what I am treating myself to later this month!
Thanks Pablo - lots to think about. I knew I was sowing the seeds of my own destruction by asking such a question, but upgraditis is irresistible!http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/WPSHRS8050/shi...
as are the £539 American Classic AC420s
http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/american-classic-42...
The RS80 has a carbon laminate on an alu rim with a carbon fairing. The AC is an all alu rim but with a high aero profile. Personally I'd go with the AC 420s, you get some genuine aero benefits but the wheelset only weighs only 1585 grams.
Quality hubs do make a difference in that they will roll better but only if they are fitted with good bearings (japanese bearings end to be the best) and serviced. the hub is just one part of a good wheel though, spoke, tension and rim are essential to a good all round wheelset.
you could also try the likes of paul hewitt and www.wheelsmith.co.uk for a superb set of hand built custom wheels. The latter will build a really nice set of IRD 30mm aero rims on Novatec Superlite hubs and SApim CX Ray (the best spokes in the world!) for under £500..... which is probably what I am treating myself to later this month!
You "might" be able to sneak a pair of Fulcrum Racing 1s within range of your Budget (juggling discount codes with Wiggle etc). Whether they are 2-300 quid better than the Racing 3's I don't know; but they do look nice.
The Racing 1's (1500g for the 2 way fit) are my daily wheel (after advice from PH and pages of debate on aero Vs weight funnily enough). They roll nicely (vs the pony Aksiums supplied originally), and I did notice a significant improvement in climbs (my commute take in Shooters Hill which is a righ c**t, weekend rides are Kent / Surry Hills). They are monumentally stiff though, so you might want to consider compliance in whatever you buy.
Alternatively, if you do have "half a bag of sand" burning a hole in your pocket (and dependent on your current shoes), you could buy the Racing 3's (some love on here obviously) and some nice carbon soled Sidi Ergo2s for you're budget. Nom nom nom….
You do realise that whatever you buy, you’re life won't be complete without a new set of wheels within another 4months?
The Racing 1's (1500g for the 2 way fit) are my daily wheel (after advice from PH and pages of debate on aero Vs weight funnily enough). They roll nicely (vs the pony Aksiums supplied originally), and I did notice a significant improvement in climbs (my commute take in Shooters Hill which is a righ c**t, weekend rides are Kent / Surry Hills). They are monumentally stiff though, so you might want to consider compliance in whatever you buy.
Alternatively, if you do have "half a bag of sand" burning a hole in your pocket (and dependent on your current shoes), you could buy the Racing 3's (some love on here obviously) and some nice carbon soled Sidi Ergo2s for you're budget. Nom nom nom….
You do realise that whatever you buy, you’re life won't be complete without a new set of wheels within another 4months?
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