Wheels: Comfort marginally more important than speed. Which?

[Aerate]

Should I get these Shimano RS21s

http://www.probikekit.co.uk/bicycle-wheels/shimano...

or these Mavic Aksiums

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/mavic-aksium-one-clincher-...

I weigh about 12 stone. The bike is one of these.

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Kona-Honky-Tonk-2015-Road-...

I ride around the Berkshire Downs down some fairly agricultural back lanes.

So which ones?

[whatleytom]

Think you'd be very hard pressed to identify a difference of comfort in most wheels.

Comfort is way way more likely to be influenced by tyre size and pressure. I would just go with whichever you want and run a suitable size tyre at a comfortable psi.

[TwistingMyMelon]

Out of those two, id probs pick the Akisums

I have the Shimanos, they are a fine wheel for the price, but the Mavics are better and sell for higher

BUT, depends on the quality of the roads, as one mans back roads is the A4, another's is a gravel track!

I might be tempted for some with a higher spoke count, if the roads are quite poor.

[SixPotBelly]

How about something wider than conventional, like the Fulcrum Racing 7 LG that are 23mm wide?

I like my Aksiums but they're a conventional, old-school 15mm width. I run 28mm tyres and would buy new-school, wider rims if I was buying again.

Wider rims would be more comfortable than narrow rims, both with a 28mm tyre, I believe.

edit - or the Racing 5 LG, as your budget allows.

Edited by SixPotBelly on Wednesday 29th April 16:53

[outnumbered]

+1 on tyres making the most difference, so the wide rim is a good idea. I think 25mm is the sensible minimum these days for UK roads, and I also live on the edge of the Downs.

Other than that go for the ones that look the best on your bike !

[Pot Odds]

Just bought a set of Fulcrum Racing 5's for £144 (wiggle price match of bikediscount + Quidco).

Less vibration on rough surfaces and stiffer than my old stock CXP22's. I was assisted through my purchasing decision on this thread:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

I had already moved from 23 to 25 tyres.

ETA

Not sure if this is exactly the same Mavic Aksium One as Wiggles (i'm sure somone else will help confirm) but if so it's cheaper on bike discount and wiggle price match them:

http://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/mavic-aksium-on...

Edited by Pot Odds on Wednesday 29th April 18:45

[MadDad]

I ride the Chilterns and Berks/Hants downs often and agree the roads are utter poo - however I have Zipp 303's, Campy Zonda's, Fulcrum 1's and Ksyrium Equip 'S's and they are all fine - I admit I have blown a spoke on the 303's but did it on a pan flat bit of tarmac with a marble surface!

I have a set of Mavic Open Pro rims on Ultegra hubs on my CX bike. They are not the lightest things on earth but they have a 32 spoke count, wider rims and are bomb proof - oh, and they are also a comfy ride. I picked a set up off flea-bay for about £160, I just did a quick google and found a set on Rose bikes for £177 but I bet of you spent a bit of time searching you could find a set cheaper.

For strong and comfy touring wheels that will take larger tyres with no dramas I recommend them.

[timnoyce]

I went from a pair of OEM Bontrager 24 Spoke wheels on my Trek 1.2 (radial front, 2 cross rear, with bladed spokes) to a pair of hand built 32 spoke, 3 cross wheels, and I believe that they are more comfortable. I doubt that you will see much difference in comfort between any of the factory built, heavy bladed spoke, low spoke count wheels tbh.