Discussion
Been after a new set of wheels+tyres for my CAAD8 for a while, Merlin have got fulcrum racing 3's with Conti GP4000 s2s and tubes for £325 (plus I've got a fiver voucher too which would pay for the postage). Seems about £35ish cheaper than anywhere else. Had been looking at DCR handbuilts and hunt 4 seasons but they would be another £100 on top once you get tyres.
Anyone run those wheels and have any opinions good or bad?
Anyone run those wheels and have any opinions good or bad?
thanks all for comments
WRT wheelbuilders, do they generally supply the parts themselves or are they open to people bringing in their own bits?
Any good wheelbuilders in the south east? I've had Harry Rowland mentioned to me at work as he's not far from my office but looking at his website he seems pretty old school.
Matt_N said:
Racing 3 are a bit old hat now and behind the curve as they don't have the new C17 (Campagnolo's new wider profile) rim.
They are tubeless comparable though. The main draw back for me as said is that with 16f and 21r spokes you are pretty much out of luck for replacement rims. The hubs would probably do 2 or 3 rims swaps but it's not an option.
I'm another fan of handbuilts, but propert specced and built on decent branded components rather than the latest fad of builders popping up everywhere offering basically the same rim and hub builds under their own name, think Pacenti / Kinlin rims and generic hubs.
For £300 I'd go Miche Primato hubs at around £75 a pair, not lightweight but big axles and bearings means they last plus they roll well. Rims could be H Plus Son Archetype, 23mm external width, welded joint and well made, about £60 each.
Non bladed spokes from Sapim or DT will be around £1 each, if you went 24/28 you'd have a decently strong wheelset, leaving you about £60 for a shop to build them up.
Another rim option is the DT R460, sleeved joint but well made and around £40 each or the new Open Pro UST, £60 each, 23mm width.
Good info here, thanks. I'm about 82kg so don't want to go too flyweight on the wheels. I live in north kent so rolling terrain with climbs of up to 200m if I head to the north Downs. How do the Miche hubs compare to say shimano 105? what are they like for spares?They are tubeless comparable though. The main draw back for me as said is that with 16f and 21r spokes you are pretty much out of luck for replacement rims. The hubs would probably do 2 or 3 rims swaps but it's not an option.
I'm another fan of handbuilts, but propert specced and built on decent branded components rather than the latest fad of builders popping up everywhere offering basically the same rim and hub builds under their own name, think Pacenti / Kinlin rims and generic hubs.
For £300 I'd go Miche Primato hubs at around £75 a pair, not lightweight but big axles and bearings means they last plus they roll well. Rims could be H Plus Son Archetype, 23mm external width, welded joint and well made, about £60 each.
Non bladed spokes from Sapim or DT will be around £1 each, if you went 24/28 you'd have a decently strong wheelset, leaving you about £60 for a shop to build them up.
Another rim option is the DT R460, sleeved joint but well made and around £40 each or the new Open Pro UST, £60 each, 23mm width.
WRT wheelbuilders, do they generally supply the parts themselves or are they open to people bringing in their own bits?
Any good wheelbuilders in the south east? I've had Harry Rowland mentioned to me at work as he's not far from my office but looking at his website he seems pretty old school.
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