Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

Upgrade of Fulcrum Racing 5 Evolution - what to go for - Fulcrum Zero, Mavic SL, c24 Dura ace or other suggestions - like building some to suit - I want a really light clincher - aluminium or carbon

All those will be better than Racing 5s.

I have Mavic Kysrium Elites and they have been great with only some very minor issues with rear hub which just needed re-greasing ($20 worth) in three years.

If buying factory wheels again, I would go DA c24. Good weight. Great hubs. Great price at CyclingExpress at the moment on the clincher.

I think you will find with building a set that the weight may be slightly above the DA c24 or similar. I am going for bike shop build for my next set (Velocity A23 on White Industry Hubs with DT spokes) and they've be about 110g more than DA c24's, although I suspect a chunk of that is due to the A23s being wider on the rim than the DA c24s (at least I think so - I read the DA c24 9000s haven't gone to 23mm width on the rim).

Zipp 101

Fulcrum Zero

Look into Rolf Prima's which use a White Industries hub. If you want light then go for the Elan model. Up-spec to the alpha version.

I was looking at the Elan's originally, but shifted to the Vigor alpha which have the ceramic bearings and titanium hub. They are a sweet ride. The 23mm wide wheel has improved the ride quality from my Reynolds Solitudes.

You can pick them up through Vonact which is based in Queensland - contact is Matt von Bibra.

If you're going to go that much $, go custom and get what suits your weight/terrain.

If they're an every day wheel, stick to an off the shelf, top line alloy clincher like the Zero, Dura Ace etc. $1500 will get you either, plus some decent rubber and a heap of spare tubes

Thanks blokes - I went to LBS today - and went for the American Classic Magnesium - super light 1108g - the reviews are pretty good on these too - and I like the idea of a light wheel as age creeps up - got a good deal too .. i think
cheers

Nice choice! That's light as!
Are they AC hub or DT Swiss ?

Dura Ace 7900 C35

That is crazy light and 28/32h, I hope those super light 300g rims are durable enough.

I just finished building my new wheels, Alchemy Hubs laced to Hed Belgium rims with Sapim CX-Ray spokes. Quite stiff and responsive, reasonably light (1600 g with skewers and rim tape) and with 28/32 spokes..hopefully indestructible.

My next wheels will be White Industries/H Plus Son Archetype ... will be interesting to see how the White Industries hubs compare.

I've got some Archetypes on the way now to go on the commuter, looking forward to the wider rim.

scratcher33 wrote:Thanks blokes - I went to LBS today - and went for the American Classic Magnesium - super light 1108g - the reviews are pretty good on these too - and I like the idea of a light wheel as age creeps up - got a good deal too .. i think
cheers

Are you in Melbourne? Wondering if you could hook me up for a pair as well. How much are they btw? Cheers,

I am up in Darwin - the wheels are on order with my LBS - however, I have also mailed the Australian distributor to get a time frame on the delivery of the wheels - not looking good - could be a more than a few months

get yourself a custom set; I'd suggest Kinlin XR-270 or H Plus Son Archetype laced to Alchemy hubs with Aerolites, well within your budget. The advantage of a wheel like this is that the rims are relatively cheap so they can be replaced should the worst happen or the brake track is worn out.

In regards to the AM MAG rims, I've heard a few reports that the brake track isn't the most durable, much softer than alloy. I would personally not use these daily.

Fulcram zero, by far the best wheels for $1,100 or so

Fulcram zero, by far the best wheels for $1,100 or so

jd73 wrote:Fulcram zero, by far the best wheels for $1,100 or so

Better than Dura-Ace 7900 C35? Hmm, I'd like to see that.

Cos you're the know all on here eh mezla..

HAhahahah. OH HAI MEZLA. You know how to make a guy smile.

Despite c35s being usually priced a little higher than $1100 O/S ($1200-1400 abroad - so add duty to that, $1500+ locally), and zeros being available locally (I.e. inc GST and duty) for $1100 and under $1k from Merlin in the UK (no GST/duty). And that's assuming we are talking 7900 not 9000...

They artillery and heavier than what the OP seems to want. Sure, aero is important, but if your a climber aero doesn't mean that much and weight is much more important.

You're talking 1600g (c35s) vs 1400g (zeros) which is not something you sneeze at. And 1600 vs 1100 for the American Classics is pretty crazy.

If you were preaching about DA 7900 c24s I would be on your side - I have a set on order. Sub 1400g, alloy braking surface, low profile, and apparently quite tough. Ideal for day in day out use and climbing duties.

And just personally I probably wouldn't run 35mm as my do-it-all wheelset, id personally stick under 30mm. While it wouldn't be a total handful in cross winds, I'd be 'on edge'. But that's just me andi accept there are different opinions and different appetites for risk.

ps: I got mine for $1170 incl postage from Ribble.