Help me choose a wheelset (6 options) (POLL)

[merlin6014]

Hi all need some help with a decision on a wheelset.

They are going onto a Scott Foil 40 - type of riding I enjoy is 20-40km time trials mainly rolling terrain (M7), solo.

Did a big spreadsheet but then narrowed it down to six options - 3 tubular and 3 clincher options. I am not opposed to tubulars, done a lot of research and am confident fitting/changing them but they are more of a hassle vs the clinchers.

I prefer aero options but finding it hard to go past the all round ability,weight (and cheap price) of the Dura Ace 9000's. My original budget was $900 (I can push it a little but the wife no likey).

[MarkG]

I roll on Reynolds and for a clincher they are fast..

[merlin6014]

I roll on Reynolds and for a clincher they are fast..

Are they the assualts?

[MarkG]

Yep!

[merlin6014]

Yep!

Cool - do you find any aero advantage over regular low profile rims?

[MarkG]

No doubt. Certain areas its defn more noticeable compared to my Zeros.

[toolonglegs]

Sounds like a pretty broad range of wheels... I think you need to ask yourself more questions.
I was looking at all those listed after selling my C50's... Ended up ordering some customs because I couldn't really get what I wanted ( ok maybe I could of by getting a 404/808 combo but a bit to €€€ for me! ).
Plus I want something that can be repaired easily with out having to get special spokes etc.

[gistane]

type of riding I enjoy is 20-40km time trials mainly rolling terrain (M7), solo.

So just to confirm you are after a pair of carbon wheels to just go training with? Or is there other riding or racing you will be doing?

[merlin6014]

type of riding I enjoy is 20-40km time trials mainly rolling terrain (M7), solo.

So just to confirm you are after a pair of carbon wheels to just go training with? Or is there other riding or racing you will be doing?

"training" though to me its no different to "racing". You mean like old school official racing that u pay to enter? With all the technology nowdays like strava and garmin i can "race" anyone in the world for free. I ride solo most of the time if I do ride with friends its a max of 3 on the group hence all the aero choices. One day I would like to do official TT events but I am two years off that goal.

Courses i tend to do are m7 (a lot), west head, akuna bay.

[Arlberg]

Get these instead. The convenience of clinchers, 47mm of aero and at 1100gm per set lighter than anything your currently looking at.

http://lightweight.info/au/en/meilenstein" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[MarkG]

They're also 4 times the price.
Lightweights are awesome wheels, but crazy expensive.

http://www.bikebug.com/wheels-accessori ... 15653.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[nickl]

Where can you get a Zipp 303 wheelset for $1080? That is suspiciously close to half what they usually are - are you sure you aren't looking at the price for only one wheel?

Are they they Firecrest profile or the older design?

If they are $1080 for the pair, and they are Firecrests then.. wow. That's a good deal.

Have you used tubulars before? If not then you might want to consider carefully if you are up for it. I've never used them, but there are very mixed feelings about if they are worth the trouble. The general consensus seems to be that if you are the kind of person who enjoys spending time working on your bike then you will like tubulars, but they really are more trouble than clinchers.

[merlin6014]

Where can you get a Zipp 303 wheelset for $1080? That is suspiciously close to half what they usually are - are you sure you aren't looking at the price for only one wheel?

Are they they Firecrest profile or the older design?

If they are $1080 for the pair, and they are Firecrests then.. wow. That's a good deal.

.

The Zipp 303's are second hand for $1080 not new. Though its claimed they are only 12 months old.

[boss]

DA c24.

I have the 7900 series wheelset and they're awesome. Spin up sooooooo quick,

[Xplora]

TWE would be roughly in the price range. Support local. Just get the rear wheel first if you have budget issues

[merlin6014]

Narrowed it down a bit more - tubulars are out and max budget is $1200.

Requirements - under 1550g
Depth - min 45mm on rear, front don't care.
Despite the above still considering a set of C24's.

Options:
Dura Ace C24 9000 front/C50 9000 rear combo - $1130; weight = 1520g
Zipp 303
Reynolds Assault Clincher
Other second hand options as they come up in forum/ebay.

Willing to consider custom builds but from what I could find on the net not many are deep and the ones that are are pricier than the Reynolds (even though they use the same rim and inferior hubs!).

Those TWE wheels look good but no prices...

I did build up a set of Stans Alpha 340 from a US builder which came to 1220g for $648 delivered but have no idea what these would be like (this is off http://www.prowheelbuilder.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)

[merlin6014]

Also quick question - I am keeping my stock wheels for my indoor trainer and they have a 11-25 cassette. For my new wheels I am getting an 11-28 cassette.

Can I swap the two wheel sets interchangeably or will the rear derailuir have to be adjusted each time (I think the chain has enough slack).

Reason I ask is I am ordering the 11-28 Ultegra ($60) from Wiggle and could just chuck a cheap Tiagra 11-28 in the shopping cart too for the training wheels ($28). But don't want to waste money if I dont have too.

[Xplora]

Mate, 15 minutes with Greg from TWE will completely resolve your problems, I'm not even kidding. He's a genuine bloke, and the ONLY reason I wouldn't buy from him is that I don't HAVE to have deep dish wheels yet, and the wife would have kittens after already spending 5000 bucks on bikes in the last 6 months.

Please. Call Greg. I have absolutely no affiliation beyond being a fellow Sydneysider

[boss]

Also quick question - I am keeping my stock wheels for my indoor trainer and they have a 11-25 cassette. For my new wheels I am getting an 11-28 cassette.

Can I swap the two wheel sets interchangeably or will the rear derailuir have to be adjusted each time (I think the chain has enough slack).

Reason I ask is I am ordering the 11-28 Ultegra ($60) from Wiggle and could just chuck a cheap Tiagra 11-28 in the shopping cart too for the training wheels ($28). But don't want to waste money if I dont have too.

If I understand correctly, hub spacing affects the derailleur limiters. You could swap cassettes out on the same wheel with minimum of fuss, but if you have two different wheels with different hubs there is going to be adjustment required.

[nickl]

Also quick question - I am keeping my stock wheels for my indoor trainer and they have a 11-25 cassette. For my new wheels I am getting an 11-28 cassette.

Can I swap the two wheel sets interchangeably or will the rear derailuir have to be adjusted each time (I think the chain has enough slack).

Reason I ask is I am ordering the 11-28 Ultegra ($60) from Wiggle and could just chuck a cheap Tiagra 11-28 in the shopping cart too for the training wheels ($28). But don't want to waste money if I dont have too.

You can switch the wheels without making any adjustments.

The spacing between the cogs on cassettes is standardised and that is all the derailleur cares about (assuming it has sufficient range). 10 speed Shimano/SRAM wheels have one standard spacing and Campag have another. Shimano 11 speed has the same spacing but an additional cog, so the wheel has to be dished deeper.

[merlin6014]

Mate, 15 minutes with Greg from TWE will completely resolve your problems, I'm not even kidding. He's a genuine bloke, and the ONLY reason I wouldn't buy from him is that I don't HAVE to have deep dish wheels yet, and the wife would have kittens after already spending 5000 bucks on bikes in the last 6 months.

Please. Call Greg. I have absolutely no affiliation beyond being a fellow Sydneysider

Given its a public holiday and I am highly impatient I have dropped him an email with my requirements - lets see what he can do

Basically asked if he could build the following for less than $1200:
1) the rim depth is between 45-60mm front and rear (closer to 60 the better but if 45 is more within my budget then so be it)
2) Total weight is kept below 1550g (the lighter the better though)
3) Clinchers - carbon or alloy dosn't matter.

[Xplora]

merlin, the depth doesn't make much difference if you check most of the prices for different builders. The labour and material use is virtually the same for wheels of any depth (have a look at Easton's factory tour, the mould is the only major difference between a 25mm wheel and a 90mm wheel).

You need to bear in mind that the hub makes a BIG difference to cost. Shimano's two 50mm deep wheels are the same rim, but one has the Ultegra hub and the other has the Dura Ace hub, better spokes in the DA as well perhaps. Big difference in cost. Greg CAN build you a wheel to a price point, but it is going to be a cheap wheel, with a cheap hub and spokes. It will be well built, certainly... but if you're spending 1000 bucks on a second hand wheel, then you have to reconsider where you are putting your money. I don't think you can do 1500gms in a clincher at that depth at that price point. 1800-1900gms, sure. The second tier builders seem to hit that price point without much trouble. You have to compromise weight or price or depth or second handedness or it needs to be tubular for the money you want to spend. If you are willing to sneak up 300 bucks or 300 grams, you'll stress a lot less. Greg told me 1600 bucks for 1400gms 50/55 carbon clincher wheelset that you could train on IIRC. It has been a while. Maybe 1500 bucks? I do recall it was a bit more than I wanted to spend as well, but he is comparing his stuff to Zipp, not Farsports. If you wanted 38/50s then you might get down to 1300gms?

I know you want the spec, but I'm not sure you can afford the spec unless you go second hand. Recent experiences have made me think that I don't want second hand carbon.

[merlin6014]

Xplora - We'll wait and see I guess but as a comparison I can get a Reynolds Assault carbon wheelset for $1050 brand new which is 46mm depth front and rear and weighs 1465g so don't see why it cant be done (though I get what your saying about hubs quality - just from playing around on the prowheelbuilder.com website you can see the vast differences in hub pricing).

[Xplora]

I totally get your point. If you want a price point, someone can do it for you. Spokes and hubs are pretty important to the story, as is a quality build. Worth bearing in mind that the Assault isn't the top Reynolds wheel or even close. You would not be sad with your choice. But you sound like you want the best. A chat with Greg will put you on the right track, and I would guess would be able to steer you towards a wheel set you actually can afford. Support local!

[jacks1071]

Not sure how much of a hurry you are in but I should have the Bracciano C45 (full carbon clincher) here in April.