Your Favorite Wheelset

[itself]

I am wondering what your favorite wheelset is, and if you bought them stock, or had a master wheelbuilder build up your wheels.

I don't want Aero wheels, I want light wheels that will hold up.

Thanks for your input!

[indysteel]

I have a custom set with specs that were recommended by Sadie Kate and Jobob. Velocity Aerohead rims, Sapim double butted spokes (20 1x front, 24 2x rear) and White Industries hubs. My husband has basically the same wheelset, too, but with Wheelsmith spokes). We both love them and they have been maintenance free. Both were built my master wheelbuilders. There's nothing all that bling about them (although I do think the hubs are pretty), but I wasn't going for that look anyway.

[Eden]

I've heard the saying you can have cheap, light, or durable - pick 2.....

and I believe it to be very true.

The stock Dura-Ace wheels (alu clinchers, all DA from Shimano - rims & hubs) that came on my race bike have been great. They've held up well for about 5 years and are just coming to the point that I will need to replace them- though I rarely ride that bike in the rain. The only drawback to them is that they have aero spokes and if you do happen to need a truing or break one they take a special spoke wrench and have to be special ordered. I did once break a spoke.... but it wasn't really from everyday wear and tear - it was bent in a crash in a race and broke about 6 mos later.

I've been through many, many wheels on my rain bike. I've had Velocity, Sunrim and Mavic rims. All of them have been pretty heavy.... the Velocitys really sucked.... they were fragile like tissue paper in wet weather. All 105lbs of me managed to bust 3 of them out of the 2 sets I purchased and none lasted more than a year. The Sunrim was a little better, though probably the heaviest of the 3. The Mavics have been doing a bit better. They will probably last me 2 rainy seasons. They aren't light Mavic racing rims mind you - but heavy ones meant for mean and nasty weather (CPX23's I believe). All of the wheels I've had on my rain bike have been custom builds.

[maillotpois]

I am really loving my new Campy Eurus 2 ways. they run tubeless or with tubes. I am tubeless for the last 3- 4 months and loving it. they are light and durable. not cheap.

I had Mavic Ksyriums on my old bike. they were pretty bulletproof but not maintainable. the spoke nipples got frozen, they developed annoying rattles. I shouldnt complain after 25k miles, but I dont miss then.

[Becky]

I have Mavic CXP 33s with Ultegra hubs on one bike, built by a local master builder, and a set of Mavic Open Pros with Ultegra hubs from Performance on my commuter. I love Ultegra hubs- bomb-proof, easily serviced, and they roll like a greased watermelon downhill when properly adjusted.

My favorite wheels are the Mavic XC717s with XTR hubs that I built myself for my mountain bike :)

I'm curious to see what others like- I'm in the market for a set of road wheels for another bike and I'd like something different than my CXP33s/Ultegras. Still on the fence about buy vs. build.

[nscrbug]

I am really liking my stock Shimano RS-80 C24 wheelset. These are, essentially, a Dura-Ace wheelset...but with some durability added in. They are a carbon/alloy rim, as opposed to an all-carbon rim that comes on the DA. So far, they've held up great on the crappy IL roads that I have to ride. Plus, they look pretty cool, too...with the flashy red nipples and white text graphics on the rim. I see absolutely no reason to swap them out, at the moment...so I'll probably ride these wheels for a long time.

Linda

[itself]

NSCRbug,

One of the guys in the local bike shop has your Shimano carbon/aluminum wheels, with the carbon hub. These are nice looking. And he loves the wheels. Can you post a picture?

Can any of you gals explain the difference between spokes? There are Aero spokes, DT Swiss, etc. The Aero ones sound like a pain, so what are good choices?

Thanks!

[Eden]

NSCRbug,
Can any of you gals explain the difference between spokes? There are Aero spokes, DT Swiss, etc. The Aero ones sound like a pain, so what are good choices?

Thanks!

The Aero ones are only a pain if you are hard on them..... I've had one spoke replaced and had to have one wheel trued once and both were from accidents, not normal use. I don't think if you are having a wheel built that its worth it to bother with them, but don't let them scare you away from a stock wheel that already has them.

[Becky]

Aero (bladed) spokes aren't so much of a pain unless they're hard to find when you need a replacement. Something like a J-bend Sapim Cxray shouldn't be too hard to get. I keep a few spare spokes for my wheels anyway, just in case, and they're all just boring round DT Swiss spokes.

Truing a bladed wheel requires using two hands, one to hold the spoke straight and one to turn the wrench, but it's not really any more work than round spokes. I'm rebuilding a bladed wheel right now and the biggest difficulty has been its paired-spoke lacing, not the spokes themselves.

[jobob]

Another plug for indysteel's wheelset (since its mine too).

They're very strong wheels, and surprisingly light.

(At least, some guy with a snazzy low spoke count wheel that had to bail out of a ride because he had a broken spoke and there was no way to fix it on the ride was surprised) ;)

[Alex]

Another plug for indysteel's wheelset (since its mine too).

They're very strong wheels, and surprisingly light.



Yes, indeed! Some of the best advice I ever got on TE was to get those wheels. Strong, light, comfortable, and fast.

Alex

[TxDoc]

My favorite so far are Campy Shamal Ultra, so much that I have three sets of those: two sets of two-way-fit wheels and one set of tubulars :D
Another long time favorite that I often use is the Campy Hyperon Ultra.

[tzvia]

I have a custom set with specs that were recommended by Sadie Kate and Jobob. Velocity Aerohead rims, Sapim double butted spokes (20 1x front, 24 2x rear) and White Industries hubs. My husband has basically the same wheelset, too, but with Wheelsmith spokes). We both love them and they have been maintenance free. Both were built my master wheelbuilders. There's nothing all that bling about them (although I do think the hubs are pretty), but I wasn't going for that look anyway.

I spent about a month on several online 'build a wheelset' sites, and kept coming back to this very setup, Aeroheads, CX-Rays, WI hubs. Had a set built by Prowheelbuilder.com, 24-2x front, 28-2x rear (yea a bit conservative, but been bombproof so far). Spokes and hubs in chrome, black alu nipples, very classic looking. No carbon bling or black stealth, they look almost retro 70's. Great combo if you want a solid build that is not too pricey, and not heavy.

[bcipam]

I had a beautiful set of wheels built for me some time ago - very classy looking, Mavic CXP33 silver rims with silver CK hubs. I hope they last a lifetime. Expensive but well worth it. I love the CK hub hum as the wheels roll!

[sundial]

I have to put in a plug for Mavic. :cool:

I have the Ksyrium SL rims and they survived the impact of my car when it was rear ended with the bike on the hitch mount rack. Only 2 spokes had to be trued. I've had them for 4 years now. The bike shop said they were essentially bomb proof and I believe it.

[eofelis]

a set of Mavic Open Pros with Ultegra hubs from Performance on my commuter. I love Ultegra hubs- bomb-proof, easily serviced, and they roll like a greased watermelon downhill when properly adjusted.


+1 for the Open Pros on Ultegra (or DA) hubs. The bf likes to build his own wheels and he likes this set up a lot. We have a slew of these wheels in the house and they are great for everyday riding.