Can we talk about upgrading wheels?

[rubysoho]

I have read/heard numerous times that the biggest upgrade you can make on a bike is the wheelset. I love my Ruby but have been pining to upgrade the bike as a splurge. I made a promise with myself that IF I completed the 170 mile Tour de Cure and IF afterwards I still wanted to ride that then I could gift myself with a new set of wheels. I really don't think I need a better bike. But new wheels are tempting. And I did finish the entire 170 mile ride AND I still loooooove riding (as if that would ever change!).

What wheels would you buy as an upgrade? I don't want to put a limit on price because I would love to hear about what other people want. Realistically I am looking at the 500-1k range. But if a strong case was made for a set just above that pricepoint.... well.... maybe.

A friend is suggesting the mavic ksyrium sl.

(PS-sorry if this has been discussed before. I did try, admittedly briefly, to search for old threads on the subject. Also, I disabled the autocorrect on my ipad keyboard so please forgive my typos!)

[nscrbug]

I absolutely LOVE my custom built HED Belgium C2 wheels laced to Chris King R45 hubs. They are bombproof...which I need given the crappy roads that I ride in my area.

[Owlie]

DBF would recommend the Mavics as well.
I actually asked a similar question at work today (I work in a large chain bike store), as I've been considering buying wheels for my current bike that would be an upgrade for my future bike as well. I asked my BF as well as two coworkers. I got three different answers.

[Veronica]

I love my Dura Ace C50s.

Veronica

[indysteel]

I upgraded my Mavic Aksiums a few years back with a set of custom wheels. It's a pretty basic build: Velocity Aerohead rims with White Industries hubs. Sapim double butted spokes; 24 (I think) in the rear and 20 in the front. I love them, and my husband has a similar set. We both love them. I shied away from prebuilt wheels because many are overbuilt for someone my size. I also didn't want bladed spokes. I think you can often get more bang for your buck with handbuilts.

Ron Ruff at White Mountain Wheels built my husbands wheels. If I were in the market again, I'd call him or another reputable builder. Tell him what kind of riding I do on what kind of roads and let him recommend a build within my budget and weight.

[tzvia]

I had a similar set to what indysteel had made, Velocity Aerohead rims, White Industries hubs (love that old time chrome look although they do make black too) but I deviated in getting the Sapim cx-ray bladed spokes, a personal fave. Several pluses to such a wheelset.

1. Hand laced and if properly done, is almost always better than a mass produced wheelset.
2. You pick the parts, you choose how many spokes. You get what you want, and not what some marketing manager chose.
3. Stuff breaks. Exotic spokes and and rims may look really cool, but not so much when you have a broken spoke and the LBS does not have anything to fix it. Then you have to send the wheel off or the LBS orders parts, and they are always a lot more $$ than the trusty double butted or bladed Sapims or DT Swiss.

All that being said, I have always wanted a set of HED Ardenns. . All that aero stuff out there has a weight penalty and at my speeds the aero 'benefit' just won't be there but a nice set of climbing wheels...

[jdubble]

I absolutely LOVE my custom built HED Belgium C2 wheels laced to Chris King R45 hubs. They are bombproof...which I need given the crappy roads that I ride in my area.

I just got the same wheels and hubs in May as an anniversary gift, handbuilt by Jude at Sugar Wheel Works and I love love love them. I was skeptical that new wheels would make a noticeable difference, but wow, do they ever!

I also was contemplating a bicycle upgrade, but I love my Torelli, even if it's 11 years old and heavy. I don't road race, and it's comfy and fits me perfectly. But hills were a drag. The new wheels have given my bike new zip and have really made climbing (slightly) more fun.

[Becky]

I built myself a set. Dura Ace hubs, Aerohead rims, DT Swiss double-butted spokes. They're fantastic. If I did it again, I'd look at Velocity's wider A23 rim.

[Hi Ho Silver]

Check out www.prowheelbuilder.com . They offer semi-custom wheel sets at good prices. I've spec'ed out (as in "dream on, Christmas is coming up!") a set of Velocity A23 rims, White Industries hubs, DT double-butted spokes - at an affordable price of ~$500.

[Eden]

Yeah customs aren't necessarily super expensive. I think it costs me 200-250 or so a wheel to have my commuter wheels rebuilt every couple of years (cause I ride them in all sorts of crappy weather and wear out the rims...).

If you want some super light, but comfy wheels (they may be a bit over your price point.... but search around for the best deal and it is entirely possible you could find them under $1,000) I love, love my Dura Ace C-24 carbon wheels. Light as a feather, but handle and feel like a dream - they really damp down chip seal vibration. I have the tubular version, as I use them for racing and thus have someone following me around that can give me a new wheel if I flat..... but there is a clincher version too.

[indysteel]

I built myself a set. Dura Ace hubs, Aerohead rims, DT Swiss double-butted spokes. They're fantastic. If I did it again, I'd look at Velocity's wider A23 rim.

That's impressive, Becky. Was it hard to do?

[Becky]

That's impressive, Becky. Was it hard to do?

Not really. For me, it requires a great deal of focus and patience. It's almost meditative, especially once I've got the wheel laced and in the stand.

This was my third or fourth wheelset, so I felt more comfortable attempting it with expensive hubs and using a lacing pattern (2x) that I hadn't tried before. I use Roger Musson's book each time and go step by step. As long as you're careful about even spoke tensions and consistently checking round vs. true. vs. dish, it's pretty straightfoward.

Props to LPH for convincing me to try to build the first wheelset! I think the next set will be for my carbon roadie: black White Industries hubs, double-butted spokes, and black Aeroheads or A23s. I might even radially-lace the front wheel! Indy, how did Ron lace your 20/24 set?

[Jiffer]

I have Easton EA90 SLX wheels. Hubby picked them out as a present for a birthday or Christmas or something I think. He chose them for their low weight and good for climbing, something I need all the help I can get with.

Here's a description: Developed as the ultimate low weight wheel for Easton's sponsored athletes, the Easton EC90 SLX is a sub-1200 gram carbon wheelset prized for amazing climbing legs and smooth, dependable braking surface. Feathery, 24-mm deep Easton carbon rims enhance acceleration and offer precision braking and outstanding durability. R4 SL hubs feature alloy axles, axle caps and cassette bodies to shave 36-grams of rotating weight and have ceramic bearings for a smooth ride. Sapim double-butted spokes and alloy nipples cut weight without sacrificing durability. Entirely hand-built and acoustically tuned in Easton's own factory.

My husband, who is an amazing climber, but wanted more of an edge on the flat chose a different set of Eastons. Don't know the model, but could find out.

Figure out if there's something specific you want to get out of a wheel set and try to find one to accommodate. For me it was climbing, for hubby fast on the flat. Who knew there was so much to think about when choosing a wheel?

Whatever you do, you may be able to find a deal on Ebay or something. There are amazing deals to be had on bike components if you look and are maybe a bit patient.