Road wheelset question (modern content warning)

[fjpshaw]

Apologies for the modern subject matter, but I'm not joining another forum just to ask this question...

I am looking to buy a new set of wheels and am looking for some advice from more experienced/knowledgeable roadies than me! I have only been into road for a couple of years, and due to the type of rider I am (weekend, 70-100km a week, occasional summer sportive/cycling weekend, NO interest in racing), I do not need aero carbon jobbers, I simply want to upgrade the Maddux stock wheels I got on my CAAD8.

I am looking at three options at the moment (but open to alternatives):
- Fulcrum 7s: £150 (http://www.wiggle.co.uk/fulcrum-racing- ... -wheelset/)
- Campag Scirocco: £165 (http://www.wiggle.co.uk/campagnolo-scir ... -wheelset/)
- Fulcrum 5s: £220 (http://www.wiggle.co.uk/fulcrum-racing- ... -wheelset/)

The 7s seem to have consistently decent write-ups for what they are - workhorse/training wheels - so are they all I am going to need in a wheel? Or is someone like me going to notice the improvements in the 5s - especially considering the heavier price tag?

A third/middle-ground option is Campagnolo Sciroccos at around £160. I understand these are Fulcrums under Campy branding (or vice versa). From the price point, I'm guessing they translate as 7s?

Or any other recommended wheelsets? Askiums? Khamsins? Ventos?

 

[Nob]

Campagnolo Eurus wheel set - great wheel for all weathers & bombproof.

 

[mattr]

Handbuilts.
Wheel sets are all well and good until you break a spoke.
Then you have to order and wait. And hope they still make that part..........

 

[NeilM]

Re:

I don't know what wheels are standard on your CAAD, but with wheels it is all about weight.

All of those you have listed are solid wheels, you could easily add the Shimano range to that list, but none of them are particularly light.

Unfortunately, as is always the case, less costs more. 1900g wheels are tough and relatively cheap, 1400g wheels cost serious money, unless you are lucky.

My training KTM has Mavic Aksium wheels fitted as standard, they are light, tough and weatherproof and have so far covered around 2000k in all weathers with no issues.

If you want to consider hand made wheels, talk to Malcolm at the Cycle Clinic (site sponsor). I had some wheels made by him for my Rourke and they are exactly what I wanted, and not that expensive.

 

[fjpshaw]

Re:

Eurus around £500 a set. Quite a bit than I'm looking to pay unfortunately.

I appreciate the input about weight, but being the wrong side of 85kg, I had decided that spending several hundreds of pounds to save 200g (e.g. Eurus above coming in at 1700g v 1900/2000g of those listed in my original post) would be a bit daft. Am I wrong? Also, if weight = strength, then perhaps that is something to consider - I saw expensive carbon wheels with 80kg rider limit...no use to me!

Stock wheels are Maddux 2.0 or something like that. The bike was a £600 entry level purchase to see if I liked road biking. I have since upgraded the 2300 groupset to 105 and wheels are next in line. I figure this would see me another couple of years, and if I'm still properly riding by then, might look to change frame.

 

[NeilM]

Re:

OK, given all that, you do need some robust wheels. Don't go for a low spoke count, as you will break spokes.

Also given that any upgrade of the wheels is only going to save a couple of 100g's, I would probably stick with the standard wheels through the wet spring and then consider something more to your liking for summer.

Worth looking at both superstars, their own wheels are all built with SKF bearings, and also Merlin cycles, as they regularly have excellent deals on wheels like Hope Pro 2 / Stans, which are light and tough, but a little more money than you want to spend right now.

 

[fjpshaw]

Re:

OK, good shout re low spoke count. So guessing that rules out the Sciroccos' G3 pattern (16 front/21 rear)! Shame, I liked the look of those wheels.

Which leaves the Fulcrums from my original list, however, their website suggests that riders over 82kg are "especially vigilant" and get their wheels checked regularly (http://www.fulcrumwheels.com/en/faq/wheels). Even though I suspect a lot of this is to do with product liabilities and fear of getting sued etc, it's not the most confidence inspiring.

Wiggle have DT Swiss R24 wheelset for sale for £190 (http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dt-swiss-r24-sp ... -wheelset/). Seems the weight limit on these is 110kg with 20 front/24 rear (https://www.canyon.com/en/supportcenter ... 141&page=1).

Looking at Shimano wheels now...

 

[fjpshaw]

Shimano RS31 wheelset hubs "use angular contact bearings designed to cradle the balls..." (http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-rs31-al ... -wheelset/)

Search finished!

 

[NeilM]

Re:

I like DT Swiss stuff, my son has just put some very light DT Swiss wheels on his Boardman, as he was worried his Zipp 404's were going to get damaged by the dreadful road surfaces around here.

1725g's is not super light, but they can be used tubeless, which is something that could become more useful later this year as more tyre companies release tubeless road tyres.

 

[fjpshaw]

Yeah, the more I look at them, the more I like the DT Swiss. The blurb suggests they can be used cyclo-cross, which hints at strength. Reading around, others have suggested that DT Swiss are all handbuilt too, which can only be a good thing, especially along with higher spoke count, and DT rep for hub quality. Going to keep these in mind as a forerunner I think.

Looked at Shimano, but wasn't thrilled with what I saw in my price bracket. Best IMO were RS31.

I did use the chat feature on the Wiggle site this morning, and spoke to a guy about wheels. He suggested in his personal opinion (i.e. not Wiggle's ), that Sciroccos would more than cope with 85kg, and that they have an upper recommended weight limit of 95kg.