New Wheels - Advice Hand built or boutique?

[GoLefty!!]

My Ksyrium SL SSC's are now 6 years old and the spokes are corroding badly. I reason I'll have to replace them soon since aluminium with lead to faster stress corrosion cracking and failure faster than steel. They have been great wheels and served me well.

I have capped my budget for new wheels to R8000-oo ish..

There are some lovely boutique pre built wheels but what are the hand built alternatives?

 

For Hand built my choice is:

 

Kysrium SL

R-SYS

Campagnolo Eurus

 

For and built I want to base the wheels around either

Campagnolo Record ( have the hubs) or

Hope

DT Swiss.

 

I'd like the wheels to weigh <1400gr and be clinchers, not those silly tubbies..

 

Whats out there?

 

Johan, comments appreciated.

 

[shaunh]

Buy these. They are fantastic and within your weight requirements.

https://www.bikehub.co.za/forum_posts.asp?TID=32200

shaunh2008-09-04 08:40:20

[Johan Bornman]

Tim, you know my bias.

 

But since you asked.

 

1) Stainless steel spokes. No cracking or corrosion. I like the slender look of Revolutions, others prefer 1.8mm ones. They're available in black or silver.

2) Campag Record hubs. They're unsurpassable. The grease port makes for the easiest maintenance of any hub I know. My records are now 9 or ten years old and I've never opened them. I just squirt a blob of grease in there every now and then and they're like new again. The freewheel body can be re-built using a 2mm allen key and standard bearings. I've done this once and it was a no-brainer once I drilled a strategic little hole to eject the eyelet-less circlip that holds the bearing.

3) I don't weigh stuff so I don't know what they weigh, but I like Mavic CXP33 rims. They double-eyelet/socket is ingenious and doesn't compromise strength in an aero rim.

4) Campag rear hubs can be made to sound like a gattling gun or can be converted to complete silence with the squirt of a grease gun.

5) Every seal, bearing, axle etc is freely available and Campag doesn't change stuff from year to year.

6) Campag freehub body is aluminium yet doesn't wear notches like Shimano bodies because the splines are nice and deep.

 

My pair like this has 28 spokes. If you really want me to do it, I'll weigh them but it's a schlepp taking off the tyres, rim tape and other things these marketing people take off when they weigh the wheels. I don't even know if the standard is to do this without skewer or not.

 

Since you have the hubs, it's a no-brainer. On the rim side, personal choices vary so much that I just let customers decide what they like. Most of them go purely for looks and don't care about things like sockets or finish.

 

 

 

 

 

[singletrackmind]

Ksyrium Sl's, the R-SYS are known for the stupid carbon spokes that cost half of what your house is worth. The Eurus are also very nice from what iv heard.

[TNT1]

 

Tim' date=' you know my bias.

 

But since you asked.

 

1) Stainless steel spokes. No cracking or corrosion. I like the slender look of Revolutions, others prefer 1.8mm ones. They're available in black or silver.

2) Campag Record hubs. They're unsurpassable. The grease port makes for the easiest maintenance of any hub I know. My records are now 9 or ten years old and I've never opened them. I just squirt a blob of grease in there every now and then and they're like new again. The freewheel body can be re-built using a 2mm allen key and standard bearings. I've done this once and it was a no-brainer once I drilled a strategic little hole to eject the eyelet-less circlip that holds the bearing.

3) I don't weigh stuff so I don't know what they weigh, but I like Mavic CXP33 rims. They double-eyelet/socket is ingenious and doesn't compromise strength in an aero rim.

4) Campag rear hubs can be made to sound like a gattling gun or can be converted to complete silence with the squirt of a grease gun.

5) Every seal, bearing, axle etc is freely available and Campag doesn't change stuff from year to year.

6) Campag freehub body is aluminium yet doesn't wear notches like Shimano bodies because the splines are nice and deep.

 

My pair like this has 28 spokes. If you really want me to do it, I'll weigh them but it's a schlepp taking off the tyres, rim tape and other things these marketing people take off when they weigh the wheels. I don't even know if the standard is to do this without skewer or not.

 

[/quote']

I still have a pair made on almost this exact basis... Second most bullet proof wheels I ever used (the first being Shamals).

 

[JasonW]

I have a set of DT RR1.1 rims, with a PowerTap wireless hub on the back and the matching Cycleops front hub. DT Comp spokes (I think). They weigh in at 1700g so minus the PT, you should get in under 1500g. They seem really solid and easy to self-maintain.

 

For something a little different have a look at these:

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/components/wheel-sets/product/ardennes-wheelset-08-32321

23mm box rims, built to withstand the cobbles. Weigh 1400g

[Racer X]

> DT Swiss PR1.1 Rims come in @ 415 grams each.

> Extralite Ultra Hubs 219 grams a pair.

 

> DT Swiss Revolution Spokes, roughly 280 grams

 

> DT Swiss Alloy Nipples, 20 odd grams.

 

So Total is 1349 +- 20 grams.

 

Will cost round 6K

 

[linnega]

 

Tim' date=' you know my bias.

 

But since you asked.

 

1) Stainless steel spokes. No cracking or corrosion. I like the slender look of Revolutions, others prefer 1.8mm ones. They're available in black or silver.

2) Campag Record hubs. They're unsurpassable. The grease port makes for the easiest maintenance of any hub I know. My records are now 9 or ten years old and I've never opened them. I just squirt a blob of grease in there every now and then and they're like new again. The freewheel body can be re-built using a 2mm allen key and standard bearings. I've done this once and it was a no-brainer once I drilled a strategic little hole to eject the eyelet-less circlip that holds the bearing.

3) I don't weigh stuff so I don't know what they weigh, but I like Mavic CXP33 rims. They double-eyelet/socket is ingenious and doesn't compromise strength in an aero rim.

4) Campag rear hubs can be made to sound like a gattling gun or can be converted to complete silence with the squirt of a grease gun.

5) Every seal, bearing, axle etc is freely available and Campag doesn't change stuff from year to year.

6) Campag freehub body is aluminium yet doesn't wear notches like Shimano bodies because the splines are nice and deep.

 

My pair like this has 28 spokes. If you really want me to do it, I'll weigh them but it's a schlepp taking off the tyres, rim tape and other things these marketing people take off when they weigh the wheels. I don't even know if the standard is to do this without skewer or not.

 

Since you have the hubs, it's a no-brainer. On the rim side, personal choices vary so much that I just let customers decide what they like. Most of them go purely for looks and don't care about things like sockets or finish.

[/quote']

I'm with JB on all of the above.  Both my wheelsets have Record hubs.  The Eurus have Sapim CX-ray spokes, the handbuilts 32 DT Revolutions.  Neither wheelset has needed any trueing in 4 and 6 years, and both have been used for pavement hopping commutes.

 

Your only problem is the rim.  The CXP33's are pretty heavy, so getting a Record/Revolutions/CXP33 combo to weigh under 1400g is unlikely.  The Eurus are around 1550g, my handbuilts with Open Pro's are about 1650g.

 

[Johan Bornman]

I have a set of DT RR1.1 rims' date=' with a PowerTap wireless hub on the back and the matching Cycleops front hub. DT Comp spokes (I think). They weigh in at 1700g so minus the PT, you should get in under 1500g. They seem really solid and easy to self-maintain.

For something a little different have a look at these:

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/components/wheel-sets/product/ardennes-wheelset-08-32321

23mm box rims, built to withstand the cobbles. Weigh 1400g

[/quote']

 

Lightweight rims like DT RR 1.1 is a big trade-off with durability. I see this type or problem all the time. The alu is just too thin and the stress is not spread over a large enough area by the single eyelets. RR 1.1s are very prone to premature cracking.

 

I want my wheels to be something I fit and forget. Heavier rims give you long-term peace of mind. Strangely enough, they're better but much, much cheaper.

 

[Tumbleweed]

 

I want my wheels to be something I fit and forget. Heavier rims give you long-term peace of mind. Strangely enough' date=' they're better but much, much cheaper.

 

?

 

[/quote']

 

 

 

 

i like that

[JasonW]

Yah, but durability is of course relative. No problems with my wheels after a couple of years of intensive use. My Stans Olympic rims are still going strong after about 4. Best advice IMO is buy what makes you happy!

[Tumbleweed]

Yah' date=' but durability is of course relative. No problems with my wheels after a couple of years of intensive use. My Stans Olympic rims are still going strong after about 4. Best advice IMO is buy what makes you happy!

[/quote']

 

 

 

sure, but maybe the lesson of earlier posts in this thread is: don't buy the newest/lightest/most-blingworthy? buy what has pedigree? buy what has been proven?

[Johan Bornman]

For something a little different have a look at these:

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/components/wheel-sets/product/ardennes-wheelset-08-32321

23mm box rims' date=' built to withstand the cobbles. Weigh 1400g

[/quote']

 

Jason, I quickly scanned this article and found this gem without looking too hard.

 

"While we don?t have any independent scientific data to verify HED?s claims of improved aerodynamics and lower rolling resistance, we can comfortably say that they don?t feel any slower yet offer a much-improved ride quality, a smoother feel overall and vastly improved grip. At under 1400g a pair, they are also some of the lightest non-carbon clinchers we?ve encountered."

 

I won't believe a word I read on this website. They're simply re-printing press releases under the guise of product reviews.  I like the "feel" part but I think the "vastly improved grip" is a close contender for the biggest nonsense written this year.

 

I wonder how they tested this incredible grip these wheels offer. Don't forget, we're talking rims here, not tyres.

 

 

 

 

Johan Bornman2008-09-05 01:20:09

[JasonW]

HR, my previous post must be seen in the context of Go Lefty being an experienced cyclist and not a newby. A DT Swiss build is (again all things being relative) a good, cheap and serviceable build for someone who wants a wheelset under 1500g. DT Swss stuff is old as the hills and obviously has its own set of known strengths and weaknesses.

 

Johan, I referred to the HED wheels as they seem to be an interesting buck on the trend of producing carbon (i.e. expensive and fragile) rims. I'm not vouching for them or suggesting that the review should be taken at face value.

 

It all comes down to Keith Bontrangers "Strong, cheap, light - choose two". Personally I tend to go for light and strong enough!

[Johan Bornman]

Johan' date=' I referred to the HED wheels as they seem to be an interesting buck on the trend of producing carbon (i.e. expensive and fragile) rims. I'm not vouching for them or suggesting that the review should be taken at face value.

 

It all comes down to Keith Bontrangers "Strong, cheap, light - choose two". Personally I tend to go for light and strong enough!

[/quote']

 

Relax, I won't hold you liable for the sins of editors. I just thought that para was shockingly interesting.

 

I'd love to have you as a customer, most of mine want strong, light, cheap and yesterday.

 

 

[dylankeyter]

Lew rims and Tune hubs could possibly be the lightest build, but that's a bit off topic. I also owned a pair of CXP33 rims, had no hassles there. If you were looking for training wheels, the CXP30 would probably be the best rim available, not that there are any available... such a pity.