Wheels: yet another thread

[Elliot M]

OK, I'm thinking about upgrading my wheels...

I was thinking of either

- Campag Neutrons: about £310, about 1.6kg
- Campag Zondas: about £260, about 1.6kg
- DT RR1450 Mon Chasserale (conventional wheel, 240s hubs, RR1.1 rims) About £340, about 1.5kg but only come in white...

I can get £50 off any of the above as I have a pile of Wiggle vouchers gathering dust from birthdays.

- DT RR1450, about £380, same as above but in silver
- Handbuilt DT240s / RR1.1 - about £400, again much the same as above but also in black

I'm tempted to get the Mon Chasserales for an effective £290 with those hubs they're a steal, and they can be rebuilt in the future (with black rims). But white (on the Merlin which has otherwise entirely black componentry - http://www.flickr.com/photos/elliot100/ ... 413522056/) can I carry it off? Or anyone know a way of getting the white paint off?

Just noticed Chain Reaction are doing American Classic CR420s at £220.
Apparently they are sub 1.5kg, ie about the same as a Ksyrium ES. Too good to be true? Especially for a deep aluminium rim? Any thoughts?

[Elliot M]

I have a horror of loose bearings, because the races corrode by the time I get round to maintaining them...

Another option is going for the 340s instead of 240s on handbuilt option, saves around £80 but adds about 150g

Sean, given your all white kit you could be the man to promounce on whether white wheels are what not to wear?

edit: I have now found a pair of black 240s / RR1.1 for £340... very tempted

[Grahame]

Nitromors?

[Stu Merckx Man]

ive got campag zondas and they are brilliant!

[Sylv]

I think white wheels could look good on it especially with the white Merlin decals. Tricky choice will be tyre colour! Have you found a photo of a bike with those wheels?

I think the low weight on the AC mainly comes from their superlight hubs - so rims might not be that light.

Dt hubs are light too but also reliable. Nice freewheel buzz too.

[Andrew G]

What do you want the wheels for? e.g. Neutrons better for climbing, zondas better for flat speed.

DT Swiss (hubs/spokes/rims/complete wheels) are excellent.
Handbuilt with good components will be very good.

VFM and winner for me = Zondas. I actually wish I'd got then instead of my Fulcrum 3s and I'd have saved a few quid too.

Zondas are light, look good, fast - what more could you want?

Oh and the G3 spoking that Campag use is unbelievably strong, bombproof. I have a pair of Ventos that use it, which are £100 bottom of the range, and they've been hammered through all weathers and over Surrey and Kents finest road surfaces and never went a fraction out of true. I've worn the rims down so much they are more or less unuseable, without a single complaint from them. Only one broken spoke and that was only as I rolled up to the garage, and it still hadn't pulled the wheels out of true! Sorry about that but yes I am a fan of Campag wheels.

Quite a few people in the club have recently got Zondas so you may not get exclusivity but I bet they don't have a bad word to say about them.

[Elliot M]

They are for all round use (I neither have speed nor climbing ability) but I am quite keen on rebuildable wheels even if that means paying a bit more, but not keen on loose bearings.

I've had Campag Sciroccos for 3 years so and yes they are absolutely bombproof. Still have some rim left and would keep for depths of winter. Keen to supplement them before they fall apart.

[Paul on the Pearson]

I thought it was about time to get some better wheels as well. So whilst dropping off the bike to get a new bottom bracket fitted at Pearsons metioned it to Guy. Picked the bike up a few days later. No more creaking and a pair of fancy carbons wheels as well. On Guys recommendation I got the Veulta carbon pros. Four hundred quid seemed pretty good value for carbon wheels. I can definately notice the difference from my old wheels, they roll better and climb better and make that nice rachet sound when you free wheel and they look the part too! What more can you want.

[Grahame]

How about some wheelsbike wheels?

These are the guys who used to build the Campagnolo and Fulcrum wheels before these brands decided to follow the penny pinching route and source their production outside of Europe.

[Andrew G]

Not quite that flash Sean those cost £650.

[Graham O]

Another option might be....

Campag Eurus in Silver......£399 from Ribble. Ian has had some for a little while now....

[Jon H]

White wheels?

Might look a bit Chav, or totally Pimped, depending on your taste.

[Elliot M]

Braking surfaces are silver - linked to a pic on previous page

OK, I'm ruling out the white wheels on grounds of taste. Will think about the black equivalent despite the cost...

[Elliot M]

because i fear that the loose bearing races will go if I never maintain them and not be economically replaceable, if at all. Plus I'm using Shimano 9 speed and don't think either of those hubs will work

[Grahame]

OK then, how about 32 hole Open Pro rims laced onto Hope hubs with double butted stainless steel spokes and brass nipples (for ease of maintenance)?

The Hope hubs have cartridge bearings.