I need some new wheels...

[Lee on the Condor]

I need some wheels for Transcontinental 2015 and I don't know what to buy.
Aero and lightweight).

I don't mind spending £1k+ on the right wheels.
I'm thinking dream wheels that I can add to my dream build next year.

My plan b - Hplus Son Archtype, CX-Ray Spokes, Hope Rear Hub. SonDelux Dyanmo Hub Front (24 / 28).
Or Pacenti SL23's

I'll consider alloy braking surfaces.
I'm scared about carbon wheels distorting with prolonged braking (mountain descents).
I tend to cruise at 18 - 20 mph. Aiming to ride with 28mm tyres.

There will be 30 miles of gravel involved

ENVE / Reynolds / Mavic / Lightweight / Zipp / HED.

Any advice gratefully received.

L

[Marek]

In my experience Campagnolo wheels are brilliant. I am over 80kgs, and at times closer to 90kgs, and am therefore pretty hard on wheels, but Campagnolos have been awesome. I had a set of Eurus wheels that I got second hand which lasted me for like 8 years, the front wheel is still fine, the rear eventually a spoke went and they don't make them anymore like that, so had to go.

I now have a set of Zondas on my training bike and a pair of Shamals with ceramic bearings on my racer, they are very good. Not sure you need to spend much more than that for what you are doing to be honest.

Cheers

Marek....

[Lee on the Condor]

Hi Marek, I second your comments on Campagnolos, I've been riding mine (Campagnolo Proton - budget wheels) since 2007, back then I was closer to 90kgs too. Whilst they fill me with confidence with regards to robustness I feel with some new wheels I could gain 1 - 2 mph (5%+ efficiency).

The more I read about rim width suggests a better ride quality and improved efficiency too.

Kristoff, who won last year rode Campagnolo Neutron Ultra (Wiggle £450) which weigh just under 1500g (need to get a front rebuild with a dynamo hub tho).

Down near the £300 - £500 mark there are a number of options. I need opinions on the higher end of the market then evaluate if the extra spend is worth it.

I'm not in the habit of spending money but i've been saving for this.

Secondhand is an option
http://www.gumtree.com/p/bicycle-access ... 1097706443

:headscratch:

[Dominic]

The gumtree link you have posted show Mavic carbon wheels which would not have Novatec hubs. Not sure I would trust second hand carbon wheels for your purposes as you won't know the history of them.

There are a couple of Chinese sources selling carbon wheels with Novatec hubs but these seem to be getting mixed reviews, especially the hubs.

Having done it last year you will be aware of the demands made on the whatever type of wheels you go for. My biggest concern is the doom and gloom scenario of 'if they go wrong, can I get them fixed to keep me in the race?'

[MattR]

I bought a pair of Neutron Ultra for my best bike. They are lovely, and I'd agree Campag are brilliant. From what I've seen of them though, they have very unusual spokes. There's no nipple and I'm guessing they are completely unrepairable, certainly not easy. I doubt you'll get anywhere to be able to put a dynamo in one.

Not totally sure of the goal of the race although I've just been looking it up a bit but it strikes me as always keep it simple and easy to repair. Proper spokes you can carry spares, but the kind of thing that you'll find in any bike shop??

Totally sure you want a dynamo? What are you trying to charge phone/lights? I've got a modern solar panel [url]http://www.easyacc.com/solar-chargers-c66.html[/url] small enough to carry and lighter than a dynamo probably even with a 8000mah battery (That powers a smart phone for 4 days btw). Cheap enough to ditch if the race hots up on the final stages and you need to shed weight when you've run out. You're not reliant on the wheels for power should you have to change them? Quicker to change as the wiring won't be restricting their removal.

I might personally even go for a set of lights with AA and/or AAA batteries, you'll find those in every petrol station Europe wide.


Maths:

8200mah battery 204 g
solor panal 305 g
total 509 g

Dyno: 421 g
Hummm, okay maybe

[Lee on the Condor]

Thank you for the input.

Yes, secondhand wheels is a risk - not knowing if they've had a good or hard life. However nabbing a 50% off RRP is also rather appealing. Like buying a car, one careful owner.

I've never taken a close look at the Campag spokes, GB Butlers provided me with some spares (just in case). I don't imagine Neutron Ultras to be much different.

Kristoff has a Sondelux hub on his Neutron. More inclined towards Hplus Son / Pacentil SL23 as they are proven and solid and the spokes / hub can be customised.

Dyanmo - Seems they all use them. Keeps mobile, Garmin, MP3 player charged and a good beam of light at night. Invaluable. The powerbanks, on paper they seem great but they do have issues. Vibration connections and sockets. This product caught my eye - New Rim Dynamo - http://www.velogical-engineering.com/rim-dynamo-en . Have to consider how much energy/effort it would sap from the ride.

One thing I won't be using is The Plug II (water ingress)

I had a message recommending Strada Cycles / Wheel build. They have the ENVE 3.4 and their own Strada 52. They "look" the business...but do the wheels deliver efficiencys?

Campy Boras, they look ugly but does anybody have experience with them?

[Dominic]

Sorry to go off topic, are you using the same bike or have you decided to use something different?

Maybe you should just start a Transatlantic 2015 thread

[Andrew G]

I have my best front race wheel, plus spare/Sporting course wheels built by Derek at wheelsmith. He is an excellent wheel builder and will offer good advice. He'll also build up whatever combo you require. Of hubs etc you want aren't listed on his website he can get for you.

Give him a call for a chat and he can run you through what he can do for you and what he'd recommend for your specific requirements.

For what you require I'd steer clear of carbon braking surfaces and keep nipples exposed (oh matron) and a standard spoking pattern. I love Campag wheels and use them but for your needs wouldn't take a G3 spoked wheel as I'd want to ensure a spoke could be replaced easily on the hoof.

[Lee on the Condor]

Hi Dom, I'll starts a TCR2015 when I've ironed out the details. Details being the bike.

There are plenty of discussions going on here - but save your best advice for me
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Transco ... ment_reply

Bike = Frame / Wheels / Groupset / Finishing Kit
For six months i've been reading, trying to work out a stratergy on what to buy. Off the peg vs build it yourself. This past week I deceided I wanted to start off from the wheels. Groupset I'm 99% certain I want Ultegra. I'm 90% certain I want to ride steel.

I popped into Geoffrey Butlers today, I'm no more certain. I'll be test riding a Bianchi Infinito CV in the next week. http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/cate ... -14-48603/ (not with this high spec) £3300!!! no Ultegra no Camp Neutrons.

Andrew G - Derek at Wheelsmith - http://www.wheelsmith.co.uk/ I'll have a look but i'm rather English about not wanting to bother people if i'm not buying. I don't mind bothering you guys. Team Addiscombe If I see anything I'll bounce him an email. I'll bare the detail in mind.

I have used a wheelbuilder before and have been in contact with him about a wheel build - http://www.yogarup.com/wheels/ He built a bombproof touring wheel for me 18mts ago, to my spec.

The Campagnolo Neutron Ultra's might be edging ahead as favourites today...but I still want to hear about fast, efficient, aero, lightweight carbon wheels.

Logic - If I can add 2mph to my cruising that's 10% improvement. Over 14 days that's 1.5 days...My fitness will be much improved, add another 10%, technique and experience, 5%. Aerobars and working on a comfortable aero position 10%. Round it to 33% = 9.25 days. Thinking big at the moment.

Am I using the Condor? Do you know what I'd love to but it doesn't take 28mm tyres. I'd need to have a frame builder move the brake bridge. I'm seriosly considering it but I love that bike. Talking bike at GB Cycles it might be a bit to aggressive for aerobars.

Frame (don't laugh) I'm thinking of riding this frame with carbon forks.
Surly Cross-Check (£200 second hand) - http://surlybikes.com/bikes/cross_check

Forks I'm thinking Carbon Easton EC90 / ENVE 1.0 / Other
Stem, bars, aerobars thinking Carbon 3T.
Both not important right now.

When I do the maths £500 wheels, £500 groupset, £250 frame, £600 finishing.
£1850. This is within budget. I could scrape together another £650. But I want to buy a new saddle, helmet + shoes, maybe glasses. In 2016 I'll order a Columbus Spirit / Reynolds 953 frame, build my dream bike.

Sounds convoluted I know, trying to balance too many things, compromises. But it's Value for money.

[Andrew G]

Re adding clip on aero bars there are two basic types, those that mount to the top of the bars and those that have the pads on the top but the extensions from under the drop bars. The first are more common and you'll find more options and they'll be cheaper.

For such an endurance event I would go with those that mount on top of the bars as it will be a more comfortable position and less aggressive. You will be higher but the aero gain comes from being narrower. It's narrow over low where most of the aero gains come from. Over a long distance you will find the slightly higher position far more forgiving on your back and it won't impede your usual leg motion, but you want to mount the clip ons on straight away and get used to the position, tweak as required, and it will help build core strength so you can sit on the aero bars for prolonged periods without getting backache at the base of your back. Your hip angle changes when riding on aero bars so experience using them will help with muscle adaptation.

[Lee on the Condor]

[quote]For such an endurance event I would go with those that mount on top of the bars as it will be a more comfortable position and less aggressive. You will be higher but the aero gain comes from being narrower. It's narrow over low where most of the aero gains come from. Over a long distance you will find the slightly higher position far more forgiving on your back and it won't impede your usual leg motion, but you want to mount the clip ons on straight away and get used to the position, tweak as required, and it will help build core strength so you can sit on the aero bars for prolonged periods without getting backache at the base of your back. Your hip angle changes when riding on aero bars so experience using them will help with muscle adaptation.

[quote="Lee on the Condor"][quote]I'm going to visit Talbot Frameworks too. http://talbotframeworks.co.uk/bikes/

[Lee on the Condor]

Thanks Matt.

Probably visit tomorrow.

I visited Geoffrey Butlers today, tried the Bianchi Infinito CV, first carbon bike i've ridden in 7 years. Nice but not the one, didn't feel any more comfortable, felt slower in places, more stable descending, lighter up hill, ultimately felt quite cramped, not what i'm used to...saying that they're highly critical of my current set up

I pressed them about spending £3k on a new bike vs spending £1.5k on the Condor they think I need a larger frame, I can see where they're coming from.

Campagnolo Neutron Ultras mentioned again, highly recommended. When pressed for a carbon aero wheel with an alloy rim Mavic Cosmic Carbone SLS (pair £850)(1700g).

Q. Aero advantage of Mavics vs the 250g lighter neutron ultras?

Campy stronger, robust, safer, easier to get repaired (just in case)...

[Dombo]

Have you looked at Easton wheels? My EA90 SLX have been on the bike since 2008 and virtually bomb proof as well as light, only a smidge under 1500g the pair.

[Lee on the Condor]

Just to finish off this thread.

I bought some Pacenti SL23's, Jawbone hubs, Sapim CX-Ray spokes, aluminium nipples and they came in at 1475g for the pair.

I'm very happy with them however they are very difficult to get a tyre on and off (40 minutes puncture).

I did buy the Campagnolo Neutrons they arrived 91g heavier than advertised so I sent them back.