Wheel lifespan. Help?

[Marek]

I reckon you should get at least 20k out of them if not more. You only need to worry when things start to go wrong and you can get them fixed you know.

Cheers

Marek...

[Andrew G]

Thinking of a wheel upgrade Sean?

A nice wheelset really brings your bike to life, and make it look even nicer. (The 5s aren't that budget though are they?)

Keep the 5s for commuting and winter/salty roads and use the good ones for everything else. Best of both worlds as you don't knacker your nice wheels commuting, and extend the life of both sets.

[Jon H]

Commuting through town is probably the fastest way to get through a set of wheels. All the stop/start stuff means your brakes will quickly wear away the rims.

[Graham O]

Sean,

When I got my Racing 3's and put them on my old trek I noticed a huge difference. I have previously had a set of Rolfs which aren't half bad.

You can get a set these days for £280 if you look hard enough. Alternately, have a look on ebay for a second hand set of ksyriums or Fulcrums..

Agree that you should keep yout current wheels for commuting.

Ta,

Graham.

[Rob Taylor]

if your after a good rear wheel ksyrium SL 2004 from chain reaction cycles - for £99 .

spend one penny more taking your basket over £100 and get 10% off ,free postage as well so the wheel only effectively cost you £90. -bargin

just have to get a front then - just get a chheper front unless your worried about it all matching and having the latest years wheel.

[Elliot M]

remind me is ED10 shimano or campag?

actually scratch that, io can't consider non matching

[Dr Frigo]

I've got mtb wheels built with Ceramic coated rims that are almost ten years old and still going strong. If you have decent hubs with replaceable cartridge bearings, what will wear out first is the aluminium rim surface.

Trouble with those nice system wheels is that most often you can't replace the rim (or at least certainly not yourself or at the local shop, you might have to send the wheels back to the factory).

If I was commuting on a road bike I'd definitely build a pair with Mavic Ceramic rims - they are hard to find but you can find them. Well worth the extra expense.

Added bonus is you never have to clean your rims from road muck after a wet ride. Oh and it brakes much better too.

[Elliot M]

Jedi Sports in Germany have a pair of Racing 3 for EUR374 + 28 delivery in their Ebay shop

[url=http://stores.ebay.co.uk/jedi-Sports_Laufrader-Rennrad_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ861549QQftidZ2QQtZkm]all their wheels[/url]

I haven't bought anything from them (yet)

Worth watching as every so often they sell a pair of wheels at a big discount, but get someone who knows German to read the small print to check you're geting the freehub you need.

I too am looking at wheels and will probably end up with Racing 3/DT swiss 240 'conventional' wheel/Zonda all of which are under 300

I was thinking of a pair of American Classic 420s but probably a bit too light for general use - I seem to be a pothole magnet at the moment

[Elliot M]

Just remembered I have £100 in Wiggle vouchers (2 years of birthday presents from my workmates ) so availablility there may swing it.