[Earl Scheib]

I'm about 165 lb and I have $1000 to spend. I want light and durable. Any suggestions?

 

[sscooterguy]

You are at a very interesting price point. At $1000, you could start affording carbon clinchers as well as tubulars. You could probably also afford specific tubeless wheels. Try to decide what you want most - tubulars have the most potential of weight savings and softer ride, tubeless is younger, but great potential with excellent but heavier ride, clinchers are ultimate convenience but can be heavier though very durable.

I highly recommend direct to consumer companies Williams and ROL. Both have very affordable clincher and tubular models and have EXCELLENT customer service. I personally ride Williams system 19's, 1430 g, laced to hutchinson fusion 2 tubeless tires (290g) with Stan's conversion kit. Very light, very strong, and very comfortable combination for MSRP way below your $1000. ($500 wheelset, $150 for 2 tires and tubeless conversion).

Remember to budget for quality tires, tubulars can definitely be more expensive, and technically much more difficult to mount.

 

[rruff]

I'm about 165 lb and I have $1000 to spend. I want light and durable. Any suggestions?

I'm guessing you'd like them as light as possible, with solid hubs that will last, and a build that is strong and stiff enough to not be problematic? You care about weight much more than aerodynamics?

You could get some custom clinchers for well under $1000, that would weigh ~1300g, have great hubs, and should have good stiffness and durability for someone your size.

 

[Earl Scheib]

Light, tubular, aero up to say 40mm OK. Any thoughts?

 

[rruff]

Plenty of light tubular rims that will build into <1000g wheelsets, but since they cost ~$800 each they will blow your budget. Can't speak for the asian carbon rims, but I don't think they are very light.

 

[Earl Scheib]

how about used on ebay? Anything < $1k you'd recommend?

 

[vboy19]

Reynolds KOM or MV32. Or Bontrager XXX Lites, I have the XXX Lites and they are amazing. Super light and indestructable. I weight 185 and ride them on the crazy/crappy roads here in chicago. I was thinking about getting a set of MV 32, but don't know if I should be getting the DV 46.

 

[MarkZeus]

I'm in a market for a carbon semi aero wheelset as well, but I can hold off for a few months. Also looking at the new line 09 Reynolds. They are very enticing, also can't decide between the mv32t at 1000grams or mv46t aero and only 40 grams difference, but they are around $2k. For $1k+ Easton EC90 SLX looks good too and also was looking at Williams 38 carbon clincher. I'm not quite ready to jump in to tubulars but willing to try it.

 

[fassa b]

I'm also in the market for a new set of wheels. I will be finishing the build of a new frame next month. I have looked at several different options. One of them being some Edge rims built up on some Alchemy or Ligero hubs. However I’m not sure if I want to pay the extra 1k plus and go carbon. Other than the weight and the aerodynamics is it really worth the extra money for carbon rims over alloy rims?
They would mainly be used for daily rides and the occasional race.