[ripper]

So after almost 10 years and thousands of miles my good old Ksyrium Equipes are giving up the ghost. I am a Clyde - 250lbs and am usually easy on wheels.

My wife has been laid off for the last year and things have been tight, so when I told her I wanted to spend $350 - 400 for a new set of wheels I thought her head was going to explode.

Almost everyone here suggests custom built wheels and I absolutely agree with their reasoning....but at this point I just cant afford custom. Given these perameters what are your suggestions for wheels?

 

[marckap]

how about some lightly used Mavic elite's from Ebay?

 

[josephjcole]

What about something like these: BWW $135, 32 spokes, mavic rims. I don't know anything about the hubs, but they are shimano, so I would expect they are at least servicable if a little heavy.

 

[Hank Stamper]

Almost everyone here suggests custom built wheels and I absolutely agree with their reasoning....but at this point I just cant afford custom.

Take a look at Bicycle Wheel Warehouses site (and no, I have no interest in promoting them or any business). It might be more of a case of not being able to afford not to go custom once you compare to similar quality non custom wheels.

I have never used them but a lot of people say Neuvation provides really good bang for the buck for non custom wheels.

 

[valleycyclist]

You can get a set of custom wheels at a reasonable price. You can't go wrong with a standard 32-spoke wheelset, 14/15G double butted spokes, and solid rims like DT Swiss RR465 or RR585. A wider rim is also something to consider. Shimano 105 hubs can help keep the total cost low.

 

[ljfran2383]

I have some sun city flea hubs laced with straight gauge spoke to velocity aerohead rims. Weights 1450g, cost 600. Lighter can be easily had too.