[Wyville]

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone> <wunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <wontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> I’m new to these forums and would really appreciate some insights.

A few weeks ago I bought my first road bike, a Specialized Allez Expert EU version. It has an E5 frame (which is not the latest ‘Race’ frame) and mostly Ultegra parts. For the price a great bike with great parts, but of course the wheels are budget oriented (DT Axis 2.0).

I’m not new to bikes as I have ridden BMX and mountain bikes all my life, but a road bike is something new and I’m only starting to learn about wheels and such. Here I would appreciate some advice.

I live in the Netherlands (i.e. very few hills) and train mostly fast, relatively short distances (one or two hours on the bike at most), a bit like time trails or triathlons as I also run a lot. This led me to have a look at possible deeper section wheels. The roads I ride are however mostly on the typically Dutch ***** and there crosswinds can be a bit of an issue, so my guess is the wheels can’t be too deep. What sort of wheels would be best for me to look at?

Budget-wise I think a set of Zipp 101’s would be as high as I would go. That’s around 1,200 euros and I think it would be similar in dollars. Ideally though I would like to keep it well under 1,000. One wheel set that looks good is the Vision Trimax T42, but I can find little about these wheels and don’t know many alternatives.

Weight isn’t too much of an issue, reliability is as I don’t plan on changing the wheels if the weather is bad.

Thanks.
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[mikerp]

What are you expecting to get from new wheels?

 

[Wyville]

What are you expecting to get from new wheels?

Mostly I would like stiffer wheels, the DT Axis 2.0 wheels don't feel very stiff. Some aero advantage to help maintain speed would be nice as well as decent, smooth rolling hubs.

 

[Jay Strongbow]

Zipps are way overpriced (although I don't know for a fact that's the case in Europe) and I don't know anything about the others you mentioned.

I've got nothing against factory wheels but with a particular want for stiff wheels you might want to talk to a wheel builder. Depending on your weight. If you're a lightweight then any decent wheel will probably do but if you're heavy and/or very powerful you might need something more than the 'average' wheels will give you.

Something like Hed C2 or H Plus Son Archetype rims with Dura Ace hubs and what ever spoke number and brand the builder thinks would get you the stiffness you want at your weight would be a good choice and would come in below you max budget.
I think Dura Ace hubs build a pretty stiff wheel and the quality is great. Feels that way to me anyway. With you being in Europe......Royce, PMP and Goldtech are a few other hubs to check out if you want to get fancy and get something a little different but very high quality.

 

[Whale_520]

You're on the right track with that price range and alloy. One reason to stay away from the 101 is the 21mm width. I'm sure if you browse around this forum you can find a lot of riders that are very pleased with a wider rim. Like Jay suggested the H Plus Son and C2 are really good options. The C2 is extremely well made and the H+S Archetype is an extremely strong rim. The only other rim I'd add for you to think about is the SL23. It's a bit cheaper than the C2, builds similarly and isn't as heavy as the H+S. It's also a millimeter wider. For hubs I understand the loose ball bearing appeal of DA hubs and think that's a great choice. The other one to think about is a DT Swiss hub. They're serviceable worldwide with common tools and easy to find bearing sizes.

 

[Mackers]

Should you decide to go the custom hand built route, I can hook you up with reputable builders in the Netherlands.

 

[Wyville]

Thanks for the replies!

I'm not very heavy but no lightweight either, around 76 kg (167 lbs). Don't know how strong I am compared to cyclists. I train multi-sport, mostly running, cycling and crossfit type trainings. So I'm strong, but not a specialist in cycling.

I have looked a bit at getting wheels built and it might be an option. Never heard of H Plus Son, so I don't know if they are available here but they look good. HED I do know, but only for their wheels. (The Jet 5 and Ardennes could be options.)

For hubs I would certainly look into Shimano, DT Swiss or Chris King. I think those are the most regular quality hubs out here.

How about deeper rims than the ones mentioned? Maybe 30 up to 45mm deep (H Plus Son SL42?). Those seem to offer some advantages for flat rides at speed. I've never used wheels like that, but maybe it would suit my riding style that is aimed at speed more than distance.

Mackers, do you know some websites where I can have a look at custom wheel options and possibly prices? Thanks!

 

[Whale_520]

I'm not very heavy but no lightweight either, around 76 kg (167 lbs). Don't know how strong I am compared to cyclists. I train multi-sport, mostly running, cycling and crossfit type trainings. So I'm strong, but not a specialist in cycling.

167 is not a problem with most wheels out there. Enjoy picking anything you'd like.

I have looked a bit at getting wheels built and it might be an option. Never heard of H Plus Son, so I don't know if they are available here but they look good. HED I do know, but only for their wheels. (The Jet 5 and Ardennes could be options.)

Look around here for opinions on the HED Belgium C2s, you'll notice they're positive. The Ardennes are built with that rim so if you're looking for a complete wheelset and like that rim you could pull the trigger on those. Also the Pacenti SL23, the rim we helped design, has a European distributor, I believe they're in the UK. I couldn't imagine H PLUS SON not having a European presence.

How about deeper rims than the ones mentioned? Maybe 30 up to 45mm deep (H Plus Son SL42?). Those seem to offer some advantages for flat rides at speed. I've never used wheels like that, but maybe it would suit my riding style that is aimed at speed more than distance.

The SL42 is a 19.5mm wide rim! Any advantages that you gain through the deeper rim are going to be lost with a rim that wide which will lead to a less than optimal tire shape. Go with the wider shapes and you'll be happy you did in cross winds, corners, and rough roads. The rim might be a bit less aerodynamic and definitely won't looks as aero but it will be a faster complete package once you consider the tire.

 

[Mackers]

Sending you some addresses in a PM.

Doesn't seem right to plaster people's email addresses all over the Internet ;0)

 

[mjduct]

look at these guys: FLO Cycling Home - Aerodynamic Cycling Wheels

very aero, carbon fairings on aluminum rims for good braking. And well within your budget...

 

[Wyville]

167 is not a problem with most wheels out there. Enjoy picking anything you'd like.

I didn't think it would be much of a problem and I might loose a few more lbs as my diet has not been as well balanced as it should be.

Look around here for opinions on the HED Belgium C2s, you'll notice they're positive. The Ardennes are built with that rim so if you're looking for a complete wheelset and like that rim you could pull the trigger on those. Also the Pacenti SL23, the rim we helped design, has a European distributor, I believe they're in the UK. I couldn't imagine H PLUS SON not having a European presence.

I saw the Ardennes used the C2 yesterday. It will be interesting to see what is possible with a hand built set compared to the Ardennes. I also found H Plus Son on Dutch forums, so they should be available.

The Pacenti rims look nice too. Much to think about.

The SL42 is a 19.5mm wide rim! Any advantages that you gain through the deeper rim are going to be lost with a rim that wide which will lead to a less than optimal tire shape. Go with the wider shapes and you'll be happy you did in cross winds, corners, and rough roads. The rim might be a bit less aerodynamic and definitely won't looks as aero but it will be a faster complete package once you consider the tire.

So a higher rim will only make sense if the width is 23mm in order to get the tire shape more optimal? I can see how that makes sense.
How should I see higher, 23mm wide rims? Say, HED Jet 5 Express (54mm high, 23mm wide, 1,681g) on one end of the spectrum (in terms of price) and 3T Accelero 40 Pro (37mm high, 23mm wide, 1,725g) on the other end.

 

[Wyville]

look at these guys: FLO Cycling Home - Aerodynamic Cycling Wheels

very aero, carbon fairings on aluminum rims for good braking. And well within your budget...

I saw a review of the FLO 30 on a triathlon website a few days ago and the conclusions were very positive. I also understand these are very popular with FLO having trouble to keep up with demand. They certainly look very good, but I will need to see if they are available here. Importing directly from the US will increase the price by an obscene amount due to taxes.

 

[Wyville]

Hey Guys thanks for sharing all this information about the wheels.. It will be help me in my future because I also bought my new bike for my personal training and for body fitness..

What kind of bike did you buy?

I'm currently leaning towards the Vision Trimax T42 wheels. There isn't much information about them, but the few reviews I found all state the wheels are stiff, durable and offer a bit of aero advantage without being too sensitive to crosswinds. They also look really nice, of course.

If I decide to go for custom wheels instead I would probably have a look at the H Plus Son Archetype rims and DT Swiss 240s hubs. That would make a pretty good looking wheel.

 

[Wyville]

Sorry for bumping an older thread, but I had a question related to the discussion I had here.

I've looked at all the options and spoken with a wheel builder (thanks Mackers!) and am convinced a custom set is the way to go for me. Mostly because I like getting higher end hubs. It will be a set H plus Son Archetype rims, CX Ray spokes (24/28) and brass nippples, but I'm not sure yet about the hubs.

I have looked at three options so far; DT Swiss 240s, White Industies T11 and Goldtec road. I'm leaning towards the T11 hubs, but the 240s are (surprisingly) a cheaper option, a bit lighter and with the new 36t ratchet quick to engage. Goldtec seems great but is quite a bit more expensive. What do you guys think? Any other hubs I should consider?

 

[David Loving]

I would go with WI hubs.

 

[Zen Cyclery]

For the price the T11s are a steal. That is a solid hubset especially now that the flange spacing has been improved.

 

[Wyville]

Seems to be a pretty universal preference. I was leaning towards the T11 hubs myself and the builder had a soft spot for them too. I guess that makes the choice a lot easier. Thanks!

 

[Jay Strongbow]

Seems to be a pretty universal preference. I was leaning towards the T11 hubs myself and the builder had a soft spot for them too. I guess that makes the choice a lot easier. Thanks!

With your goal being to get a stiffer wheel you should ask the builder which hub will result in the stiffer wheel. I do not know the answer to that but I doubt it's the T11 especially if you don't have a need to 11 speed compatibility.

 

[dcgriz]

With your goal being to get a stiffer wheel you should ask the builder which hub will result in the stiffer wheel. I do not know the answer to that but I doubt it's the T11 especially if you don't have a need to 11 speed compatibility.

^^^^^ this.

The answer is there for the asking but most dont.

Run the Spocalc spreadsheet with the hub geometry and look at the bracing angles and since you are at it, calulate the NDS tension based on the tension ratio output. Then you could make an educated decision on which hub fits your needs best.

 

[Wyville]

Is that also true for the improved version of the T11?
I'm also using a 24/28 spoke count instead of the 20/24 I initially wanted to aid stiffness and the Archetype rim itself is pretty stiff too.

I have to wait a bit to see what kind of budget I end up with. The Goldtec hubs will probably build a stiffer wheel, but are more expensive.

I will discuss it in more detail with the builder. Thanks!