OK, Im pulling the trigger on a new bike - going for a road bike set up with shorty aero bars for traing and racing on. Will be used for anything including 10m to 100m TT’s, group rides, audax rides, sportive challenges and triathons from sprint to Ironman. Yes, I know one bike wont do everything, but I thing this is a pretty good compromise.
My last decision is which wheelset to go for. Am considering going for Open pro rims (32 hole) on ultegra hubs, built by a reputable wheelbuilder (Brian Rorke Cycles, Stoke on Trent, UK). Cost is about £180.
I am circa 11 stone, and a crap cyclist even comapred to triathletes -I am sure I would be dropped in a Cat 5 road race like a red headed step-child…
Questions:
Alternatively I could go for Mavic Ksyrium Elites for about twice that price - would I really notice any real world difference in speed? I could put the savings towards an aero race wheelset in a few months time…!
Whats the difference between the standard open pro rims, the CD version (about 10% more cost than standard) and the ceramic version (about twice the price of the standard version)?
I always hear that handbuilt wheels are more seviceable and easy to maintain/repair/true that factory wheels. Does that mean they are more likely to need servicing/repairing/truing, or am I being daft?
Save your money and go for the hand built wheels. You’re better off using the funds to buy racing wheels. Ksyriums aren’t all that aero and the comments about ability to repair hand built wheels are correct. If they’re built properly, you should true them after about 500 km, then just ride them.
Not sure what the CD is, but the ceramic is for supposedl better braking if you have the right pads. Since they’ll be your training wheels, go with what’s cheapest.
hand built wheels are incredible. A little low on the cool factor, but just as reliable, if not better than factory built.
When I was mountain biking, I had a set of wheels made off stx-rc and lx hubs (105/ultegra equivalent) and they were bomb-proof, in the 3-4 years I had them, they never went out of true.
Its not just spokes which are easier to fix, cones, bearings are all easier. I took the stock wheels on my gf’s bike (Xero?) and they’re not sealed hubs so I occasionally need to replace the cones. What do you know, they’re not standard size… I end up ordering an axle (10$, so its nothing) but its a pain in my ass.
I agree with the other respondents. Open Pro rims with Ultegra hubs and 14 gauge spokes with a standard 3x lacing pattern don’t sound fancy, but you can ride them almost forever. Hand built wheels by an experienced master wheel builder will always be more durable than maachine built wheels. Your lbs or almost any lbs will have parts to fix them in house should they ever need to be fixed. Should you break a spoke on a ride, you can open your brake caliper and you can still get home on your bike. On fancy low spoke count high tension wheels you will be sitting on the dise of the road waiting for help. Then you’ll be waiting for the spokes to come into your lbs so they can fix them or waiting for your wheel to be sent to Timbukto and back for it to be repaired.
Something that surprised me was discovering that my Open Pro with Chorus hubs and 14 gauge 3x wheels were within about 50 grams of a set of Ksyriums. 50 grams is basically two ounces! I didn’t think that was something to sweat and lose sleep over.
Don’t forget that although lighter and aero might be very little faster over the distance (only if its hilly or mountainous), you have to get to the finish for it to count. Equipment dependability is something many never consider until after a failure. If you are sitting on the side of the road with a broken wheel, you are just a dnf.
CD version has the brake track coated the same colour as the rim. I don’t know what the purpose is but suspect CD seems to be for looks. They’re a pain as they look shoddy quite quickly once you brake on them.
Go for the Standard open pro rim, everything else you list is spot on. Everyone I help with bikes gets the rubbish oem wheels changed for handbuilt 32spokers - it’s well worth the effort. They are much less likely to need servicing!
Ksyriums are not a fast wheel and would be at best the same weight as your proposed trainers. When it comes to race wheels go back to your builder and ask about a 30mm rim with lower spoke count (or possibly mavic cosmic elites).