Looking for advice. I’ve got a (essentially) new 2008, Specialized S-Works SL2; and I want a good set of training wheels for it. I’ve already got the race wheels. Before I go to my local shop, I thought I’d ping Slowtwitch to see what the forum has to say. Any solid advice would be very appreciated. Cheers!
Easton Circuits! 
Easton EA90SLX
Ksyrium ES, just like everyone else?
These training wheels seem like a good deal: link.
Can’t beat handbuilt.
If you want to pay $450 dollars for $150 wheels, go ahead and buy at the LBS. Oh they’ll charge you $20 to switch a cassette too. And 10 to ‘install’ the wheels. Comes with a free kick in the ass too!
Otherwise, buy $150 wheels anywhere online. Neuvation is one place. There are great deals on brand new training sets on ebay. There are also lots of great/cheap/bombproof training wheels on the slowtwitch classifieds.
Training wheels are meant to train on, get the cheapest ones you can and ride them until they blow up. Then replace them. Repeat as necessary.
I’ve been really happy with my Bontrager Race wheels and my Easton EA70s. I would recommend either in a heartbeat.
Jodi
This is great advice. Thanks to all…!
Stal has good ideas. Pay a little bit more and for $260 get ultegra w/ open pros. That’s a wheelset that will last a very long time. http://www.performancebike.com/shop/sub_cat.cfm?subcategory_id=5320 The Forte $160 wheelset has been recommended on this site.
Absolute best value - check out the Neuvation sale prices on their website. I’ve been using M28 Aeros four seasons. Will swear by them.
I agree! The ultegra/open pros are the most sturdy wheels I have used
Training wheels are meant to train on, get the cheapest ones you can and ride them until they blow up. Then replace them. Repeat as necessary.
Sorry, but buying the cheapest anything is rarely a good idea. My old P3 came with some pretty cheap (at least cheap looking and feeling) Spinergy xAerox’s. I figured they were fine as training wheels until I busted my 5th or 6th spoke. Then they just became a pain in the ass. I replaced them with a set of Easton Circuits and I’ve been thrilled with those. You don’t have to spend major $$ on training wheels, but you should spend enough to get a set that’s truly bombproof.
The wheels for sale in my signature!
can’t beat handbuilt. i have a pair of mavic open4cd’s on a king front/white industries rear that have broken only one spoke in about 11 years. these wheels have been ridden hard and are bombproof (to be fair, i’m only 150 lbs). they only get trued once a year during the annual overhaul.
if you want pre-built, i’ve heard good things about neuvation. i have easton circuits on my tri-bike and they’ve been fine also.
+1 on the Neuvation wheels (I’ve heard good things about them, and they are having a ripping sale right now).
Ksyrium Equipes are bombproof and reasonably aero (but a bit more $$)
They are training wheels, they shouldn’t be something you spend a ton on in my opinion.
With race wheels you pay for weight, all you want you training wheels to do is be reliable for several thousand miles.
Find something in decent condition, wrap them & install the cassette yourself.
Classifieds here or eBay are a great place.
Can’t go wrong with a set of Ksyriums for +/- $300.00
Shimano WH-R550 (not WH-R500). R550’s are stout with “pull” spokes. I have three sets, inlcuding pair I just bought on craigslist for $125 w 15 miles. Performance Bike has Sram cassettes on sale. I think you could get the WH-R550s for ~ $230 on-line.
Just to buck the trend here, I train on a pair of Mavic Ksyrium SLs. I’m really happy with them.
Yes, they’re way more expensive than some of the other options. And they’re not aero.
While there are some race-benefits to having heavier training wheels, I’d rather spend my time riding on light wheels, and these are a good combination of light and bomb-proof. Or at least sturdy. Around 2000 miles on mine, I think (haven’t looked at the stats for a while). Haven’t had to true them yet. Besides, I spend a lot of time out riding my bike, and very little time actually racing it, so I don’t want to spend all that time on crappy wheels or having to worry about truing them.
I’m not saying that everyone should use these as their training wheels. Just that it’s what I’ve been doing and I’ve been very happy with them.
-Charles
I agree, just get some cheap solid wheels and ride them hard. Then when you put on those super light fast wheels you will be flying. good luck.
For pre-built wheels, either the Neuvations or the Easton Circuits are great.
For handbuilts, use Ultegra hubs with DT 1.1 rims. The wheelbuilders I know swear they’re rounder and more true than the Mavics.
This is what I use, and they’re bomb proof: 36 hole Ultegra front, 36 hole D/A rear ($65 at Nashbar), Velocity Deep V rims, 14ga spokes, 3x front and rear. I also use wire bead Continental Gatorskins. They hold up on the trainer and are ok on the road. When I switch to the light wheels (Mavic Ksyrium ES), I drop a kilogram. 3 years, never trued. Bombproof!
Neuvation
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