Road Wheels & Road Wheel Recommendations?

It would be silly retrogrouchery to build a wheelset based on hard ano Open Pros rather than TB14's right? Costs are about the same. I have a weird attachment to open pros, just always like wheels made them.

You must have wide rims and run 25c tyres or wider.

Have you not been reading?

despite the current fashion for wide rims open pros are still great, reasonably priced, light and tough. I'm even running 28's on mine and they haven't exploded yet (sorry ed)

Yeah - mine have proved remarkably adequate too. Same with my Ksyriums.

I don't know how all those tour winners managed for decades on tiny thin narrow wheels and tyres.

Because they are sub 65kg.

25c tyres

Operating temperature? Heavily discounted American stock?

I don't know how all those tour winners managed for decades on tiny thin narrow wheels and tyres.

They didn't when they were on 27" rims.

Recently got some Chris King r45 Hubs 24/28 to build a nice/summer pair of wheels.
Would like to try some semi-deep carbon clincher rims. Any recommendations ?
also for a wheelbuilder in london ?

about 38mm depth? look on the chinese carbon thread, some cash saving recommendations there. Even decent uk retailers like superstar are loading (appx £250) the price for a pair of rims

I'll admit I've never ridden a proper wide tyre and rim combo.

My next bike will probably have discs and wide rims.

I'm prepared to be amazed but at 85kg (90 at the moment after Xmas) I've never had a problem with handling or comfort.

You ran them at 120psi!

Well, all my other wheels are wide now. I have a set of archetypes on the fixed and some 23mm aero rims on the road bike. Wide is better (i'm convinced) BUT I recently bolted on the worn out old set of wheels onto my fixed - an old set of open pros with about 5000 miles on them and they felt great. Nice and alive, road feel and very sprightly. I think that's the only downside (but also positive!) of wide rims is that they are more comfortable and dampen out vibrations so well that it takes the edge off.

I think that's the only downside (but also positive!) of wide rims is that they are more comfortable and dampen out vibrations so well that it takes the edge off.

Perception vs reality?

Of course. But if I perceive it, it's real right?

I find with wide rims and lower tyre pressures that it makes the rear end of the bike feel soft, like I always have a slow puncture. I suppose that's because I actually like road feedback from a bike, I don't like riding sofa's - never wear padded gloves either.

I still really like open pro's - never had one let me down in years of use, they have nice braking surfaces... and they last absolutely ages.

The difference between most 'wide' rims and Open Pro rims is only 2.5mm.

Isn't that a considerable amount on something like rim width though?

Running Open Pros with 23mm GP4000s tyres at 120psi, but I'm 100kg, and interested in trying some 25's. Seem to get very good Strava segment times (in general, but especially for my weight), so I guess they're a pretty fast combo.

25's ftw... Don't ride anything else, except at the track.

Not really, no. Perhaps 5psi?

Seem to get very good Strava segment times (in general, but especially for my weight), so I guess they're a pretty fast combo.

No, they're not fast but they're reliable.

Wheels are going to make very little difference to your speed unless they're deep and/or exceptionally light.

Choosing the right tyres and using latex tubes will make a difference though.

This reminds me a conversation I had today with a rider on Cervelo S2 in Kent; on overtaking him on a hill he said 'you would fly with thin tyres' .. he is so wrong.

Some light reading:
https://janheine.wordpress.com/2014/11/23/what-is-planing/
https://janheine.wordpress.com/2014/12/31/the-biomechanics-of-planing/

(I have 25mm, narrow rims and latex tubes too)

Yeah, latex and fast tyres (in summer) seem to help.

I just (a few months ago) built Record X Open Pro wheels (32) for my winter road build, and I love them (and the winter bike) so much I'm selling my summer bike and its wheelset.

I only weigh 60kg at the worst of times, mind. Rock UltremoZXs at 90psi.

Comfy and fast enough for me.

thanks, yes about 38. Superstar or else seems like a good option, with a bit of research is should be able to find the right spoke count...

but I'm 100kg, and interested in trying some 25's.

25mm (or even 28mm) is advantageous if you're above average weight, with 25mm you'd only need to pump them up to 100psi.

On the girlfriend's old road bike, she had 23mm, but only because she's 53kg, and run them at 60psi front/80psi rear.