Road Wheels & Road Wheel Recommendations?

steel road bike, might just forget it as my current wheel is pretty impressive as it is.

Much better no sound as he is nor exactly a fountain of semantics.

No direct experience but Strada are building them into their lightweight wheels. The rear is offset.

I notice a lot of builders avoiding using the Stans Alpha 340?

I'm looking for some lightish wheels to replace my Ksyrium Elites.

Wheelsmith Race 24s do look like good value and it would be a good incentive to stay under the 80kg weight limit. Anybody ride them? What are the hubs like? Need to check what their own freehub body is made from as I do like the reassurance of steel but suspect at that weight, they'll be alu.

Based in Hong Kong now so they probably won't do as many miles (it's hot and hilly) as I would in the UK and will probably not be exposed to same sort of shitty roads and weather.

No idea about the wheels, but check with them for postage before you get too set on anything. I'm in Taiwan and whilst most of the big chains will send stuff for free (after you spend a bit) lots of wheel builders can't offer that.

No local wheel builder out there?

Forget and get something better.

Back home in June with my bike so I'll get them sent to my folks'.

No VAT and a decent exchange rate does make some of the big retailers look attractive though.

I was thinking probably 32 and I weigh around ~ 85kg @ 6 ft 2 so about halfway between froome and jabba the gut.

What are the best options for a new set of wheels, 900£? Either nice artisan build or commercial ones, for this road bike (no race) with long distance rides... Asking for a friend

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flashy crabon or alu?

I'd go handbuilt Chris King hubs on Flo 30 rims

There's something about lacing a £60 rim to a £300 hub that I can't quite get my head around...

I think he'd prefer alu, but may be convinced to go carbon... Clinchers not tubulars.

long distance rides

Probably best with Ardennes Plus or something that plays well with 25mm tyres.

Hubs that soak up the money... Powertap?

Pacenti SL23 - best hubs you can afford - Sapim laser or DT Swiss spokes.
Or Hed Adrennes complete that come with Hope hubs.

by the time you factor in shipping and import tax they're a bit more expensive, so maybe that makes things easier...ok then - hed ardennes

If you are stuck with rim brakes then the rim is a wear item, so you may as well use something from the cheaper end of the spectrum, hubs outlasting the rim kind of validates them being the more expensive part of the equation.

To clarify, my friend wants to buy new Shamal Mille wheels... I feel like a moral obligation to help him find a better choice

Hed Adrennes complete that come with Hope hubs.

I'd have though this is the most sensible option. Especially if he'd rather buy OTP.

Good quality wide alu rim. If he's not racing I don't think there's a benefit to low spoke count / deep rims, and if it's an all round bike then carbon also seems out.

From the pic his headset looks black, so I can't see a reason to go for CK hubs.

I've been cycling for over 25 years and have never worn out a rim.

What's wrong with the Shamals? Stiff, light, durable and more aero than Mavic equivalents.

You're not a #buyer though.

Plus, Dammit buys worn out rims, if you'll remember :)

And gurked hubs too, don't you go forgetting that.

25 years on the same rims?

Not quite. But the point is that you tend to change wheels quicker than the rims wear out.