Road Wheels & Road Wheel Recommendations?

How would one remove the big thru axle end caps from dt swiss r24s if they don't have access to a vice? Rear drive side has come out easy just using my hands, but the other three aren't shifting at all... I've tried pliers and mole grips with a bit of cloth between them and the axle but have only succeeded in slightly scratching the end caps.

Use physics.

Go on...

Mole grip things, an old t-shirt and sweat and terror did it. Not sure if physics came into it. Managed to not ruin the centerlock threads or anything else, but the end things that were already on are REALLY scratched up. Hopefully they'll still work if ever I need to put them back on.

Lightweight aluminium clinchers: my 2011 BMC will not take fancy-pants 25mm rims which I know are all the rage now. Budget is £250-ish. At the moment I was considering the Ultegra 6800 because of the steel body hubs and £210 price point. Or is this a handbuilt Mavic Open Pro / DT Swiss moment? I'd like nice spokes too but that might push the price up too high :(

Obvs if any of you have a set of duraace c24 going cheap come at me

http://www.bike24.com/1.php?content=8;product=123285;menu=1000,4,301 (23mm external)

on

http://www.bdopcycling.com/Hubs-F482SB-11.asp
http://www.bdopcycling.com/Hubs-A291SB.asp

I trust novatec but if you want 'reliable' then 6800 hubs.

If thats too wide then Kinlin XR300 perhaps.

Lightweight aluminium clinchers: my 2011 BMC will not take fancy-pants 25mm rims which I know are all the rage now.

23mm width rims are much more common than the 25mm one, and more likely to fit your frame.

You are having a laugh that might he too wide for a five year old bike.

Obvs if any of you have a set of duraace c24 going cheap come at me

I've got some RS80s you can have for not much, same rims as the DA C24s but Ultegra grade hubs

I might be interested in them if @youramericanlover's not!

Oooooo PM coming.

@mdcc_tester

Dear Tester,

I failed getting this wheelset in time and it seems that it's difficult to source the X or M Spline 1900 now, even from Germany at a cheap price. Everywhere seems to be sold out. What disc wheelset would you suggest for 28/32? Doesn't have to be light, preferably 6 bolt and thru axle compatibility but if not, I could live without.

What disc wheelset would you suggest for 32h?

Did you actually read the first paragraph of the post to which you're replying?

Yeah, I did but I forgot to mention that now budget has changed and I've dropped the budget to a measly £200. Also, I edited my post as 28 is fine too.

Nothing ready made leaps to mind unless you can live with 24 spokes, in which case Mavic Crossride jumps through all the other hoops (6-bolt, QR/Thru included, <£200).

Nevermind

It seems like its not an official DT Swiss package but rather something that Bike24 does themselves so details are scarce.

The detail which is missing is which spokes they've used. I'd avoid anything with plain gauge spokes. Do the axles fit your frame? I'm not sure that swapping axle formats is as easy (or even possible) on the 370 hubs as it is on the posh ones, 370s are really designed for OEMs

This is true and no, the axles don't fit so when I went ahead looking for the conversion kit, I found out that they're exceptionally expensive and that they also don't seem to make one for the 370. Shame really.

Also, how do you feel about this?

http://www.superstarcomponents.com/en/alexrims-atd470-11speed-disc-wheelset.htm

32h, rebranded Novatec hubs (I assume because they look rather similar) and Sapim spokes and nipples.

Also, how do you feel about this?

Superstar irritate me by using Laser spokes to impress weight weenies . Still, they have plenty of happy customers, and 32 Lasers are as good as 24 proper spokes.

Alright, I'll go for them then.

Thanks a lot tester, couldn't have done this without you!

Has anyone had any experience of Aivee hubs? Thinking of having some lace up with ryde pulse comp rims for a summer only pair of light alloys.

Shamal Mille 3000km report:

• The all-black finish looks cool when new but after a couple of wet rides the braking surface goes all patchy. Advice from Campagnolo is patronising - they say this happens when you don't keep your pads clean.
  
• The special brake pads + surface are not noticeably better than normal surface + good pads in the dry, and actually not as good in the wet as normal Campagnolo pads on Zondas.
  
• The hubs sound and look lovely. No problems or maintenance so far. Also have stayed true.
  
• Stable and solid handling, well behaved under load.
  
• It's easy to nip inner tubes on the sharp ridges of the braking surface when you're finishing off installing a new tube/tyre.
  
  

I like them but recommend sticking with normal Shamals.

Dad's asking again, I think he's going to bash the credit card. He has his eye on Ksyrium Elites (and the red bits match his Spesh) at £400ish online. My first impression was there must be better out there for that much dollar.

Best road set for less-than-ideal road surfaces, a heavier rider (not fat, lifetime (tri)athlete, but a bit mamil), budget around £400?

Must be clincher, 10 speed shimano, deep sections not essential, but free speed is free. Must be good for training and sportive, not looking for race-specific dry day wheels (ie hard wearing, many miles). Will be used on a Spesh Roubaix with Ultegra. Probably looking at metal braking surface or all metal rim, not full carbon - old school mentalities.

The Hunt 4 Seasons?

These ones;

http://www.huntbikewheels.com/collections/road-rim-brake-wheels/products/hunt-4season-aero-road-wheelset-1589g-28deep-22wide

If you don't care about tubeless ready or 17mm + internal then some Shimano rs11 would fit the bill and be under £100.