Road Wheels & Road Wheel Recommendations?

Agreed, that was a somewhat vague bracket.

I mean sub £200. Does one go with this:

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/campagnolo-khamsin-asy-g3-10-11spd-whl-package-ultrasport/

Or pay the extra for this:

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/campagnolo-scirocco-35-winter-wheel-package/

Is there a great deal of difference at this level of wheel?

Is there a great deal of difference at this level of wheel?

There's enough difference to make me give the Khamsin a swerve. Above about £200, there really is a yawning chasm where you're paying ever more for ever less benefit, until you get to the really high performing aero wheels, but the jump from £100 wheels to £200 wheels is worth making if you have the money.

Why so down on plain gauge spokes?

Why so down on plain gauge spokes?

Because they are evil too stiff. If the spokes are too stiff, they concentrate loads in just a few spokes. If the spoke stretches a bit, the rim moves and because the rim is stiff and doesn't bend much, it ends up pulling on more of the adjacent spokes so the load is spread over a greater number of spokes. This is why butted spokes generally suffer from fewer fatigue failures than plain gauge ones - for the same peak loading on the rim, the peak loading on each individual spoke is less.

I wonder why Fulcrum haven't rolled out 'LG' to the 3 and Zero wheels, but then as you say it's diminishing returns from the more expensive alu wheels.

For a pair of training wheels on a 'best' bike - Quattro LGs rather than the 5 LGs ?

Quattro LGs rather than the 5 LGs ?

I'd favour the Quattro for the 40% extra drive side spokes

Ta ! Not much difference in weight between the two either, Quattro 70g heavier (on dodgy italian scales obv)

In terms of handbuilts, what's the best clincher rim for durability/weight/comfort? Still Archetypes? I loved my set that I rode for the last couple of years but have just sold them with a powertap.

Hub wise, are Novatecs ok? The ones I built on my Croix de Fer have held up, but I don't know if there are better options. DT swiss?

And finally, spokes. I have no fucking idea where to begin.

I'm sort of half tempted to build the front onto a dynamo hub, just so I can use them into the winter or for longer rides this summer.

DT Swiss R 460

Ta. Strada are saying that archetypes are shit now and recommending SL23s. I loved my archetypes :'''(

Strada are a lonely voice with regards Archetypes

Ah, ok. I found they built absolutely fine and have stayed true over a couple of thousand miles.

I'd like to build a set myself as I enjoy the process, but to be honest, if Strada only charge £20 then I may opt for that.

Something like this in 28/24 with CX ray (worth it?)

Strada says – December 2015 update – we have built a few pairs of H Plus Son Archetype rims during this autumn and the quality of these rims has improved. So although there are more rim options around now in terms of price and shape we are happy to build with these rims again.

Sounds like HSon have sorted it.

Probably better to ask in the wheelbuilding thread.

Ah, thank you, that would make sense.

Are handbuilts the best option for ~£350-400 anyway?

I fell for that too. Have just rebuilt with Archetype's. Am happy. End of anecdote.

I'm starting to question whether other rims are better options now though. It was so much easier when there were only archetypes/archetypes were shit!

I know what you mean. My logic was that my old Archetype's gave me about 7k miles without skipping a beat and I couldn't have asked anything more from them. So why go for something else?

I've just built up a SP dynamo (SV-9) with a Kinlin XR31T. Obviously can't comment on reliability but feels pretty solid. I previously built up some Archetypes and was going to go for that again for the dynamo but took a punt on the Kinlin after reading the cycleclinic description. I like my Archetype wheels but not fond of the look of anodised brake surface once it's worn off a bit. The Kinlin looks pretty good imo.

32h/3x, Sapim Race. It's 1050g with no tube/tyre so no lightweight, but archetype would be about the same. With a cheap rubino on, it's even more of a heiffer ;-)

bought some new wheels off ribble - Fulcrum Quattro's. I swapped the cassette off my old set and put them on at the weekend, stuck them on my bike and the front wheel isn't true; it's actually quite a bit out. I could straighten it out with a spoke key but was hoping i wouldn't have to touch a new set of wheels for quite some time. Should I go to the hassle of taking them off and sending them back or am I being a nob? (First time I've bought a wheelset, I'm replacing the factory set after many miles).
Cheers

Should I go to the hassle of taking them off and sending them back or am I being a nob?

Send them back, they would have been straight when they left the factory, so you don't know what form of in-transit damage has made them not straight when they got to you.

2nd question - just read the above re Quattro's. Didn't realise there was a Quattro LG. Would have been worth paying the 30 quid extra for LG's rather than regular Quattro's?!

argh, okay. I'm being lazy but know you're right. Cheers, will do

I want to get a new wheelset for my road bike. What do you think of a
DT Swiss DICUT R20 ? Can I have a better allround wheelset for 385€
(+-300£) ?

Came here to ask the same thing. Not seeing much love for the DICUT R20's. Any reason why?
Seems like a good price for 1520g a pair.

Seems like a good price for 1520g a pair

Only if you think 1520g is an important thing. R24 is 1800g actual (not manufacturer's claim), do the maths on exactly how little difference 10oz really makes. Paying double for a wheel which will inevitably be weaker seems like less of a bargain when the saving is only 1.5W while climbing a 10% gradient at 20km.h^-1