Road Wheels & Road Wheel Recommendations?

Cheers.
OK, next question then; I've worked out that considering all relevant costs (freight/taxes/misc.) a pair of DT Swiss R 23 would cost me pretty much the same a set of Archetypes on Novatec F482SB-SL//A291SB-SL (the latter being a smidge more expensive).
Disregarding the unquantifiable loveliness of having hand built wheels, which pair would offer the best value?

unquantifiable

You need to quantify this to make a value judgement. For my money, there's really no point in making custom wheels which just do the much same thing as factory wheels, since the factory wheels are generally both cheaper and better. Save the hand building for things which wheel factories don't do.

And I know why DT make R23s (it's because people buy them), I just don't get why people buy them. If you could ride uphill fast enough to make the 120g weight difference vs. the R24 a truly meaningful one, then you wouldn't be using either because somebody else would be paying you to use their carbon wheels.

Any good for £199 (with voucher)? http://www.superstarcomponents.com/en/dt-swiss-pave28-wheelset.htm

I know Racing Quattros seem to be the best wheels around that price point, but they don't appeal - I'd much rather something 'classic' looking.

How do Superstar stack up generally? Presumably the rims are just Kinlin or something.

Edit: Pave 28 get a good review in cyclingweekly, but rims are sleeved not welded... is this a major issue?

Edit: NVM. Everyone else seems to say they're shit. Custom builds using better spokes makes the price the same as DCR et al.

rims are sleeved not welded... is this a major issue?

No, it's practically a non-issue.

Ah ok, spoke to DCR and he kept going on about rims being welded so I assumed it was something important!

I'd be interested to know what the quality of the stuff Superstar are rebranding is like. Users on forums seem to equal in amounts of "snapped spokes galore" to "bargain light, well running wheelset".

The fact that all the cheap wheelsets use lasers in 24/20 configurations puts me off though (should it, at 73kg?)

The fact that all the cheap wheelsets use lasers in 24/20 configurations puts me off though (should it, at 73kg?)

It's not that Lasers can't handle the load, I just find it reprehensible that Superstar have gone that route to pander to weight weenies when proper spokes only weigh a few grams more per wheel.

It's a shame that they don't offer alternatives other than CX Ray. I don't want to spend that much.

Is it worth getting the DT Swiss hubs over the own brand ones, d'ya reckon? It's a £45 difference. Own brand ones have sealed bearings, seem decent enough. DT swiss are heavier, but I actually have faith that the quality may be better (as misguided as that perhaps is).

So

http://www.superstarcomponents.com/en/dt-swiss-pave28-wheelset.htm

vs

http://www.superstarcomponents.com/en/pave-28-ultra-11speed-wheelset-2024.htm

£155 for the latter seems like a pretty good deal, tbh.

Strada is just being a bit silly claiming that, it's about as hard as building Mavic Open Pro.

Ordered the own brand hubbed ones. Rear is a Novatec by the look of it, no idea about the front. £155 seems ok to me.

I'm sure the rim is just a Kinlin xc279, feels quite solid to me! I've got the pave28 wheelset with superstar hubs, no issues with the hub so far.
Very good value at £155

Ah thanks, I had assumed they were Kinlin. Seem to be a good deal and reasonably light (certainly for the price).

The arc22s might be worth considering as well

Ah, now I'm torn! I think those are Kinlin 22t rims, so might be a bit more forgiving on the crappy Yorkshire roads. Don't know if they'll be flexy as hell though...

I'd agree. I picked up a pair to use as winter/training wheels last summer. They've been rock solid so far, really impressed with them for the price.

Arc22 are ok, but they are flexible as hell when you're out of the saddle and I'm the same weight as you. They've served me pretty well, but keen to try something else for next winter

Thanks, that was my fear. I like the odd town sign/bridge honk on club runs, and could do without brake rub. I'll stick with the Pave 28 and see how I get on. Only 50g heavier per rim, and still a fairly light option.

It's a little flexy but perfectly fine to ride, I find them solid after a good wbeel trying.

Worth going for that over the 279 then? £30 difference, not much in the way of weight. I've built the 279 up a brick in my head now, though I'm sure it isn't. 22t is also tubeless compatible, which the 279 isn't.

Whichever sound like a good fit, if you build up a wheelset cheaper than the 22, go for it, plus you can wait around for a discount on the 22 (got mine for a smug over 200).

The 22 are £189 with 20% off. That's laser spokes and novatec rear (the light one) and unknown front.

That's a lot cheaper than similar builds from DCR etc.

The Pave 28s are pretty stiff I reckon, slightly more meaty rims than the arcs, and plenty wide enough to get my 25mm gp4000s tyres measuring at 28mm.

.

GP 4000S ii cone up bigger normally.

Not sure if this warrants a separate thread so will try here first.

Any recommendations on London shops to build up a set of wheels for day-to-day fixed riding? Looking for H plus Son (Formation / SL42) on track hubs.

Wary of BLB.
CLoud 9 seems a little expensive.
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