Fidusa: Columbus SLX_Campy Athena

Upgrading the Fidusa

I have recently acquired a 90s Columbus SLX frame from the Greek brand Fidusa.
I have built the frame with an early 90s Campy Athena 8 Groupset/ Cinelli stem/ 3ttt drops.
Saddle is Fizik/seatpost is Planet-x (the Campy Aero was to short).

Wheels are Athena 8 hubs (36 spokes) laced to Mavic 192h rims see below for velobase entry:
http://velobase.com/ViewComponent.aspx?ID=9c8d3033-58f1-4595-a889-bd4c4e97d79des
I am not sure what the spokes are but they are nothing special.

The whole built weighs 11kg
I use it as my main road bike so function is quite important.
I am 190cm tall and 110kgs heavy!

I want to upgrade the wheels.
I am looking for somehthing both stiffer and lighter.

I am considering the following two options:

1) Re lace the athena hubs with some strong spokes to H plus & Son Grey Archetypes.

Pros:
I thinks they will look fantastic on the build.
The wheels will be strong
Will be period correct to a certain extent

Cons:
I am not sheding to much weight off
The front Athena Hub is not that smoth.

2) Get a pair of Campy Zondas 2013 wheels.Use them with a 9 speed cassette (drop 1 ring and re space with a spacing kit).

Pros:
I will lose much more weight (close to a kilo)
I will be getting smother hubs
Less flex (I assume)

Cons:
I am not to sure about the looks on the steel frame (I will remove all the decals).
Solutions will cost more but I am willing to invest.

Any feedback welcome.

Don't know why you think H+sons will be radically stiffer than those quite nice-looking Mavics. Also they're not right for the group at all.

I would lace to a medium deep section aero rim like cxp30 or Campag Omega V. Will be 'period correct' for 8speed / SLX era, and surely stiffer than box-section rims. I have some cxp14 (the non-machined version of cxp30) on my c. 1998 athena 9speed Duell, they are insanely stiff.

Just repgrease or replace the bearings in the hub.

so you would not consider the 2013 Zondas at all?

Wouldn't the improvement in performance justify the mess it will cause with the looks??

As I said this is my main bike !

I would certainly consider those 2013 Zonda's, But you're having looks as a con. imo Zonda's will look good on a steel frame, but that's just personal. If it's your main bike than the Zonda's will a better option as they're lighter and easier to maintain.

Bikes24 has the Zondas for €320 (£280) which I think is very fair. They also have the Miche Primato Campy 9 Speed cassette for €25. Rebuilding the current hubs will probably cost me in the €200 region.

Skully I agree that the Campy Omega V would be a nice option for rebuilding.

I am adding pics to make the "looks" discussion a bit more tangible:

I've got some American Classics 420's with a campag body for sale that would look great #sneaky.

But I think the Zonda's will do, but you've got to unsticker them and install the same Conti4000 tyres.

If you do replace those wheels hit me up, might be interested in the rims

Yes that is the plan! If I am to go with the Zonda option I will remove all decals and fit them with my Conti tyres !!

Whether I will be selling complete wheels or just rims will depend on which option I chose!

Still not decided though

sent you a pm, don't know if you saw it

Thanks to everyone for the feedback.

Based on your feedback (and some further research) I have realised that the Zondas or in fact any wheel with less than 32 spokes will not last with my weight.

Also I am not very keen to rebuild the Athena hubs for a number of reasons (no good wheel builders where I leave, I want to shed of some weight, would like some modern bearings etc).

I have found these Hope3/ Open Pro combination:

They retail for €380 which is not cheap, but could turn out to be a good investment.

They are laced with Sapim Sprint spokes and weight 1.700kg (excl quick release).

Any experiences with the above set?????

An alternative would be to go for a DT Swiss combo (say 350 hubs/ R450 or RR465)