Road Wheels & Road Wheel Recommendations?

$580

Swings and roundabouts, I think. Both are good choices.

I have the 7850 C24s and at the time I bought them you could not source a replacement spoke for love nor money. Also worth considering: if you break a rim (it does happen!), you're out to the tune of a new wheel, rather than 50 quid for an A23 rim.

The hubs are Ultegra, which are OK, but I like the ease of just swapping out sealed bearings (though admittedly this presents it's own challenges if the hub shell is very thin!)

Plus they're not especially light: 1,521g. Not saying an A23 build would be lighter, just I don't think this is really a differentiator.

A23 is a wider rim, which is great if you believe the hype (I do).

I'm not some massive A23 fanboi, but they do the job for me e.g. got me around Flanders in one piece. The DA have stayed in the bag pretty much since I bought them.

Can't argue with any of that. I run the RS80s as 'summer wheels', really, and I'll probably build myself a set of A23s or Pacenti SL23s on sealed bearing Ambrosio hubs or similar for next winter, just because they'll be a bit sturdier and I'll worry less about destroying them with salt and road grit.

Can't argue with any of that. I run the RS80s as 'summer wheels', really, and I'll probably build myself a set of A23s or Pacenti SL23s on sealed bearing Ambrosio hubs or similar for next winter, just because they'll be a bit sturdier and I'll worry less about destroying them with salt and road grit.

Yeah, Ambrosio probably not a bad choice. The (front) Novatec bearings lasted about four months in the wet. Hope new set last a bit longer!

The novatec hubs I used last season for CX survived fine - including jet washing and other horrors of the sport.

...other horrors of the sport.

Repressed memories resurfacing now. Thanks a lot, Howard!

Will be buying Hope Pro 3s laced to Archetypes for a v good price.

Boring

dibs.

Boring

Solid as fuck, I think is the phrase that you're looking for.

Do any other ~23mm wide rim riders who were erstwhile ~18mm rim riders think that the lightbulb shaped tyre profile which is so terribly unfashionable actually handles better in one very specific scenario: shrugging off stones or big gravel that pop under the rubber during hard cornering?

It's the one situation where my anecdata currently says the new tyre profile is less stable.

It sort of makes sense if that's the case - less likely to clip the rim too I would think..

^This (clipping the rim). Especially if you're running lower pressures.

Going to be buying my first set of road wheels within the next week. Want something nice as it will be my Sunday best bike. Don't really want Aksium's.

Have about up to £300 to spend or £350 if they're reaaaaaallly good.

As already mentioned, RS80-C24s are good wheels at around that price - I've got some on the Red Bike and they've stood up to some serious abuse and are still round and true.

However, I'd recommend Fulcrum Racing 3s, which I've got on the Titanium Wonder. It's difficult to compare them directly, since they're such different bikes, but the Racing 3s feel stiffer and more responsive. 328 quid from bike-discount.de. They're a tiny bit heavier than the RS80s (1550g v. 1520g) but that's not going to be noticeable.

Or Hope Pro 3s laced to Archetypes if you can get them for a good price.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e385/thiscocks/mavic_cosmic_elite_2011_zps3c4b6673.jpg

or:

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e385/thiscocks/Campagnolo-SIROCCO-35_zps829a9ed0.jpg

?
Campags are bloody good value at £240 but never been keen on the look of the rear spoke layout.

Ideally I'd like an alu braking surface. I cannot see any Chinese clinchers with alu braking surfaces. Unless I'm missing something.

RS80s are actually looking very tempting, don't know how I had missed those.

There are lots. There are also some in the new "U-shape".

Assuming alu braking, if you want some bling then carbon/alu chinese rims on any old hubs are you best choice.

Otherwise RS80s. Bling and a good rep.

I think Stans are a nice WW rim, but they're not especially bling, especially when you're building them up with a high spoke count...which you probably should do.

As said above, I have now dibsed some Archetype/Hope Pro 3 Monos :-)

JB, were those second hand or have you found a retailer with a decent price for those? New frame on the way and i don't think centaur to open sports will cut it

I need to get new wheels for my alan, the front squeeks and the braking surfaces are wearing fast and theyre both so old not really wworth fixing so i want to keep these as my general/winter commuting wheels and get new wheels with a new cassette for everything else

I was gna get hope hubs but after hearing jb's im thinking they might annoy the fuck outta me... Or do you get used to them?

Rims i was thinking 38mm chinese carbon just cos why not, but now im thinking of hed belgium/ardennes maybe...

how are your archetypes working out?

I'm very tempted to buy some you see. they look very nice but I'm not sure i can justify...

Talkin to jb im guessing ;D?

you sold them already!?

Ive never had archetypes so i think ur cofused ;)

ah, yes i am then. sozzles.

So back to the old question, hed belgium c2 vs archetype vs a23

are the heds worth an extra £75 for the pair?