Road Wheels & Road Wheel Recommendations?

What's the terrain like?

If it's fast open road with a decent surface then I'd (be terrifically predictable) and go for some nice deep carbon rims as they make an outstanding noise when you are moving fast, and I'd order and pack some spare spokes of the correct length so as to minimise the risk of the bikeshop not having any.

My Nemesis to 6800 wheelset is designed to be the strongest wheelset possible- as Tester says the Nemesis was the rim of choice for Paris-Roubaix for many, many years, which is good enough for me.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oosZ__Lqtl0/TmuP1EVVagI/AAAAAAAAK2c/TVS_1AN149g/s1600/la+reine+du+nord+ambrosio.jpeg

Personally I don't want to worry about having the ability to repair damaged wheels whilst on holiday so I take hand-built 32h Open Pros to France, etc. I don't believe in cray cray spoke designs and it'll be just my luck that the nearest bike shop have never seen a Ksyrium ES before let alone have spares for it.

Terrain wise, all rides involve a good bit of climbing. Tarmac is generally good, though there are times when it runs out and you are onto gravel fire roads.

As much as I'd love some deep carbon, the reality is that on balance there's more climbing than fast open road and I need a wheel that is easily fixable by the LBS to minimise time off the bike should something go wrong.

I'm just fighting my urge for bling over sensible. I've dropped Harry Rowland an email, so will see what he recommends.

he will recommend something sensible.

ttm, Derek at wheelsmith will build you a great wheelset for your use and budget

I don't think they would do that any more than Tiagra hubs would, the huge premium is buying you lighter weight, not longer life.

If you're going for a £500 upper limit, spending £350 on hubs wouldn't be my first choice. I'd rather have Ultegra hubs and CX-Rays than DuraAce hubs and cheap spokes.

Pretty much all that in terms of hubs.

If there is a real risk of them getting knocked about I'd have thought 105s would make most sense. They probably won't do anything more than Tiagra, but at least you won't feel like you're slumming it too much.

Terrain wise, all rides involve a good bit of climbing. Tarmac is generally good, though there are times when it runs out and you are onto gravel fire roads.

As much as I'd love some deep carbon, the reality is that on balance there's more climbing than fast open road and I need a wheel that is easily fixable by the LBS to minimise time off the bike should something go wrong.

I'm just fighting my urge for bling over sensible. I've dropped Harry Rowland an email, so will see what he recommends.

Spokes in carbon rims are the same as those in alu, and my 56mm deep carbon wheels, are also my climbing wheels. As they are 1840g all in.

So that would be my chioce.

The only things that they are not ideal for are wet desents, and heavy sidewinds. But I've never struggled with either.

Maybe you'd worry about breaking nice wheels. My bike budget is far tighter then it may appear on here. But my bikes stuffs for using and abusing.

The more you use something the cheaper it gets, in terms of £ per mile.

I only have one wheelset for my Cannondale road bike, so it gets the miles in.

2,050 miles on the 404's this year it would appear.

I think my riding bud has put more kms on my crabon wheels than I have. He had them on loan for a few months.

He does stick long needles into my knees and elbows for free though.

......wait a second.....

The more you use something the cheaper it gets, in terms of £ per mile.

I only have one wheelset for my Cannondale road bike, so it gets the miles in.

2,050 miles on the 404's this year it would appear.

Buyers Math®

I have a set of Powertap 404s that are spares. I've probably done 100mi on them in 2-3 years just to make sure they work. That's an expensive taker-upper of room space..

My S-Works got taken down off the rack for a 2 minute hill climb. The last time it was used? Last year's 2 minute hill climb. I had to dust it, ffs.

I have a set of Powertap 404s that are spares. I've probably done 100mi on them in 2-3 years just to make sure they work. That's an expensive taker-upper of room space..

really? hm. You see my grump msg?

Buyers Math®

As opposed to having:

• Superlight climbing wheels
  
• Spring classics wheels
  
• Training wheels
  
• Deep aero wheels
  
• "It's raining" wheels
  
  

??

I think you need to re-examine your premise here

really? hm. You see my grump msg?

Did you see my reply?

As opposed to having:

• Superlight climbing wheels
  
• Spring classics wheels
  
• Training wheels
  
• Deep aero wheels
  
• "It's raining" wheels
  ??
  I think you need to re-examine your premise here
  
  

The 404s don't fit all of those groups though do they?

^^^ Not really. I have two pairs of wheels. One on my training bike, another on my nice bike, both of which together cost less than half the price of 404 FC's.

Did you see my reply?

no?

Anyway, you're building whole new bikes for half of these categories so back in the Buyer Box with you.

I was only really referring to the £ per mile bit anyway. Proper Buyers Math® stuff.

no?

Fucking stupid forum software!

So I wrote a lovely reply and it fucking binned it.

Arse fuck shti death stab

Lol

Neil - just to be clear, I have no issue with you building/buying dream bikes (and I don't really understand the people here who do - who cares ffs?) - I am jealous. All I'm saying is don't try and justify Zipps with £/mile!

£/smile

vom