Road Wheels & Road Wheel Recommendations?

Really? How annoying.

The Gators, apart from the pinch-flat, have kept a 100% clean sheet on that front.

However- I just don't trust them not to slip and slide when going into a corner, and kept spinning the rear wheel when climbing.

They are quite puncture-y too BTW.

I flatted once in 000s of kays on these, on a big thorn riding down the 'gutter' during Paris-Roubaix sportive but Grupetto Tom seems to have done something bad in a past life and flats all the time on 'em. Is there such a thing as a glass magnet?

But don't you have hope hubs?

I have them on a SS 29er. As its belt drive its totally silent .....untill I spin out.

FTR my Tune hubs on the roadie, are also quite loud. As is the SR gearing. Everything clicks, and it all feels very solid and mechanical. I like it.

Those Gatorskins are rubbish in the wet btw, and will be coming off as soon as I have the cash.

I dont know why. But I took the BJ out for a fixed road ride last night. Twas a stupid idea, but I just fancied it.

January at 62.3 deg north + 20mm veloflex tyres = OK

I've never had problems with Gatorskins p-nct-ring but have had them slip I think everyone has a favourite tyre though. If I could have something with the protection of Gskins but more grippy I'd be happy.

Maxxis Refuse.

Been following recommendations on this post with interest since I'm in the process of getting my old Ron Cooper up and running, and looking for a vintage-steel-sympathetic - rather than 'period-correct'- wheelset, and the A23 look interesting. I'm leaning towards building them on Campag Record silver hubs/Sapim Race spokes... and this came up in a search, in case it's of use to anyone:

http://www.stradawheels.co.uk/shop/velocity-a23-wheelset/

Anyone have any experience of these lot?

Also, silly question alert... one of the things that attracts me about the A23 is the idea of the 'tub-like' ride when matched with 23c tyres. I'm thinking of Panaracer Pasela for the gumwall retro look. Will this profile make pinch-flats less likely??

Maxxis Refuse.

I have found myself outraged at the recent-ish massive price increases but at the end of the day these are unfuckwithable as a commuting tyre. Really really special tyres.

^Diary says actual 7000+ km of commuting without a puncture.

^ YOU FOOL! You have angered the p_nctr gods for sure now.

Campag Record silver hubs

...except they don't appear to do silver or have the right number of holes anyway. Oops. Fuggit, maybe I'll just ring Harry Rowland and see what he recommends. He built me a wheel about 15 years ago that's never needed truing since.

phil, go for amboriso hubs, they're very good, cheap, and look classic.

...except they don't appear to do silver or have the right number of holes anyway. Oops. Fuggit, maybe I'll just ring Harry Rowland and see what he recommends. He built me a wheel about 15 years ago that's never needed truing since.

Silver road hubs?
Novatec Road light. Decent weight, amazing price, loads of drilling options and look pretty nice. I bought the track version recently, and was pleasently surprised at the quality.

Thanks guys. I see Harry strongly recommends Ambrosio and also has Novatec as an option. (They do look nice, as do the Ambrosio.) I'll investigate.

I have found myself outraged at the recent-ish massive price increases but at the end of the day these are unfuckwithable as a commuting tyre. Really really special tyres.

I agree, great grip, good rolling resistance and excellent puncture protection. I owe Scott a beverage of his choice for his recommendation.

Thanks guys. I see Harry strongly recommends Ambrosio and also has Novatec as an option. (They do look nice, as do the Ambrosio.) I'll investigate.

They may well be the same hubs. I know novatec make the ambrosio trrack hubs.

Your right SF they are the same hubs rebadged.

They are good actually. Even more so with the ambriso excellence rims your on to a great wheelset for not much money.

I agree, great grip, good rolling resistance and excellent puncture protection. I owe Scott a beverage of his choice for his recommendation.

These look ideal for me then, are they OK for training tyres then?

conti 4 seasons?

OK for training tyres then?

They certainly are.

I put beaded Gatorskins on my fixed bike in October as I thought they'd be a good winter tyres. I got them very cheaply (from Ribble and a discount code) but I'm wishing I'd paid the extra for the Maxxis again. The tread gives better grip (while it lasts).

I don't share the emphatic hate of Gatorskins that some do. I think they're quite punctureproof, grip better than Vittoria training tyres in the wet and only every seem to cut up in the warm summer months.

Brilliant so they tick the commuting and training boxes and stick well in the wet?

conti 4 seasons?

I've not used these, but have thought they'd fit the bill.

They're good?

^ I dislike mine quite strongly. Expensive, lumpy ride (compared to Vittorias), not particularly grippy in the wet and I had two p*nctures in the first two weeks from really quite small pieces of grit. Been ok since then, so maybe I just got unlucky.

They are good actually. Even more so with the ambriso excellence rims your on to a great wheelset for not much money.

This is what I'm thinking, or maybe the Excellight rims. From what I've seen they'd be more aesthetically suited to the build, and the bike will be my "Sunday best" that only comes out in nice weather and won't be mistreated. And I'm not too heavy (72kg). Thoughts?

This is what I'm thinking, or maybe the Excellight rims. From what I've seen they'd be more aesthetically suited to the build, and the bike will be my "Sunday best" that only comes out in nice weather and won't be mistreated. And I'm not too heavy (72kg). Thoughts?

Excellight all the way.
http://www.sdeals.com/oscommerce/product_info.php/cPath/35_58/products_id/378

or these...
http://www.sdeals.com/oscommerce/product_info.php/cPath/35_58/products_id/421