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Need Advice Choosing Road Wheels
I just got a great deal on a Klein Q-Carbon. The only thing I don't like about it is the cheap wheelset. I do a lot of charity rides and don't race (usually average between 17-20 mph). I ride about 2000 miles per summer in hilly New England. I weigh 170 lbs. I'm considering three options to replace the wheels: Mavic Open Pro rims with Ultegra hubs and butted stainless spokes ($200 set) Cane Creek AeroHead SG - on sale for $249 (usually $450 set) Mavic Cosmos ($300 set) I've ridden the Open Pro set-up and the Cosmos in the past but I have no expereince with the Cane Creeks except the good reputation of the company. Since the Cane Creeks are almost half price, I'm leaning in that direction. Does anyone have any advice for me? Thanks, Glen |
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#2
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Need Advice Choosing Road Wheels
"glen" wrote in message ... I just got a great deal on a Klein Q-Carbon. The only thing I don't like about it is the cheap wheelset. I do a lot of charity rides and don't race (usually average between 17-20 mph). I ride about 2000 miles per summer in hilly New England. I weigh 170 lbs. I'm considering three options to replace the wheels: Mavic Open Pro rims with Ultegra hubs and butted stainless spokes ($200 set) Cane Creek AeroHead SG - on sale for $249 (usually $450 set) Mavic Cosmos ($300 set) I've ridden the Open Pro set-up and the Cosmos in the past but I have no expereince with the Cane Creeks except the good reputation of the company. Since the Cane Creeks are almost half price, I'm leaning in that direction. Does anyone have any advice for me? Thanks, Glen For what you're doing, stick with the OPs. Mike |
#3
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Need Advice Choosing Road Wheels
I just got a great deal on a Klein Q-Carbon. The only thing I don't
like about it is the cheap wheelset. I do a lot of charity rides and don't race (usually average between 17-20 mph). I ride about 2000 miles per summer in hilly New England. I weigh 170 lbs. I'm considering three options to replace the wheels: ... On many moderately-priced road bikes, the stock wheels leave a lot to be desired due to spokes of low quality, poor build techniques (no stress-relieving) and junky rims. That really isn't the case with the stock wheelset on your machine. That "cheap wheelset" is actually pretty decent. If you picked up a 2003 Q-Carbon, you've got fairly inexpensive yet very serviceable Tiagra hubs laced up to Bontrager offset-spoke-bed rims. They're reasonably light and very sturdy. If it's a 2004 Q-Carbon, you're looking at Bontrager Select wheels, a bit more aero with 20 spokes front/24 spokes rear. You'll make a more significant improvement in how the bike feels by upgrading to really nice tires rather than any changes in the wheels. Yes, really light wheels will feel nicer, and the bike will weigh a bit less, but I think you'll find overall that the difference in tires from stock to something like a GP3000 or Michelin Axial Pro Race will give you a smoother ride and feel "zippier." (Sorry to throw around a technical term like "zippier", but not sure how else to say it!). --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles http://www.ChainReactionBicycles.com "glen" wrote in message ... I just got a great deal on a Klein Q-Carbon. The only thing I don't like about it is the cheap wheelset. I do a lot of charity rides and don't race (usually average between 17-20 mph). I ride about 2000 miles per summer in hilly New England. I weigh 170 lbs. I'm considering three options to replace the wheels: Mavic Open Pro rims with Ultegra hubs and butted stainless spokes ($200 set) Cane Creek AeroHead SG - on sale for $249 (usually $450 set) Mavic Cosmos ($300 set) I've ridden the Open Pro set-up and the Cosmos in the past but I have no expereince with the Cane Creeks except the good reputation of the company. Since the Cane Creeks are almost half price, I'm leaning in that direction. Does anyone have any advice for me? Thanks, Glen |
#4
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Need Advice Choosing Road Wheels
I'm considering
three options to replace the wheels: I would go with the Mavic OP/Ultegra B (remove clothes to reply) |
#5
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Need Advice Choosing Road Wheels
slovak- The only thing I don't
like about it is the cheap wheelset. I do a lot of charity rides and don't race (usually average between 17-20 mph). I ride about 2000 miles per summer in hilly New England. I weigh 170 lbs. I'm considering three options to replace the wheels: BRBR Why? What question do you wish to answer with the wheels you mentioned when compared to the wheels on the bike? If they have been built or at least tensioned, dished, trued, rounded and strss relieved, they will work for you and will not hold you back in any way, shape or form. slovak but I have no expereince with the Cane Creeks except the good reputation of the company. BRBR Must be a different company than the one's wheels we see.... slovak Since the Cane Creeks are almost half price, I'm leaning in that direction. Does anyone have any advice for me? BRBR ride?? Forget about upgrades until necessary? Peter Chisholm Vecchio's Bicicletteria 1833 Pearl St. Boulder, CO, 80302 (303)440-3535 http://www.vecchios.com "Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene" |
#6
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Need Advice Choosing Road Wheels
"Mike Jacoubowsky" wrote in message .com...
On many moderately-priced road bikes, the stock wheels leave a lot to be desired due to spokes of low quality, poor build techniques (no stress-relieving) and junky rims. That really isn't the case with the stock wheelset on your machine. That "cheap wheelset" is actually pretty decent. If you picked up a 2003 Q-Carbon, you've got fairly inexpensive yet very serviceable Tiagra hubs laced up to Bontrager offset-spoke-bed rims. They're reasonably light and very sturdy. If it's a 2004 Q-Carbon, you're looking at Bontrager Select wheels, a bit more aero with 20 spokes front/24 spokes rear. You'll make a more significant improvement in how the bike feels by upgrading to really nice tires rather than any changes in the wheels. Yes, really light wheels will feel nicer, and the bike will weigh a bit less, but I think you'll find overall that the difference in tires from stock to something like a GP3000 or Michelin Axial Pro Race will give you a smoother ride and feel "zippier." (Sorry to throw around a technical term like "zippier", but not sure how else to say it!). --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles http://www.ChainReactionBicycles.com Hi Mike [and others;-)], what can you tell me about the stock wheels on my '02 LeMond Tourmalet? I guess I'm mostly interested on learning more about the rims, the bike comes with Matrix Aurora rims with a Tiagra rear hub and a no name front hub. The rear is offset and other than some excessive decals, I like their appearance. If I go from IRC Redstorm Classics to Conti Ultra Gatorskins will there be any "zippier" benefits, or must I go with the GP3000 for "zippier"? Eventually I want to get another set of wheels and I am leaning towards the Open Pros w/Dura-Ace hubs. Should I also consider replacing the hubs on my current wheels? The only downside to that idea, is that I'll have to pay someone to do the labor. While I am buying tools and starting to do more of my own labor, I'm not ready to tackle wheels. And finally comparison of DA to Ultegra hubs, differences? benefits? Thank you, Jeff |
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Need Advice Choosing Road Wheels
On Sun, 23 Nov 2003 05:29:57 GMT, glen may have
said: Does anyone have any advice for me? Get on the bike. Ride it. If the wheels then prove unsatisfactory, shop for different ones. Good deals on wheel sets happen all the time, there is no need to be hasty. -- My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail. Yes, I have a killfile. If I don't respond to something, it's also possible that I'm busy. Words processed in a facility that contains nuts. |
#8
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Need Advice Choosing Road Wheels
On Sun, 23 Nov 2003 05:29:57 +0000, glen wrote:
I just got a great deal on a Klein Q-Carbon. The only thing I don't like about it is the cheap wheelset. What's "cheap" about them? It would seem strange indeed if they weren't on a par with your first suggestion of Mavic wheels and Shimano hubs. -- David L. Johnson __o | It is a scientifically proven fact that a mid life crisis can _`\(,_ | only be cured by something racy and Italian. Bianchis and (_)/ (_) | Colnagos are a lot cheaper than Maserattis and Ferraris. -- Glenn Davies |
#9
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Need Advice Choosing Road Wheels
On Sun, 23 Nov 2003 05:29:57 GMT, glen wrote:
I weigh 170 lbs. I'm considering three options to replace the wheels: Mavic Open Pro rims with Ultegra hubs and butted stainless spokes ($200 set) Cane Creek AeroHead SG - on sale for $249 (usually $450 set) Mavic Cosmos ($300 set) Consider one more option, the Ultegra hub with a Velocity Aerohead rim. Get 32 15/16 spokes. That should cost slightly less than the Open Pro. Certainly build the wheels well. You'll have a wheelset that you will wear out and get bored with because there is nothing to do with them. I'd offer to build the wheels for you but I can't buy the components for the $200 that you are being quoted. The Cane Creeks are a unique hub and turning the nuts to trim the wheel needs a special wrench. |
#10
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Need Advice Choosing Road Wheels
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