Worth while wheel upgrade?

Kander

Hi, guys just wondering your opinion on this.

I have a set of http://www.alexrims.com/product_detail.asp?btn=1&cat=1&id=48 Which I'm having random problems of keeping true and spokes coming loose. Its not a major issue, it only takes a short time to fix it.

But I was thinking of upgrading to these http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=31957 which seem a bargan for the pair.

Is the money worth the upgrade? Or will there be feck all diference since they are both low end stock wheels?

I cant really stretch the budget much further at the moment. So my other option is to wear my current ones to the ground and upgrade later.

Oh and I have a giant SCR3 which i do 100-150 km a week on ( commuting, fitness and small races).


Any opinions would be welcomed

macken04

I do not personally have any experience with either of the wheels. However, I would around that price range try my very hardest to spring for a set of mavic aksiums. I personally think they are an amazing set for the price. I paid 160 for mine in css.

iregk

Kander wrote: »

Oh and I have a giant SCR3 which i do 100-150 km a week on ( commuting, fitness and small races).

What a machine! An absolute tank of a bike with clockwork reliability. If you're looking for a better set than the DA22 (which are heavy and very very much entry level) then how about these:

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=89&idproduct=28833

currently on sale and a decent price for them all be it entry level racing wheels. Lets be honest you don't want to put wheels on an SCR that cost more than the bike!

Lumen

I have read many bad reviews of Alex rims, but I had one handbuilt for me and it's stayed as true as any of my others.

funkyjebus

Dont think you'll notice much difference in the shimano wheels as the pre entry level shimano'd offering in or around the same p
erformance as your Alex wheels. Have a look at some pro lites. You should also.be prepared to spend 200 -300 to feel the difference, maybe even more.

Kander

iregk wrote: »

Lets be honest you don't want to put wheels on an SCR that cost more than the bike!

Haha thats another point I'm thinking about, I got the bike for 350 as my first road bike

Hence why I'm looking at the CRC pair for only 95 euro. The CSS offer does look decent though.

Argh the choices

Lumen

Kander wrote: »

Haha thats another point I'm thinking about, I got the bike for 350 as my first road bike

Hence why I'm looking at the CRC pair for only 95 euro. The CSS offer does look decent though.

Argh the choices

Whatever fancy wheels you eventually end up with, after being cajoled into it by us, you'll always want something strong and reliable for use in the winter.

Aksiums are probably perfect for that, although I have a deep seated aversion to Mavic engineering (as evidence by their crappy skewer design, the R-Sys debacle, and a few rattly Cosmics).

You have several choices to make with wheels:

- Bearing design: catridge bearings or traditional cup-and-cone.
- Spokeyness: lots (traditional, generally stronger, stiffer, heavier) or few (modern, lighter, more aero, weaker/flexier).
- Factory vs handbuilt ("handbuilt" probably means "easily rebuildable" since there are "handbuilt" wheels which come from a "factory")

For the most part, unless you treat wheels as non-servicable disposable parts, you're best off establishing who will be servicing your wheels and taking their advice. For instance, don't buy Mavics if your trusted local shop or wheelbuilder cannot quickly source replacement bearings and spokes.

petethedrummer

I also have an SCR, I also hated those Alex Rims so I changed to Aksiums. The only dent in them was through my own stupidity in a Ulock-spoke-handlebar-face-tarmac incident.

My housemate bought those Shimano R500s but says he doesn't like the ride quality, though I would definitely say that has more to do with the new tyres he has put on.

blorg

R500s would be below Aksiums as entry-level wheels. I used a front one plenty and found it absolutely fine... others around here have found them flexy. €95 is cheap.

Another option would be to get your Alex wheels de- and re-tensioned by a wheelbuilder. I am guessing your problem is just with the rear, so just doing that wheel could be plenty.

I was having a lot of problems with spoke breakages on mine early on (same rim, came with a Giant) and after the third spoke replacement my LBS did a full retensioning on the rear and I haven't had any issue with the wheels since. I think the rims are fine but the wheels are built poorly.

Kander

blorg wrote: »

Another option would be to get your Alex wheels de- and re-tensioned by a wheelbuilder. I am guessing your problem is just with the rear, so just doing that wheel could be plenty.

I think you just nailed it there. Seems that I'd have to put more money in wheels to get an improvement which I dont have at the moment. Guess I'll just have to maintain and nurse my current ones best I can.

Or maybe just start saving and get a whole new bike . Damn these bikes can become an obsession:eek:

iregk

An absolute snip with 300 of the marked price: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/fulcrum-racing-light-xlr-clincher-wheelset/

I've also checked for you and yes they do take a Shimmy which is whats on your SCR 3 so thats a relief.

superlav

I would steer well clear of the R500's. I commuted on two sets of these for a few years and gave nothing but trouble. Mainly spokes coming loose and the beaings don't seem to be very well sealed. They run very rough after a few months use in the winter.

Aksiums on the other hand are streets ahead. Perfect commuting/training wheel, have probably done about 10,000 km's on these and they have given no problems.

They were on offer recently with Cycle Superstore for €100, so I bought another pair for when mine eventually give up.

velo.2010

If you ever see a pair of Fulcrum 5's on sale for under e200 then snap them up. I seriously miss mine. Sold a couple of months ago. I thought I was clever flogging them on for a few quid and getting a new pair of Aksiums for nothing. Nearly wish I'd never sold them.

Fantastic reliability. I used them for practically every ride for 18 months and they never went out of true, surviving a crash and all the crap roads this past winter. The rims were looking a little worn but were probably good for many, many more miles.

Aksiums are fine for what they are at that price point. However, I had to go back and swap the rear because it was so out of true when I checked it. I've also had rotating spokes plus the rims have gone slightly more out of true. Fulcrums are known for their reliability but also their tendancy to go up in price recently. I paid about e175 for the F5's in August 09, now they're e225 and more for the same wheel albeit with different graphics!

edit; what about Fulcrum 7's?

Rocketpocket

thinking of buying mavic krsryium elites for racing,anyone recommend them?

corkandproud

Quick question (sorry for the hijack but maybe relevant)...

Do Askiums come with skewers included?

blorg

corkandproud wrote:

Do Askiums come with skewers included?

Yes.