Wheels for racing

colm_gti

Currently on a set of mavic aksiums for long spins, short spins, training spins racing, etc, and thinking of getting a seperate set of dedicated racing wheels. Would love a set of cosmic carbones, but with the 'don't race what you can't replace' saying in mind, I've been looking at some of the chinese carbon wheelsets, which appear to get great reviews. I've been toying with the idea of going one step more and getting wheels built up using a set of these rims, maybe ultegra hubs and DT swiss spokes. Weight isn'tthe primary concern, but if they are lighter than my current wheels I won't be complaining.

I'm thinking of going for tubular rims (crazy...maybe), but am unsure as to what spoke count to go for, front and back, and hoping someone on here can offer some guidance. I'm currently 6'1" and 87kgs.

lennymc

Its a long walk back with tubs if u puncture. Id recomend clinchers. I like my planet x. 52 m wheels. They roll well and go woosh.

Hungrycol

If we all raced on what we couldn't replace we'd all be racing on Dunnes Stores bikes! Don't pay heed that rule.

What's your budget? Would you be open to buying online? Jedisports.de is where i got my Fulcrum 1's. Some very good factory wheels out there and I wouldn't go for tubs as a personal preference. Clincher or tubeless.

Raam

Dude, just put a sexy set of wheels into a shopping basket. Then go off and have a few beers. Four or five will do. Come back and complete the purchase. Wake up the next day panicking about the cost. Then when they arrive, enjoy cycling them.

colm_gti

Hungrycol wrote: »

If we all raced on what we couldn't replace we'd all be racing on Dunnes Stores bikes! Don't pay heed that rule.

What's your budget? Would you be open to buying online? Jedisports.de is where i got my Fulcrum 1's. Some very good factory wheels out there and I wouldn't go for tubs as a personal preference. Clincher or tubeless.

Budget would probably be about €500 give or take, would be afraid of crashing and damaging anything more expensive than that just yet. From what I can make out I could get a set of cabonzone/hongfu full carbon rims, ultegra hubs and dt swiss spokes built up for that sort of budget.

Why the tubular hate? They'll only be used once or twice a week for racing.

Icyseanfitz

looking to get a nice set of wheels myself and i stumbled across this guy in china while trawling google, soul is the company and he makes these lightweight alu clinchers which weigh in at 1.330 kg without the skewers, and cost 500 USD, they seem to be getting rave reviews by people using them

trihy

id go with these
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/WPPXPC5050/planet_x_pro_carbon_50_50_wheelset

Lusk Doyle

I have fulcrum racing 3's and I like em a lot.

RO 06

Lusk Doyle wrote: »

I have fulcrum racing 3's and I like em a lot.

Yeah they are that good you even use them for off road

Lumen

RO 06 wrote: »

Yeah they are that good you even use them for off road

"Put your wheels in the air like you just don't care!"

colm_gti

Thanks for all the input lads, kind of want something a bit more aero, 50mm rims ideally. The planet x ones might be the job, was offered a used set with tyres and a cassette. Does anyone have any experience with these particular wheels?

kenmc

Lusk Doyle wrote: »

I have fulcrum racing 3's and I like em a lot.

They seem to topple over a bit though, no? :P

Lusk Doyle

Sometimes going off road can save your life.

<snip>
I stand by my actions mistakes.

Lusk Doyle

kenmc wrote: »

They seem to topple over a bit though, no? :P

Depends on the eejit riding them!

Lumen

colm_gti wrote: »

Thanks for all the input lads, kind of want something a bit more aero, 50mm rims ideally. The planet x ones might be the job, was offered a used set with tyres and a cassette. Does anyone have any experience with these particular wheels?

Quigs Snr has written of his (bad) experiences of the old versions a few times, e.g.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=67702396&postcount=4

I don't what sort of racing you're doing but you'd want to be driving out to races if you're using tubs. I'd personally only consider tubs if I was good enough to race with a team car (not ever going to happen) or for time trialling where I would tend not to carry puncture repair gear anyway.

DirkVoodoo

The advantage of cosmics is you don't have to swap out brake pads either. Aluminium rims may not look as pretty but they are a lot more practical.

Swapping out pads isn't the most time consuming, but you may have to factor in adjusting your brakes.

Then there is the risk of forgetting to swap out the pads and etching a groove into your nice carbon braking surface!

If you want aero race wheels and use the same bike for racing/training, I'd definitely look at cosmics.

colm_gti

Lumen wrote: »

Quigs Snr has written of his (bad) experiences of the old versions a few times, e.g.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=67702396&postcount=4

I don't what sort of racing you're doing but you'd want to be driving out to races if you're using tubs. I'd personally only consider tubs if I was good enough to race with a team car (not ever going to happen) or for time trialling where I would tend not to carry puncture repair gear anyway.

The same club league races you're doing, with a few open races thrown in. I do drive to races 99% of the time. Probably not good enough to warrant buying deep section tubulars, but they look cool and I want to treat myself

His issues seem mostly to do with the hubs and spokes, which brings me back to the argument of getting a pair built up with ultegra hubs and dt swiss spokes, or otherwise reputable items, with either planet x or carbonzone rims (planet x are actually cheaper). Would this not be a good route to go down?

colm_gti

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

The advantage of cosmics is you don't have to swap out brake pads either. Aluminium rims may not look as pretty but they are a lot more practical.

Swapping out pads isn't the most time consuming, but you may have to factor in adjusting your brakes.

Then there is the risk of forgetting to swap out the pads and etching a groove into your nice carbon braking surface!

If you want aero race wheels and use the same bike for racing/training, I'd definitely look at cosmics.

Cosmics are a little out of my budget though, only the cosmic elites fall within reach, with a 30mm deep rim, would these be much of an upgrade over my current aksiums for racing to warrant their costs?

DirkVoodoo

colm_gti wrote: »

Cosmics are a little out of my budget though, only the cosmic elites fall within reach, with a 30mm deep rim, would these be much of an upgrade over my current aksiums for racing to warrant their costs?

End of season soon, keep an eye on adverts for a second-hand pair (like Quigs said, these wheels are bomb-proof so a second hand set will still have lots of life in them). There are always a few sets up for sale due to unfulfilled racing ambitions, and come in around the 500 euro mark.

You can be patient anyway, only a month or so left of club league so no need to rush into a wheel purchase now.

I wasn't a fan of cosmics when I got them, but you can't deny that in terms of budget aerodynamics they are excellent. People also underestimate practicality, and while clinchers with aluminium rims might not look as "bling" as full carbon tubs, they are far more suited to Irish racing. And without team support like Lumen says.

Lumen

colm_gti wrote: »

Cosmics are a little out of my budget though, only the cosmic elites fall within reach, with a 30mm deep rim, would these be much of an upgrade over my current aksiums for racing to warrant their costs?

You're getting dangerously close to objective analysis here, and that path can lead nowhere good.

I think you mean "30mm deep rims are not bling enough to satisfy me".

colm_gti

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

You can be patient anyway, only a month or so left of club league so no need to rush into a wheel purchase now.

Not something I ever considered actually. Thanks for pointing that out

Would like to have my hands on a set by next season anyway, so I've a few months to scour the classifieds.

olmo

I just received my Mavic Cosmic Elites with rim tape from Roseverand for €345. €8.95 for delivery. Should have them ready for a spin this week

johnk123

olmo wrote: »

I just received my Mavic Cosmic Elites with rim tape from Roseverand for €345. €8.95 for delivery. Should have them ready for a spin this week

Would love to hear how they are! In a similar position to OP

wav1

Colm gti www.ribblecycles.co.uk. Superleggra 50mm carbon with aluminium braking surface.Clincher or tubs same price.Campag or shimano.About 460 sterling.We've had a pair for two seasons.No problems.Red and white or black and white decals.

colm_gti

Sorry to drag this old thread up again but I have a quick question.

With regard to just racing in Ireland, is there any real benefit of having a 1700g aero wheelset (like cosmic SL) over a normal 1485g wheelset (like ksyrium sl)?

Plastik

Lumen

colm_gti wrote: »

Sorry to drag this old thread up again but I have a quick question.

With regard to just racing in Ireland, is there any real benefit of having a 1700g aero wheelset (like cosmic SL) over a normal 1485g wheelset (like ksyrium sl)?

The aero-est wheels make you about 2% faster. Cosmics are not the aero-est wheels. Therefore they will make you less than 2% faster, which is probably the same as you moving your head downwards 1cm, or some other miniscule change.

dario28

Lumen wrote: »

The aero-est wheels make you about 2% faster. Cosmics are not the aero-est wheels. Therefore they will make you less than 2% faster, which is probably the same as you moving your head downwards 1cm, or some other miniscule change.

Stop hating on the Cosmics

You nearly put me off buying them last year -

OP just buy them , heres my justification

Get them from Germany - I got them for 600eur including delivery
Use them training and racing so they get lots of use
They look class and sound class
Do they make me faster , prob not , but remember they look class and sound class
and when you go to sell them you will get prob 400/500 so really they are only costing you 200 or 300

do it !!!!

funkyjebus

2nd hand carbones for sale.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056725897

harringtonp

colm_gti wrote: »

Thanks for all the input lads, kind of want something a bit more aero, 50mm rims ideally. The planet x ones might be the job, was offered a used set with tyres and a cassette. Does anyone have any experience with these particular wheels?

I looked at deep section for quite a while, ruled out tubular. Came down to a choice between cosmic carbones, Shimano RS80 50MM and Planet X.

Got "Planet X 60mm Carbon Clincher Wheelset" at 500STG in the end. Arrived earlier this week.

lennymc

i got the 52mm planet x carbon clinchers earlier in the year and i really like them.

Icyseanfitz

question about those plant x clichers, can you remove the decals?

Plastik

You can buy them without for the same price.

lennymc

i got the no decal ones. not mad on the decals. Ill see if I can dig up a pic.

edit - found one. (dont mind the saddle position, i was trying something for a tt!!)

padjo5

lennymc wrote: »

i got the no decal ones. not mad on the decals. Ill see if I can dig up a pic.

edit - found one. (dont mind the saddle position, i was trying something for a tt!!)

Hasnt been that clean in about 6months!

Colm, i have a set of these chaps too, i find them good solid wheels, really smooth and true. As LennyMc says, they do go Woosh too, if that is of importance to you!

lennymc

padjo5 wrote: »

Hasnt been that clean in about 6months!

Im normally too busy handing you your ass on a plate to clean it.

Icyseanfitz

i take it these are the wheels yeah? if so did ye just email them asking for no decals? im really liking the look of these as well

lennymc

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

i take it these are the wheels yeah? if so did ye just email them asking for no decals?

yeah, thats them. I went down to athlone and they had the no decal ones in stock.

ratracer

Last year I bought cosmic elites to upgrade from the aksiums. I like them, though I can't say if they've made me go any faster. They don't whoosh tho, I'm thinning of getting those 52 or the 50mm planet x ones now. So if you want wheels to go whoosh, bypass the cosmic elites and get deeper rim sections.

colm_gti

Actually been looking a lot at the 50mm no logo tubs...in no rush as I said so weighing up my options with a view to purchasing before the next season kicks off