Are new wheels the answer...?

katnia

New road bike user from November, really enjoying it, have a decent enough starter bike with carbon fork, Alu frame and Tiagra 10 spd components. I've got the bug and am starting to spend decent money on clothes etc.

I have been thinking of ways to upgrade the bike (I know it's very soon!) and from what I've been reading wheels may give me the biggest bang for my buck. To be honest I find Tiagra quite good, shifting is good but then I'm not used to anything else...

Current wheels are Mavic CXP 22's. Just wondering what the knowledgeable folk on here would recommend in terms of a new wheelset (if this is the way to go?). Budget is no more than €500.

I'm a novice and can currently average just about 25kmh riding solo over 50km, so that is the level I'm at (a beginner really).

Can someone point me in the right direction please.

wotdef

I've been looking at getting Campagnolo Zonda wheels, currently on sale in Cyclesuperstore for €355. Have to mention CycleZone in Blanchardstown said they will match that price as well. I got very favourable reviews here when I posted a question about them.

katnia

wotdef wrote: »

I've been looking at getting Campagnolo Zonda wheels, currently on sale in Cyclesuperstore for €355. Have to mention CycleZone in Blanchardstown said they will match that price as well. I got very favourable reviews here when I posted a question about them.

Thanks for this. This might be a silly question but what advantage would these wheels have over my current set?

wotdef

Not sure what hubs you have, the 22's are just the rims. I would be fairly sure the Zonda's would be much lighter at 1550g a pair. And they look nice.

katnia

The hubs are Formula RB51....

ballyharpat

I would definitely say that a set of wheels is the right way to go, however, I would not recommend you to get a set of campy wheels if you are running tiagra components though. WHat kind of cycling are you looking to do? Touring? racing? Sportives?

Brian?

ballyharpat wrote: »

I would definitely say that a set of wheels is the right way to go, however, I would not recommend you to get a set of campy wheels if you are running tiagra components though. WHat kind of cycling are you looking to do? Touring? racing? Sportives?

You can get Campag wheels with Shimano hubs.

ballyharpat

Brian? wrote: »

You can get Campag wheels with Shimano hubs.

Not the point, unless you want to look like a Fred :P Campy also make Fulcrum wheels, I would not put Campy wheels on a bike with a shimano group, it's just bad taste....... -but I would put fulcrum wheels on......nothing against the brand, but it's just like white after labor day kind of stuff......

katnia

ballyharpat wrote: »

I would definitely say that a set of wheels is the right way to go, however, I would not recommend you to get a set of campy wheels if you are running tiagra components though. WHat kind of cycling are you looking to do? Touring? racing? Sportives?

Is it the case where mixing components is not the done thing?

I'm not looking to do anything to be honest. I'm cycling for the enjoyment and to get fit, which so far is going well. I'm not a member of a club or anything and I'm cycling on my own.

I'm just looking for something to upgrade that will help me go a bit faster. I know if I continue on the way I'm going I'll get faster regardless but I know my wheels are fairly basic and a change may benefit me a small bit.

katnia

ballyharpat wrote: »

Not the point, unless you want to look like a Fred :P Campy also make Fulcrum wheels, I would not put Campy wheels on a bike with a shimano group, it's just bad taste....... -but I would put fulcrum wheels on......nothing against the brand, but it's just like white after labor day kind of stuff......

What is the equivalent in a fulcrum wheel to the Zonda?

colm_gti

katnia wrote: »

What is the equivalent in a fulcrum wheel to the Zonda?

Fulcrum racing 3, but its €150 more expensive than the zonda!

I wouldn't worry about putting campag branded wheels on a shimano equipped bike, don't mind the snobs!

zing

fyi - Fulcrum Racing 3's for 375 +28 shipping here -> http://jedi-sports.de/Wheelsets/Wheelsets-Road/Fulcrum-Racing-3-2013::4356.html -- Not quite the €100+ diff beteen them and the Zondas from most other sites/stores. Haven't bought from that site before -- just been shopping around myself for new wheels recently.

ballyharpat

The fulcrum racing 3's seem like a good bet, if it were me, I'd check out the mavic line and probably get the equipes as opposed to the elites, but I'm a MAvic man and I know that fulcrums are said to be a great wheel. Either of those will be a lot lighter than what you have, they will fit aesthetically with your bike and they will not need to be trued often.

Lumen

katnia wrote: »

Is it the case where mixing components is not the done thing?

I'm not looking to do anything to be honest. I'm cycling for the enjoyment and to get fit, which so far is going well. I'm not a member of a club or anything and I'm cycling on my own.

I'm just looking for something to upgrade that will help me go a bit faster. I know if I continue on the way I'm going I'll get faster regardless but I know my wheels are fairly basic and a change may benefit me a small bit.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with running Campag wheels and a Shimano groupset together.

Anyone who states otherwise is either joking or mentally unhinged.

On an absolutely top-end bike (like €5-10k) where you are basically chucking money at nothing, then such matters may be taken "seriously", but that level of spend falls into squarely into "mentally unhinged" territory anyway.

Bottom line: fancy wheels won't make you go faster but they might make you love your bike more.

dancecatz2000

Just to disagree with this last part fancy wheels will make you go faster, you would also get fancy tires,

On my cx bike it makes a huge difference I'm riding basic wheels an when I put better wheels on it lightens the bike therefore rolling weight it's less bike feels better rolls better there for faster,

Lumen

dancecatz2000 wrote: »

Just to disagree with this last part fancy wheels will make you go faster, you would also get fancy tires,

On my cx bike it makes a huge difference I'm riding basic wheels an when I put better wheels on it lightens the bike therefore rolling weight it's less bike feels better rolls better there for faster,

Tyres make a significant difference, at least subjectively, but that's nothing to do with wheels.

As for "rolling weight" of the wheel, this is concentrated in the rim.

The CXP22 rim used by the OP weighs 510g.

A Zipp 404 Firecrest carbon clincher rim is 525g. This is one of the "fanciest" rims available.

If a 510g rim was some sort of performance-destroying boat anchor, Zipp would hardly be putting even heavier rims on their €2000 wheelsets.

CptMackey

Lumen wrote: »

Tyres make a significant difference, at least subjectively, but that's nothing to do with wheels.

As for "rolling weight" of the wheel, this is concentrated in the rim.

The CXP22 rim used by the OP weighs 510g.

A Zipp 404 Firecrest carbon clincher rim is 525g. This is one of the "fanciest" rims available.

If a 510g rim was some sort of performance-destroying boat anchor, Zipp would hardly be putting even heavier rims on their €2000 wheelsets.

Are the bearings in the hubs nearly the most important bit for the flat and weight for the climbing?

I have a set of askiums and I found a difference compared to the factory set that came on it.

Looking at new wheels again too for the new bike. It's a vicious circle of buying

Lumen

CptMackey wrote: »

Are the bearings in the hubs nearly the most important bit for the flat

No. Bearing drag is absolutely tiny

ballyharpat

Lumen wrote: »

There's absolutely nothing wrong with running Campag wheels and a Shimano groupset together.

Anyone who states otherwise is either joking or mentally unhinged.

On an absolutely top-end bike (like €5-10k) where you are basically chucking money at nothing, then such matters may be taken "seriously", but that level of spend falls into squarely into "mentally unhinged" territory anyway.

Bottom line: fancy wheels won't make you go faster but they might make you love your bike more.

I am not joking or mentally unhinged, I'll put it this way, it's like putting toyota decalled wheels on a Ford, it can be done, but why would one do it when the matching brand wheels can be had for the same price....

Lumen

ballyharpat wrote: »

I am not joking or mentally unhinged, I'll put it this way, it's like putting toyota decalled wheels on a Ford, it can be done, but why would one do it when the matching brand wheels can be had for the same price....

In the your car example the wheels are the same, just with a different decal. In the case of Fulcrum vs Campag, the wheels are fundamentally, structurally different. So your simile makes no snese.

When buying wheels for a sub-€1k bike I just buy whatever is strong-ish and light-ish and cheap-ish. They might be Mavic or Fulcrum or Campag or something else, whatever is on offer.

Besides which, adding Campag parts to a Shimano-equipped bike cannot fail to make it look better.

ballyharpat

Lumen wrote: »

In the your car example the wheels are the same, just with a different decal. In the case of Fulcrum vs Campag, the wheels are fundamentally, structurally different. So your simile makes no snese.

When buying wheels for a sub-€1k bike I just buy whatever is strong-ish and light-ish and cheap-ish. They might be Mavic or Fulcrum or Campag or something else, whatever is on offer.

Besides which, adding Campag parts to a Shimano-equipped bike cannot fail to make it look better.

My point stands, if I can buy the equivalent wheels that are of a more suitable match-brand-wise, why would I buy a set from an unmatching brand??

I beg to differ re the price of the bike, I would spend every bit as much attention to my 1k bike as I would my 4k bike as regards attention to detail, just because it's under 1k doesn't mean it cannot look good.

These are my opinions, I believe I am entitled to them, you are more than welcome to disagree, however, it does not give you a right to say someone is 'mentally unhinged' because they have a differing opinion from yours, they kind of criticism is uncalled for, thank you.

Lumen

ballyharpat wrote: »

These are my opinions, I believe I am entitled to them, you are more than welcome to disagree, however, it does not give you a right to say someone is 'mentally unhinged' because they have a differing opinion from yours, they kind of criticism is uncalled for, thank you.

You're absolutely right.

<backs away slowly>

Chips Lovell

If Campagnolo wheels weren't meant to go on Shimano bikes, they wouldn't be making them with Shimano freehubs.

They make fine wheels and I wouldn't rule them out.

LeftBlank

ballyharpat wrote: »

My point stands, if I can buy the equivalent wheels that are of a more suitable match-brand-wise, why would I buy a set from an unmatching brand??

What are you, the style police?

ballyharpat

I may be the style police, but that doesn't mean I would stop someone doing what they wanted, http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056896188

cassette50

ballyharpat wrote: »

I may be the style police, but that doesn't mean I would stop someone doing what they wanted, http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056896188

I swear I'm not selling them because of any harsh comments in this thread

ballyharpat

haha, I read your story, sorry to hear about your mishap, I was touting them as they seem like a bargain and Katnia may be interested, against the advice of the 'style police' :P of course, for the right price, style goes out the window even for me, lol.

katnia

Thanks for all the replies folks, I got in touch with my local bike shop and I've ordered Mavic Ksyrium Elites, decided to spend a bit extra, hopefully they will be worth it!

Pawlie

Go with the Zondas,go on ribblecycles and get them there,they are cheapest around and if yea use the offers they put out daily like extra 10% off they come in at 260

1jcdub

I bought the elites a few weeks ago. Way lighter than the Shimano R500 that I had and roll so much smoother. You won't be disappointed.