Handbuilt do-it-all race wheels

lennymc

So if you were going to have one set of wheels for racing, carbon/alloy/tub/clincher, and you were going to use them only for racing, what would you get. The only stipulation is that the rear hub is a powertap.

Ryath

These
http://www.cyclepowermeters.com/mavic-cosmic-carbone-sle-powertap-pro-2013-1186-p.asp
Only joking sort of I'm in the middle of a wheel dilemma my self as need an 11 speed sram compatiple wheelset and the cosmics or kysrium version with Exalith rim are top of the list if I decide to blow the budget seem to be best of both world look of a full carbon with much better braking.

I'm looking at around the Fulcrum 1 to Kysrium elite sls level at the minute but know I could get a very nice set of handbuilts for that money.

Assume your getting them built locally Mavic open pros or Ambrosio Excellight rims will still build into a reasonably light wheelset with sapim Cx rays. Would cost about 150 for parts from bike24.

Like the look of these new rims from dt swiss
http://www.bike24.com/1.php?content=8;navigation=1;product=52081;page=1;menu=1000,4,301;mid=69;pgc=0;orderby=3
Are slightly wider and come with an asymmetric rear not much info about them yet. With Dt swiss 240 hubs and spokes works out at just €700 and under 1476 grams. Could go with 350 hubs and cxray spokes works out at €450 and around 1600g.

My main reason for leaning towards handbuilts just is that it won't cost me an arm and a leg if I break a wheel in a crash and I can easily get them rebuilt a few years down the line. Mavics will cost a lot more if I break one though they have a two year crash insurance option for €120 in the uk I'm hoping is available here that allows you up to three rim or hub replacements.
The only thing putting really me of most handbuilts is the lack of the bling factor and while there are a few guys who build wheel locally to me none of them are really as experienced as a guy like Dara in beecycles.

You seen the h plus son rim's really like the all black look of then but it doesn't last like the Exalith rim? or looked at wheelsmith options

Guess your other option is to source some Gigantex carbon rims or one's from Farsport would be a nice bit cheaper.
Had the tubs vs clincher debate with myself and dismissed the temptation of going with tubs despite being able to use lighter rims for several reasons.

lennymc

I should have qualified my post by saying i currently have a set of nice carbon tubs (tubs are like heaven to ride) and i have a training pm on a mavic open pro. Im looking at getting something that can perform well on the race bike (yeah, i know, who really notices extra performance) and will give me the race day power data. Didn't Astra get a set of gigantex wheels built up? I must give him a shout. Dara will be building the wheels for me. I guess Im looking for something that will put up with climbing, sprinting and the general roughness of racing on irish roads, but that will give me a reliable wheel that will do everything. I'm not asking much I wouldn't be worried by bling factor of handbuilt wheels, and chances are, im going to crash them, so being able to maintain and repair them relatively easily would be nice.

Wicklowrider

I'm impressed with the advise and product knowledge of several wheel builders on the bikeradar website forum. Got some rim and spoke ideas from them about a year ago even though they were aware I was not going to buy from them.
I keep up with thier posts now just see whats going on. I doubt they do any better work than our own wheel builders but the more info/opinions the better.

Raam

One set of wheels? Does not compute.

lennymc

Raam wrote: »

One set of wheels? Does not compute.

One set to race them all, One set, I'll mind them,
One set to win them all and when in hills, to climb them

Ryath

lennymc wrote: »

I should have qualified my post by saying i currently have a set of nice carbon tubs (tubs are like heaven to ride) and i have a training pm on a mavic open pro. Im looking at getting something that can perform well on the race bike (yeah, i know, who really notices extra performance) and will give me the race day power data. Didn't Astra get a set of gigantex wheels built up? I must give him a shout. Dara will be building the wheels for me. I guess Im looking for something that will put up with climbing, sprinting and the general roughness of racing on irish roads, but that will give me a reliable wheel that will do everything. I'm not asking much I wouldn't be worried by bling factor of handbuilt wheels, and chances are, im going to crash them, so being able to maintain and repair them relatively easily would be nice.

Astra got his gigantex wheels from wheelsmith £1000 for a rear alone with g3 hub or £1230 for wheelset. Have you bought the powertap hub yet?

Assume you've seen the gigantex rims here
http://www.bikehubstore.com/category-s/124.htm
€500 + what ever tax you get caught for.

Farsport rims would be nice bit cheaper Astra has both seems to like them. There site is down again though so I can't link

Would you race with tubs as your only wheel? I'm tempted to give them a go but from stuff I've read the lower rolling resistance of a good clincher tire and latex tube is of more benefit than the lower weight of tubs. Good tubulars can come close for rolling resistance but that depends on them being glued correctly.

lennymc

I currently race tubs and they feel sooooo much better than any clinchers Ive raced. Tubs or clinchers, if you puncture in a race your in trouble anyway. Tubs are certainly a lot more comfortable, so I think I would like to stay with tubs. Another option is to keep my existing race wheels (which are perfectly fine) and have the rear rebuilt with a powertap hub......