Upgrading wheels for racing

Jim Stynes

Couple of questions lads. I am starting to race this year and was looking to upgrade my wheels. I am currently riding ksyrium Elite S wheels with my shimano groupset. Changing my groupset to campag - are these wheels compatible? Would ideally like to keep these and use for training and bad weather.

- My budget is around 800 euro or £650. Is hand built better to go with?
- Looking something lighter and something that run a little smoother.
- Im around 90kg and 6ft so they need to be strong enough for my frame.
- Something for racing but also able to use for the odd sportive.
- Something that looks nice as well would be a bonus. I have a matt black bianchi sempre pro so would like maybe plain black semi deep section stealth wheels

Any recommendations or advice would be appreciated.

Taxuser1

Jim Stynes wrote: »

Couple of questions lads. I am starting to race this year and was looking to upgrade my wheels. I am currently riding ksyrium Elite S wheels with my shimano groupset. Changing my groupset to campag - are these wheels compatible? Would ideally like to keep these and use for training and bad weather.

- My budget is around 800 euro or £650. Is hand built better to go with?
- Looking something lighter and something that run a little smoother.
- Im around 90kg and 6ft so they need to be strong enough for my frame.
- Something for racing but also able to use for the odd sportive.
- Something that looks nice as well would be a bonus. I have a matt black bianchi sempre pro so would like maybe plain black semi deep section stealth wheels

Any recommendations or advice would be appreciated.

you suggested sportives so tubulars are probably not for you ? i'm a big fan of tubulars for racing although the gap between clinchers and tubs appears to be narrowing.

most of the shimano and campag combos can work these days so i don't see an issue. I'm riding an 11 speed shimano drive train with campag bora wheels and cassette - no real noticeable difference.

Your budget is slightly less than you might need for a well known branded top end set of carbon wheels. you might look to picking up a second hand set. in my opinion the bigger brands like mavic, shimano and campag have years in them so their real expensive wheels like the C50s, Bora Ultra and Cosmics keep really well. Look out for a second hand set from 800 onwards. I've a savage paid of Ultras I picked up for a grand, worth 2500 new.

you can get deep section carbon wheels for around your price but from some of the entrants to the market. i had an 800 euro set of carbon clinchers that flexed laterally and rubbed off the brake blocks. had to sell them i'm 73kgs so imagine with your size. you can get a set made up for 800 but the hub might not be as flash as you think, nor the carbon weave as stiff to support your frame. however, that's a risk you take with all carbon wheels

my recommendation is to go second hand on a set of campag boras or cosmic carbones. beautiful wheels, lovely hubs, look the part and brilliant in the cross winds.and they're fast.