rim depth - wheel advice

Have to agree. I picked up a set of 2nd hand Mavic Cosmic Carbons last year, because let's face it deep section rims can look cool. But on a windy day they are not great, especially when descending. Found them quite unstable.

Just to give you an alternative take. Modern 50mm carbon wheels are lovely and light, are very pleasurable to ride and in my opinion aren't as unrideable in windy conditions as the other lads have said. So if you'd like a pair, go buy them. 600 is a great deal on those primes. They're lovely wheels.

In many ways it's easier buy carbon wheels these days than aluminium cos there's so much choice out there.

I've been riding 50mm Bontragers on an aero frame all winter with no issue except for one crazy windy day there a few weeks back.

Weight wise, most medium cost carbon wheels seem to weigh in around the 1500 g ish mark which compares very favourably to similarly priced shallower aluminium wheels.

I wouldn't be afraid to buy second hand carbon wheels either, especially from a reputable Boardsie.

I'd say if you like climbing keep it light. I replaced my Mavic Aksiums with Zondas and they transformed the bike. The Aksium is 1,840g and Zonda is 1,590g. Acceleration is light and snappy and the wheels are stiff out of the saddle.

The Vision Trimax 35 KB is 1,530g and 35mm rim. Lighter if you go with their 25mm or 20mm wheels, if you can find them.

Personally I'd take the weight penalty and go for the Prime wheels. At 1,630g they aren't much heavier than a standard aluminium wheel at a similar price so you won't be hurting pushing them uphill but you also have the benefit of carbon and a 50mm profile so it's a bit of an all rounder. If I didn't have to spend €600 on misc things last week I'd probably have picked up a set myself.

Go Zondas and dont look back. Learn how to service hub and enjoy lovely stiff wheelset. Carbon rims are overhyped. I know as I have few and believe me you will get no advantage by going carbon unless is deep and wide and you're racing (every second counts) and even then it's not a given

+1 for the Zondas. My favourite carbon wheels are Fulcrum Racing Zero. They roll forever, are light, and look amazing too. They are shallow rim but just do everything sublimely. Perfect for hills. These are the last set I had.

[img]https://i.imgur.com/HdPGUZr.jpg[/img]

They're expensive but have seen them heavily discounted in the past. Fulcrum also do a alu version which are fantastic, especially the Nite version. Campag.

I personally don't like the look of deep rim wheels unless on an aero bike. I did get a set of Cosmics for a Colnago I had. Purely for the looks but they were replaced by the Zeros.

[img]https://i.imgur.com/EdEESXT.jpg[/img]

I was probably the one complaining about fitting tubeless tires to those Mavics. I had a pair that never even went on a bike and sold them on again for that reason.

I don't have direct experience but what about Scribe? Someone in my club has them although not long enough to give a long term review. Very similar to Hunt but a bit cheaper (recent price increase aside)

Interesting given the positive feedback they get on here. What kind of problems did the rear wheel have?

I have the Ksyrium Elite’s also and I have to say that for me, the Hutchinson Fusion is the most suitable tire I’ve tried. I find it pretty ok to get on/off and decent value for money. As previously noted, the wheels themselves are bombproof!

I had the cosmic’s but sold them on here, I would have been a Mavic fan but now they don’t do rim brake wheels anymore afaik.

I went with the Prime RR50’s and so far couldn’t fault them.

Hub issues. Started after a few months with this kind of clicking noise. Strange kind of sound I hadn't heard before or since in any other wheel. Brought to LBS and in fairness he got rid of the clicking without having to replace anything. Forget what was wrong. Back again a few months later because some play developed in the cassette. Avoided a free hub replacement but bearings had to be replaced again and again. Eventually after more roughness developed in the hub the mechanic I go to for wheel work just said to forget about them. Was gonna require a freehub replacement and at about 80 euro for the freehub alone at the time they were more trouble than they were worth. Him and another mechanic local to me both said that Campy/Fulcrum rear hubs are definitely not built with the west of Ireland in mind. Never again. Front wheel was a pure dream though in fairness. Smooth as silk and never an issue.

Jesus Christ. I just posted about my experience with the Zondas. Not every set of Zondas made have been absolutely perfect. Absolutely no need for your last sentence. I'm far from clueless and brought the wheel to two mechanics, both highly respected and excellent mechanics.

I've had mixed zonda experiences as well. A spate of spoke breakages with one pair and another pair the freehub went completely fairly early on in my ownership from new. Was stranded on a club spin with no drive.

3rd set were fine while I had them but sold them on with a bike then.