What wheels to buy for A4 racing?

awnow · 08-01-2019 3:47am #1

Hi, I'm looking to invest in a new set of deep-section carbon wheels in advance of the new racing season (A4 category). Anyone any recommendations that won't totally break the bank? ðŸ˜

Lumen · 08-01-2019 7:19am

Rim or disc brake? Clincher or tub?

Miklos · 08-01-2019 9:31am

The Prime deep section wheels on Wiggle seem quite good without breaking the bank. Don’t buy something you can’t afford to replace.

ba · 08-01-2019 9:52am

If I were to race A4 I wouldn’t race anything carbon for fear of destroying it. Aluminium all the way.

koutoubia · 08-01-2019 9:58am

Budget?

Lumen · 08-01-2019 10:09am

ba wrote: »

If I were to race A4 I wouldn’t race anything carbon for fear of destroying it. Aluminium all the way.

Race-ist!

dahat · 08-01-2019 11:39am

Deep section with alu rims would be ideal but tbh I'd invest in getting good legs before wheels.

Legs win races wheels make good pictures.

terrydel · 08-01-2019 11:53am

Round ones. What dahat said.

Taxuser1 · 08-01-2019 12:53pm

trawl the second hand market. some lads here have some great wheels from time to time. put up a request with your price bracket in cycling adverts and see what's there.

08-01-2019 1:29pm

Has the world changed? Nobody has mentioned 'Zonda'!

DKmac · 08-01-2019 2:36pm

Spend the money on a Power Meter and a Coach and you'll get more value for money.

harringtonp · 08-01-2019 3:33pm

Don't mind them, nice wheels are always great.

I own hand built carbons but if buying again would try (as mentioned above) prime. Specifically

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/prime-rr-50-v2-carbon-clincher-wheelset/rp-prod166641?mx=a

Prices can vary on this set with CRC, there was a great price on them a few months

CramCycle · 08-01-2019 3:36pm

I would disagree with some of the comments. Good wheels are one of the best investments you can make.

On the same note, I agree with the point that get fitter and faster first, or else you'll never notice the improvement.

For A4, set of Askiums to start of with, cheap, cheerful, and can be sold on for half price when you get upgraded.

On the same note, I dropped some money on a set of Hunt Race wheels but I am a fool with money, and you get the rest.

sullzz · 08-01-2019 4:49pm

To at best hang on with the bunch on a flat course you would at least need a set of Lightweight Meilensteins.

CramCycle · 08-01-2019 5:56pm

sullzz wrote: »

To at best hang on with the bunch on a flat course you would at least need a set of Lightweight Meilensteins.

At the beginning of the season you'd probably need a motor based on the speed some A4 races have started at over the last few years

Chips Lovell · 08-01-2019 6:09pm

I'd preface this with the usual advice that nobody needs deep section carbon wheels for A4 racing.

However, if you want them, I'd say a lot of circuits can be a bit rough and that racing is hard on wheels, i.e. you see less potholes in a bunch and have less chance to avoid them if you do. With that in mind, buy something with a reputation for durability.

In terms of makeup, I'd either buy all carbon tubs or clinchers with an aluminium rim and carbon fairing. Aside from the rim heat issues on carbon clinchers, I wouldn't fancy dealing with any flatting situation where the rim is making contact with the edge of a pothole.

Also, be sure to buy something that you can get spare parts for, i.e. something built with generic spokes or hubs or, if proprietary, something where spares are easily acquirable.

dahat · 08-01-2019 6:37pm

CramCycle wrote: »

I would disagree with some of the comments. Good wheels are one of the best investments you can make.

On the same note, I agree with the point that get fitter and faster first, or else you'll never notice the improvement.

For A4, set of Askiums to start of with, cheap, cheerful, and can be sold on for half price when you get upgraded.

On the same note, I dropped some money on a set of Hunt Race wheels but I am a fool with money, and you get the rest.

Hunt race wheels? The sound alone makes them worthwhile..... I'll listen out for you somewhere this year!

Lumen · 08-01-2019 6:51pm

Baron de Charlus wrote: »

Aside from the rim heat issues on carbon clinchers, I wouldn't fancy dealing with any flatting situation where the rim is making contact with the edge of a pothole.

I melted my carbon clinchers on a wet non-racing descent of Red Lane, a particularly nasty technical descent.

Before that, however, they did loads of racing without a bother, including big descents.

So I wouldn't share your concern about heat build up, not in a race anyway. There's just not that kind of braking.

I do agree with the "oh **** I need to stop before I wreck my expensive wheels" limitation of clinchers, though I'm not sure that's much worse with carbon. If you bang a lightweight alloy rim on a pothole with a flat tyre, it's not going to handle that either.

Wishbone Ash · 08-01-2019 7:30pm

CramCycle wrote: »

....Good wheels are one of the best investments you can make....

Unless you are going to win a shit load of prize money, I can't see how they would be considered an 'investment'.

CramCycle · 08-01-2019 8:21pm

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Unless you are going to win a shit load of prize money, I can't see how they would be considered an 'investment'.

I see going faster and looking good as the payout. If your in racing for the money and your still A4, then you have made a bad investment.

awnow · 08-01-2019 10:37pm

Lumen wrote: »

Rim or disc brake? Clincher or tub?

Rim brakes and clinchers. Any recommendations?

Chartsengrafs · 08-01-2019 10:52pm

I intend to dip my toe in A4 racing next year and following a good bit of research will upgrade to Zondas. They should be well placed to take the intensity of the 220+ watts I’ll be destroying fields with!

sullzz · 08-01-2019 11:00pm

awnow wrote: »

Rim brakes and clinchers. Any recommendations?

What's your budget?

nordicb · 09-01-2019 11:54am

I'd use good wheels for racing, regardless of the risk damaging them or not. Bit of a waste to use good wheels on sportives or group rides for sure, makes zero difference there. Big fan of Zondas.

Chips Lovell · 09-01-2019 12:01pm

Lumen wrote: »

I do agree with the "oh **** I need to stop before I wreck my expensive wheels" limitation of clinchers, though I'm not sure that's much worse with carbon. If you bang a lightweight alloy rim on a pothole with a flat tyre, it's not going to handle that either.

I agree, alloy isn't indestructible and I've trashed an alloy rim on a pothole before. But I still think it's sturdier than carbon in these situations and usually cheaper to replace.

CramCycle · 09-01-2019 12:09pm

As a guy I cycled with once said to me, there is no point in having it if your not going to use it. He was referring to people buying jerseys they had no intention of wearing but the same principle applies.

Chips Lovell · 09-01-2019 1:24pm

awnow wrote: »

Rim brakes and clinchers. Any recommendations?

Campagnolo Bullet or Mavic Cosmic Pro Carbon.

09-01-2019 1:45pm

Get the deepest section, most expensive wheels you can. Then change your name by deed poll to Fred as that's what you will be called.

Icyseanfitz · 09-01-2019 3:39pm

Trying to find the best lightweight set of wheels at bargain myself at the moment, ive come across cero wheels, these AR24 EVO's look very impressive for the price

keoclassic · 09-01-2019 4:27pm

I have a set of magic cosmic carbones, went from A4 TO A2 solely because of the investment......Looking to buy a giant advanced pro to get me to A1.......it's literally impossible to move up the ranks on bad gear man, you know...........

Eamonnator · 09-01-2019 4:50pm

keoclassic wrote: »

I have a set of magic cosmic carbones, went from A4 TO A2 solely because of the investment......Looking to buy a giant advanced pro to get me to A1.......it's literally impossible to move up the ranks on bad gear man, you know...........

Yeah, they're much better than the Mavic ones.

Buzwaldo · 09-01-2019 5:47pm

H

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

Trying to find the best lightweight set of wheels at bargain myself at the moment, ive come across cero wheels, these AR24 EVO's look very impressive for the price

Have them myself for the last 2 years or so and very happy with them (but I’m a lowly sportive cyclist, not a racer). Would be tempted to buy a second set for the other bike at that price.

lennymc · 09-01-2019 9:10pm

i've got points and won races on these - https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/pro-lite-bracciano-a42-alloy-clincher-wheelset/rp-prod167966?mx=a

im not a lightweight, and never had an issue with them, never had to true them. Trained, raced, turbo trainered on them too.

I did crash at a spin recently and broke a spoke but they are j bend spokes, so no problem getting replacements.

Harrybelafonte · 10-01-2019 9:37am

koutoubia wrote: »

Budget?

This is the essential question and still hasn’t been answered. AFAIK

Icyseanfitz · 10-01-2019 2:19pm

Buzwaldo wrote: »

H
Have them myself for the last 2 years or so and very happy with them (but I’m a lowly sportive cyclist, not a racer). Would be tempted to buy a second set for the other bike at that price.

do they come in at the advertised weight? fantastic value tbf

Weepsie · 10-01-2019 2:58pm

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

do they come in at the advertised weight? fantastic value tbf

The previous version did, as did their AR30s. I had a pair of AR30s and couldn't fault them.

Buzwaldo · 10-01-2019 8:39pm

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

Buzwaldo wrote: »

H
Have them myself for the last 2 years or so and very happy with them (but I’m a lowly sportive cyclist, not a racer). Would be tempted to buy a second set for the other bike at that price.

do they come in at the advertised weight? fantastic value tbf

Didn’t actually weigh them to be honest, but they were definitely lighter than the DT Swiss wheels (R24 iirc) that came on my Canyon.

awnow · 18-01-2019 8:35pm

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

This is the essential question and still hasn’t been answered. AFAIK

Sorry folks....budget €800-1000.

What wheels to buy for A4 racing?

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