Wheelset

Pro-Lite Bracciano wheel front fitted

Pro-Lite Bracciano wheel rear fitted

The Shimano RS30 is part of Shimano’s Road Sport series “integrating the best technology of the race-proven DURA-ACE wheels but at economical price points. These wheels are great for training rides and / or use at the local races.”

With super smooth hubs and superb lateral stiffness, Halo’s Aerotrack wheels are undeniably fine, bombproof wheels for daily road and/or winter service but weighing 993g and 1030g (front and rear respectively) you wouldn't put them on a lithe track or TT mount.

The four hundred pound mark is a competitive price point for wheels: If you're looking to upgrade it's the kind of money that'll buy you something decent, and the Solitudes are certainly that. They're a well-built, good quality racing wheel that'll suit if you're aiming for racing or TTs. For more general riding, the all round appeal isn't quite as wide as some similarly priced offerings.

Shimano's RS80 wheelset is bringing Carbon wheels to the masses – at least wheels that look like they're made of Carbon, anyway. Lurking underneath is an alloy rim, which is good news for braking and general longevity, and Shimano say the combination of the two materials makes for a light, stiff and comfortable wheel. They would though, wouldn't they... how does the RS80 roll in real life?

Gipiemme have been out of the UK scene for a while, but now they're back in force with a range of wheelsets from £75 budget trainers to a £1k carbon disc. The Tecno 1.55 Light sits comfortably in the middle of the range - it's designed as a lightweight all-purpose wheel that's fit for training and a bit of racing.