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Best 700c Clinchers for sub £500?

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  • December 11, 2012 at 10:09 am #17446
    spicypedro

    This year I bought a new frameset (Argon18 Radon) and a new groupset (105) but I’m still running my old wheels (OpenPro on 105 on the back and whatever the Bonty factory wheel was that came with my 2009 Trek 1.5 on the front).

    The bike upgrade made a real difference to my performance as well as my enjoyment of riding. I also lost 6 stone in weight in 6 months, which probably contributed.

    For next season I want to upgrade my wheelset. I’ll have a maximum of £500 to spend before The Wife has my nuts and I’m after some advice on the best options.

    Obviously I’d like this to be a meaningful upgrade. Something that will make me notice the difference and feel like I’m riding on better wheels.

    So what are my best options?

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  • December 13, 2012 at 8:12 pm #708767
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    Adam Buckland_ASD

    Hi Spicy,
    You could do a lot
    Hi Spicy,

    You could do a lot worse than check out the deals on Soul wheels at racewaredirect.com, they have end of season deals on most Soul models.

    The Soul S2.0’s were reviewed very well by Road.cc and the raceware have them for £380.00 instead if the RRP of £575.00.

    December 13, 2012 at 2:18 pm #708765
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    step-hent

    Definitely handbuilts on
    Definitely handbuilts on quality hubs – you’ll know then that, when a rim wears out, you can replace it (whereas I’ve had to get a whole new set of wheels to replace my gorgeous dura ace C24s now the rims have worn out).

    I’d advocate spending most of the budget on hub – that’s the bit you’ll keep for years. Get a decent but not bling rim and spokes to get within budget – open pro and some standard double butted spokes will work great, and you can always put something fancier like cx rays and lighter rims later on.

    You could also consider building them yourself. I just built my very first pair, and got Chris King hubs, H Plus Son rims, standard double butted spokes and a truing stand and tools for just £100 over your budget…

    December 12, 2012 at 10:49 pm #708763
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    mrmo

    depends on what your after,
    depends on what your after, my commuter is running Open Pros on Campag Centaur hubs, hubs obviously no good on a shimano build but the rims are 5 years old and do 5000miles a year… just getting to the end of there life, Not the lightest granted but pretty much bombproof.

    December 12, 2012 at 4:55 pm #708761
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    ragtag

    I just got some OpenPros with
    I just got some OpenPros with Novatech hubs. £210 inc rim tape and delivery. Got them from http://spokesmanwheels.co.uk/ and so far are just great, ideal for all year riding. Tough, stiff and should get a few thousand miles out of them. Weight isn’t bad either.

    December 12, 2012 at 3:34 pm #708759
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    Simon E

    Wig9255 wrote:Get these:

    Wig9255 wrote:
    Get these: http://www.wheelsmith.co.uk/news/63-new-wheelsmith-race23-tweaked

    Seriously amazing wheels, and very light (Front: 625g;
    Rear: 770g). £450, and free spokes for life.

    Ooh, B-)

    I am so glad I don’t need any wheels just now, or these would be yanking resources from my bank account that it can’t handle.

    They do a range of truly lovely hoops there, both clincher and tubular. Maybe one day…

    December 12, 2012 at 3:19 pm #708757
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    spicypedro

    Looking at some of the
    Looking at some of the comments on here and some I’ve had on Twitter, I think handbuilt is the way I’m going to go. OpenPro/Hope seems like a great combination and excellent VFM. But those Wheelsmith race23s look great too.

    Thanks for all the input. I’m not likely to make any decisions until the new year so keep it coming.

    December 12, 2012 at 2:04 pm #708755
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    wig9255

    Get these:
    Get these: http://www.wheelsmith.co.uk/news/63-new-wheelsmith-race23-tweaked

    Seriously amazing wheels, and very light (Front: 625g;
    Rear: 770g). £450, and free spokes for life.

    December 12, 2012 at 1:19 pm #708753
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    Farky

    Wonder if you can buy a set
    Wonder if you can buy a set of decent wheels on the Cycle2work scheme?????

    Really fancy a nice set of handbuilt rings.

    December 12, 2012 at 8:48 am #708751
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    Anonymous

    I use Fulcrum racing 7s on a
    I use Fulcrum racing 7s on a winter hack and racing 3’s on a carbon frame dry weather only bike, both sets are excellent, no spoke breakages they never seem to go out of true and the bearings are very smooth.
    The only Mavic wheels I’ve used in the past are Aksiums which are equivalent to the Fulcrum racing 7’s, the Aksiums were okay but did tend to go out of round frequently and when I used them on my winter hack the rear lasted about 6 months, the spoke nipples basically corroded and pulled through the rim, never had this problem with Fulcrums.

    December 11, 2012 at 10:09 pm #708749
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    pedalingparamedic

    +1 for the Hopes/Open Pro
    +1 for the Hopes/Open Pro musicalmarc. I’ve had a set for 3 years, done 5800 miles. Funnily enough had a rear (drive side) spoke break yesterday. The main bearings in the rear hub were replaced after 3100 miles as they felt slightly rough when spinning the wheel by hand. Other than that have trained, commuted, toured and done sportives on them in all weathers without a hitch.

    December 11, 2012 at 9:26 pm #708747
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    musicalmarc

    I got some Mavic Pro on hope
    I got some Mavic Pro on hope hubs from Evans and they have managed 2000+ miles without skipping a beat. I wanted something reliable and that could be serviced easily. There are lighter options but they generally have a lower spoke count which I didn’t feel was a good idea for a commuter banging over potholes.

    December 11, 2012 at 9:15 pm #708745
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    trikeman

    I second the Ksyrium Elites –
    I second the Ksyrium Elites – great acceleration, great climbers, easy tyre mount, bombproof with easily serviced, ‘on the fly’ adjustable bearings – cracking wheelset.

    For the money they are hard to beat and last for ages.

    Had Fulcrum R1’s on my Colnago, but for some reason (hard to put a finger on it) just liked the KE’s more.

    Hope this helps your search.

    Regards,

    Trikeman. 😉

    December 11, 2012 at 7:59 pm #708743
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    Bedfordshire Clanger

    Campagnolo Zonda, great all
    Campagnolo Zonda, great all rounders at around £300. Fast and true, I’m very happy with mine.

    December 11, 2012 at 6:45 pm #708741
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    matthewn5

    I think Shimano RS80 or
    I think Shimano RS80 or Fulcrum Racing 3 or one of the better Ksyriums should do.

    I paid £315 for my RS80s at Merlin and they can often be found at that price. They are so light and free-rolling that I’m always having to brake when out with my friends. You get the Dura-Ace rims and a Shimano hub that uses sensible adjustable cup and cone bearings that can be serviced and should last for ages.

    December 11, 2012 at 4:23 pm #708739
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    ilovemytinbred

    I like handbuilt. Just
    I like handbuilt. Just getting some hope pro 3s, cx-ray spokes and h plus son archetype rims for about £500. Very nice. I have lots of factory wheels all the way through the price range from R500’s, ultegra, rs80 etc. to silly expensive zipps. They are ok but I just dont like them as much, plus I wear them out an they are a pain/expensive to get new rims etc.

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