Shimano RS80 C50 wheelset

We've long held Shimano's shallow-section RS80s to be one of the better mid-range standard wheelsets on the market, so were keen to get our hands on these deep section C50 hoops to see if they measure up. And they do, pretty much: they're well made, fast at speed and good-looking. Only the weight lets them down.

Where the 24mm RS80 wheel uses a laminated Aluminium/Carbon construction the C50 has a structural Carbon inner section mated to an alloy braking surface. The spoke nipples are seated in the rim in the standard manner though you'll need the non-standard oversized tool (supplied) to tweak them. You get steel bladed spokes (16 front, 20 rear) instead of round ones for a bit more air-cutting capability. At the centre of the wheel sit the same Ultegra-level hubs you get on the standard RS80s, and they're excellent, with straight-pull spoke holes to prevent spoke breakages at the shoulder, and top quality seals and bearings. There's a steel freehub too.

Stick them on and set off and the first impressions are of a very well build wheel. The spokes were tight and the rim true, there was no pinging of spokes bedding in, just a lovely quiet thrum from the deep rim. I know it's not the reason you buy deep section wheels, but it's a lovely noise, and these wheels make a nicer sound than most. Just so you know.

Out of the saddle it's possible to induce a touch of brake rub if you really go after it, but there's plenty of laterally stiffness. In terms of comfort they spent the test period shod in excellent Vredestein Fortezza Tricomp and Vittoria Open Corsa Evo rubber, which undoubtedly had more effect on the comfort levels than any elasticity in the wheel. But it's fair to say they feel lively on the bike, rather than a dead weight. they're nice wheels to ride.

Once you get the C50s up to speed - and we're really talking about 20mph and upwards - they really start to shine. They feel fast, and they are fast: I posted a good time on my 40-mile test loop first time out, on a route that includes some fairly slow climbs along with a lot of rolling and flat terrain. It's difficult to know if that's just the wheels or a combination of factors, but I certainly didn't feel they were holding me back, most of the time.

Most of the time? Well, these aren't light wheels. They're carrying an extra 350g over the standard RS80s and all of that is in the rim, where it matters most. There's certain types of terrain - draggy climbs for example - where all that extra mass gets felt. Just as the zippiness at 25mph is noticeable, so is the weight in the deep rim slogging up a long, gradual climb at 12mph. It's horses for courses: if you're going to do more of the former than the latter, they'll save you time.

I stuck these on the bike for a 360km day ride from Bath to Colchester, on a route that was astonishingly flat for the most part. And two-up with another rider, with tri-bars fitted for an aero position, taking turns at the front, they're just what you need. Well, almost: Trev had some £2k Reynolds Forty-Six hoops on his bike, which give the same aero advantage but without the weight penalty. I wanted his wheels.

Therein lies the rub, really. Okay, the Forty-Sixes are a massive step up from these Shimano hoops, but the Reynolds Assault C, which we tested earlier in the year, is a sub-1600g full Carbon semi-deep wheel for just over a grand, and these C50s are £850. In the real world of online discounts, that translates to £850 for the Assaults and £650 for the C50s. If it was my money, I'd save up the extra and go full Carbon.

It's not that the C50s are bad wheels - they're most definitely not - it's just that full Carbon is within reach if you're looking at this price bracket. More expensive, but within reach. Full Carbon rims have their problems, but the main ones - clincher rim strength, braking and heat dissipation - have been all but solved by Reynolds with their CTg braking systems; they're very, very good and other manufacturers are doing excellent work in that area too. It's not the problem it once was.

Verdict

I wanted to like these wheels, and don't get me wrong: I did like them. If they're right on the limit of your available wheel spend, and you definitely want to go deep, then I can recommend them: they do the things that you want from a deep section wheel, without fuss. But the lure of full Carbon and the weight saving it represents would have me saving the extra pennies.