[viktorapo]

Hey,
I currently have a Bianchi Aria 105 Disc and I am looking forward to getting either the Campagnolo Bora WTO45 or the Campagnolo Bora One. I am in huge dilemma with myself whether this is a worthy upgrade having in mind that I have a “mid-range” frame with “lower-end” groupset and spending around 2k on wheels? The pros are that I can use the wheels on further bikes/frames and that I have zero issues with the 105 gearing so far. What are your thoughts on this ? Also some other factors are that there’s nothing in between and I can get the campys with some local discount in a local shop, whereas for other wheels would pay maybe 300-400 less but would have to order them and pay taxes and all shipping so the price might get equal.

Also bonus question, if anyone have ridden one of those wheels or better both would love to hear your opinions/comparison 🙂

Thanks

Topic

[Chris Hayes]

Reading up on your bike and

Reading up on your bike and the difference between the Bora Ones and the WTOs – and taking into account the ‘grabbiness’ of crosswinds on deep-sectioned wheels, I’d go for the WTO45s and wouldn’t give it a second thought.   I like the look of Campag wheels and have had good experience with the CULT bearings (on my Shamals).  

If you do have second thoughts then the universe of carbon wheels at this price point in pretty wide, especially hand-built ones – and there are lots of good wheel builders around who’ll be delighted to help you…I’d always start with some decent hubs (DT Swiss 240s) and go from there….

One potential advantage hand-built wheels will have over Campags is that they require fewer specialist tools to repair, but I’m straight to a specialist if my wheels need tuning – and at 24/24 spokes and a deep sectioned rim it is hard to think of what could go wrong with the WTO45s.

[Judge dreadful]

viktorapo wrote:

Chris Hayes wrote:

Buy the wheels if you can afford them.  They will have a far greater impact on the performance of your bike than a group-set upgrade (105 to Ultegra is not a big jump), or indeed a new frame.  

I”d struggle to put Taiwanese wheels on a celeste Bianchi.  There should be a rule against it.  Shamals might be a cheaper alternative.  I have some Shamals on my Colnago C50 and they are great wheels. But I have not ridden Boras. My bikes are rim-braked,  and as an all weather rider carbon wheels and rim brakes don’t go too well together.  

 

What alternatives to the Bora’s you would recommend then ? Looking for something in the 45-55mm deep range

Be careful what you wish for. Deep rims look nice, they are horrendous in a gusty crosswind. Up to about 55mm it’s not that bad, go deeper, and you’ll wish you hadn’t if you’re not riding in flat calm.

[Judge dreadful]

The correct answer is

The correct answer is Lightweight Meilensteins.

[Richbeck]

Speak to David at DCR wheels
Speak to David at DCR wheels – he will build you a set of custom wheels to your specs.

[hawkinspeter]

A pair of disk brake RP50s
A pair of disk brake RP50s which are pre-black edition. 50mm depth in case that’s not obvious.

[viktorapo]

hawkinspeter wrote:

It does seem a bit unbalanced to be spending that much on wheels without showing the same love to the rest of the bike. I’m with Bobbinogs and you should grab some cheaper Prime wheels (I love mine) and see how you get on with them.

which Primes you have? the blackeditions or the rrv2/v3? also what depth ?

[viktorapo]

Bobbinogs wrote:

Bobbinogs wrote:

Personally, I wouldn’t try to apply much reasoning to an illogical purchase. Let’s face it, logic would dictate a purchase of Prime 50s costing around £500 with no discernible loss in performance or any other worthwhile metric. Justify the purchase only in terms of ‘because you’re worth it’ and get the ones you like the look of. Failing that, get something similar from Hunt/Prime, etc. and put the savings towards a nice break in the Alps, when conditions permit.

 

yeah but the Primes are out of availability and ordering to my country is like space science 🙂

[viktorapo]

Chris Hayes wrote:

Buy the wheels if you can afford them.  They will have a far greater impact on the performance of your bike than a group-set upgrade (105 to Ultegra is not a big jump), or indeed a new frame.  

I”d struggle to put Taiwanese wheels on a celeste Bianchi.  There should be a rule against it.  Shamals might be a cheaper alternative.  I have some Shamals on my Colnago C50 and they are great wheels. But I have not ridden Boras. My bikes are rim-braked,  and as an all weather rider carbon wheels and rim brakes don’t go too well together.  

 

What alternatives to the Bora’s you would recommend then ? Looking for something in the 45-55mm deep range

[Chris Hayes]

Buy the wheels if you can

Buy the wheels if you can afford them.  They will have a far greater impact on the performance of your bike than a group-set upgrade (105 to Ultegra is not a big jump), or indeed a new frame.  

I”d struggle to put Taiwanese wheels on a celeste Bianchi.  There should be a rule against it.  Shamals might be a cheaper alternative.  I have some Shamals on my Colnago C50 and they are great wheels. But I have not ridden Boras. My bikes are rim-braked,  and as an all weather rider carbon wheels and rim brakes don’t go too well together.  

[hawkinspeter]

It does seem a bit unbalanced

It does seem a bit unbalanced to be spending that much on wheels without showing the same love to the rest of the bike. I’m with Bobbinogs and you should grab some cheaper Prime wheels (I love mine) and see how you get on with them.

[bobbinogs]

Personally, I wouldn’t try to
Personally, I wouldn’t try to apply much reasoning to an illogical purchase. Let’s face it, logic would dictate a purchase of Prime 50s costing around £500 with no discernible loss in performance or any other worthwhile metric. Justify the purchase only in terms of ‘because you’re worth it’ and get the ones you like the look of. Failing that, get something similar from Hunt/Prime, etc. and put the savings towards a nice break in the Alps, when conditions permit.

[viktorapo]

GM46 wrote:

Hi Viktorapo

I am considering buying a Bianchi Aria Ultegra Disc and upgarding the Wheels, to Hunt 50, although the WTO45 do have good reviews and if you can get a good discount, could be a good deal, and will look nice too.

What is your opinion of the Aria, do you consider it to be a good, fast Aero Bike with reasonable comfort ?

Thanks

 

It’s my first bike and I am fairly new when it comes to road cycling (about 10 months in) but with big swimming and running experience. Wanted to do triathlons and it was the best deal I got.  Comfort wise I cannot speak since I havent ridden any other road bike but speed wise hell yeah it goes, been riding straigth segments of 15-20km lenght at 40kmh alone which is fast for me 🙂 Loving the look and the responsiveness that I get from the bike when climbing and sprinting though

[GM46]

Hi Viktorapo

Hi Viktorapo

I am considering buying a Bianchi Aria Ultegra Disc and upgarding the Wheels, to Hunt 50, although the WTO45 do have good reviews and if you can get a good discount, could be a good deal, and will look nice too.

What is your opinion of the Aria, do you consider it to be a good, fast Aero Bike with reasonable comfort ?

Thanks

 

[Author]

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