Upgrading wheels - how much more to spend?

The depressing truth is that the law of diminishing returns applies to wheels as much as anything else.

So from a rational point of view there is little point going beyond a good mid-range wheelset such as the FR3/Zonda unless you're targeting something specific like aero performance. If it's an all-round wheel set then spending twice as much will not get you anything like twice the benefit. I went from cheap stock wheels to Mavic Aksiums to RS80s. The RS80s are good but nothing like twice as good (but twice the cost) as the Aksiums, which were themselves much better than the stock wheels.

If like me you're not always rational and unlike me had £500 for a do it all wheel set I'd look at Pacenti SL23 rims hand built on to decent hubs with cx-ray spokes at around 1350g, 24mm wide and 30mm deep for some aero benefit.

Yet again, the "don't buy nice gear, you're too fat!" brigade come to the rescue. There's no rule saying you can't ride the months with an R if you've invested in new equipment.

I don't know the wheelset you have, so I don't know how much of an upgrade the ones you're thinking about will be. But upgraded wheels will - in general - climb better, accelerate better, steer better, absorb the road better, and give you a better feeling about your bike. How much value you attach to those things - and how good value the particular wheelset you get is - is up to you.

But a good set of wheels will make it feel like a whole new bike. And you can use the old ones for winter training, if you like.

What are you trying to achieve?

If you want 'nicer' wheels then buying nicer wheels will help.
If you want to make your bike 'nicer' then buying nicer wheels will help.
If you want to be faster, stronger, quicker then buying 'nicer' wheels will have a minimal impact.

The best upgrade is to buy mudguards and a decent waterproof jacket then ride lots of good quality miles through the winter. It's not nice or sexy or cool, but it does work.

You can get decent hand built wheels for that money. Check out the cycle clinic.

I have Campag Zonda's and they are brilliant, but i stepped up from very basic wheels so i dont know how much difference they will make to you with what you already have.

My mate is racing that wheelset on that bike; what do you think a change is going to achieve?

Campagnolo Zonda's are good and recommended- not sure it is worth spending more to be honest; I have Mavic Ksyrium Elites & RS 81 C24s to compare with. As far as I know the Fulcrum R3s are very similar (same company/ re-badge) to the Zondas.