Good All-Around Wheelset Upgrade $350-$500
08-03-14, 08:05 AM
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
Good All-Around Wheelset Upgrade $350-$500
Greetings everyone. I'm looking to replace some old Rolf Vectors on my Lemond Zurich. Suckers are heavy! I don't know squat about the current wheels on the market. I just want an affordable ($350-500 MAX) wheelset that's not too heavy and get's the job done. What would you buy? Thanks!
11-01-14, 02:34 PM
#2
Banned
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 974
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Hello zeego,
I'm browsing the site and saw your post. This might not be the end all of what you are looking for, but at least it will get you somewhere.
About Our Wheels
Good luck and wish you the best.
I'm browsing the site and saw your post. This might not be the end all of what you are looking for, but at least it will get you somewhere.
About Our Wheels
Good luck and wish you the best.
11-01-14, 03:24 PM
#3
Thread Killer
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 12,640
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
Liked 1,833 Times
in
1,102 Posts
The vectors are a bit heavy, like +2k grams, but good and pretty aero wheelset. I think it will be kind of hard to score a solid upgrade for the given pricepoint, but you could go with something like Mavic Ksyrium Equipe S which come in at $500 (with tires! Very good ones!) and about 1630gm. Listed tires/wheels combo is 2300gm, about 100 gm heavier than just the Vectors alone, so you could be looking at about a pound worth of weight savings there, though aero will probably suffer.
Excel Sports has 3T Accelero 40 aero wheels on sale right now for $348, which have a deep section for aero benefit, but there's no meaningful weight savings to be had with those, though they do look good.
If you could push up to the $600-700 range, I think you could get it all: aero, weight savings, and handling gains from a modern, wide rim. I'm thinking of wheels like the Boyd Altamont and Flo 30s.
Shop around, see what's out there, and call some places; it's a good time to catch some end of season sales.
Excel Sports has 3T Accelero 40 aero wheels on sale right now for $348, which have a deep section for aero benefit, but there's no meaningful weight savings to be had with those, though they do look good.
If you could push up to the $600-700 range, I think you could get it all: aero, weight savings, and handling gains from a modern, wide rim. I'm thinking of wheels like the Boyd Altamont and Flo 30s.
Shop around, see what's out there, and call some places; it's a good time to catch some end of season sales.
11-01-14, 03:39 PM
#4
Banned
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: take your time, enjoy the scenery, it will be there when you get to it
Posts: 7,281
Bikes: 07 IRO BFGB fixed-gear, 07 Pedal Force RS
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
The vectors are a bit heavy, like +2k grams, but good and pretty aero wheelset. I think it will be kind of hard to score a solid upgrade for the given pricepoint, but you could go with something like Mavic Ksyrium Equipe S which come in at $500 (with tires! Very good ones!) and about 1630gm. Listed tires/wheels combo is 2300gm, about 100 gm heavier than just the Vectors alone, so you could be looking at about a pound worth of weight savings there, though aero will probably suffer.
Excel Sports has 3T Accelero 40 aero wheels on sale right now for $348, which have a deep section for aero benefit, but there's no meaningful weight savings to be had with those, though they do look good.
If you could push up to the $600-700 range, I think you could get it all: aero, weight savings, and handling gains from a modern, wide rim. I'm thinking of wheels like the Boyd Altamont and Flo 30s.
Shop around, see what's out there, and call some places; it's a good time to catch some end of season sales.
Excel Sports has 3T Accelero 40 aero wheels on sale right now for $348, which have a deep section for aero benefit, but there's no meaningful weight savings to be had with those, though they do look good.
If you could push up to the $600-700 range, I think you could get it all: aero, weight savings, and handling gains from a modern, wide rim. I'm thinking of wheels like the Boyd Altamont and Flo 30s.
Shop around, see what's out there, and call some places; it's a good time to catch some end of season sales.
11-01-14, 03:56 PM
#5
Thread Killer
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 12,640
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
Liked 1,833 Times
in
1,102 Posts
11-01-14, 04:07 PM
#6
Thread Killer
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 12,640
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
Liked 1,833 Times
in
1,102 Posts
The 1495gm Vuelta Corsa Superlights are on sale from Vuelta for $399 and free shipping. Again, probably a hit in aero (but who really knows?), but significant weight savings:
Corsa SuperLite 700c Clincher Black
Corsa SuperLite 700c Clincher Black
11-01-14, 04:09 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Central Coast, California
Posts: 613
Bikes: Niner RLT 9 4 Star, Kona Splice, Nashbar Carbon road bike
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Take a look at Eastons offerings in that price range.
I have had their entry level wheel set($300) for about 4 months. They came true, and they have stayed true. I've ridden rough roads with pot holes and a bit of rough dirt roads, and I weight about 190 lbs. I'll be happy if they last a year at the price. I'd buy them again.
I have had their entry level wheel set($300) for about 4 months. They came true, and they have stayed true. I've ridden rough roads with pot holes and a bit of rough dirt roads, and I weight about 190 lbs. I'll be happy if they last a year at the price. I'd buy them again.
11-01-14, 04:13 PM
#8
Banned
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: take your time, enjoy the scenery, it will be there when you get to it
Posts: 7,281
Bikes: 07 IRO BFGB fixed-gear, 07 Pedal Force RS
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Those vectors are boat anchors, and not very aero(just aero looking). Unless you are racing, aero wheels give very little actual benefit. Does it really matter if you finish your training ride in 5 minutes less time?
11-01-14, 04:19 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,581
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Liked 3,687 Times
in
2,167 Posts
There's a lot to be said for 32 hole hubs and conventional spokes and rims. You can true them pretty easily and get parts as needed. It will probably come in at the lower end of your budget but I'd check out quality bike built wheels with shimano 105 hubs, DT spokes, and velocity A23 rims. The A23 rims are nice because they're a bit wider. 25 vs. 23 | Is Wider Really Faster? | Competitive Cyclist
QBP wheels are widely available and are very well built.
Quality Wheels Sport Series 3 Rear wheel: Shimano 105-5700 32h Black, Velocity A23 700c Black - Modern Bike
QBP wheels are widely available and are very well built.
Quality Wheels Sport Series 3 Rear wheel: Shimano 105-5700 32h Black, Velocity A23 700c Black - Modern Bike
11-01-14, 04:20 PM
#10
Banned
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: take your time, enjoy the scenery, it will be there when you get to it
Posts: 7,281
Bikes: 07 IRO BFGB fixed-gear, 07 Pedal Force RS
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
If you really like those 3T wheels, he could get them much cheaper.
3T Accelero 40 Pro Road Bike Wheelset - Pair | Merlin Cycles
3T Accelero 40 Pro Road Bike Wheelset - Pair | Merlin Cycles
11-01-14, 04:31 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 177
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
You just missed the price-drop on the Vuelta Corsas at Nashbar. I just picked up my second set of Corsa Lites... this time for $168.
I've got 4,000 miles on my first set. Trouble-free. I'm so happy with them I picked up a spare set.
They go on sale pretty frequently. They are good enough to pay full-price for, but when they go under $200.... best deal in wheelsets I've ever seen.
The Corsa Lites come in under 1600 grams for the pair. My two sets weighed 660F/880R 680F/890R.
I weigh 200+, race, and ride these recreationally pretty hard.
I've got 4,000 miles on my first set. Trouble-free. I'm so happy with them I picked up a spare set.
They go on sale pretty frequently. They are good enough to pay full-price for, but when they go under $200.... best deal in wheelsets I've ever seen.
The Corsa Lites come in under 1600 grams for the pair. My two sets weighed 660F/880R 680F/890R.
I weigh 200+, race, and ride these recreationally pretty hard.
11-01-14, 05:12 PM
#12
Thread Killer
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 12,640
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
Liked 1,833 Times
in
1,102 Posts
I don't agree, and think you're looking at it all wrong. This isn't the thread to discuss that, though; the guy wants wheel recs. Nice find on the 3Ts, btw! I don't need a set like that myself, but that price is awfully juicy...
11-01-14, 05:27 PM
#13
Thread Killer
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 12,640
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
Liked 1,833 Times
in
1,102 Posts
If you really like those 3T wheels, he could get them much cheaper.
3T Accelero 40 Pro Road Bike Wheelset - Pair | Merlin Cycles
3T Accelero 40 Pro Road Bike Wheelset - Pair | Merlin Cycles
OP, these may be worth looking at, too.
11-01-14, 06:45 PM
#14
Banned
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: take your time, enjoy the scenery, it will be there when you get to it
Posts: 7,281
Bikes: 07 IRO BFGB fixed-gear, 07 Pedal Force RS
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I actually laughed aloud when I read your post. If I didn't build my own wheels I'd buy a set of 6800 wheels.
11-02-14, 06:58 AM
#15
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 8
Bikes: '14 Felt Z85, '95 Cannondale R400
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I would get the Pacenti's from BikeHubStore -https://www.bikehubstore.com/product-p/pacentiwheels.htm A great deal on a really nice wheelset.
11-02-14, 07:08 AM
#16
Senior Member
You just missed the price-drop on the Vuelta Corsas at Nashbar. I just picked up my second set of Corsa Lites... this time for $168.
I've got 4,000 miles on my first set. Trouble-free. I'm so happy with them I picked up a spare set.
They go on sale pretty frequently. They are good enough to pay full-price for, but when they go under $200.... best deal in wheelsets I've ever seen.
The Corsa Lites come in under 1600 grams for the pair. My two sets weighed 660F/880R 680F/890R.
I weigh 200+, race, and ride these recreationally pretty hard.
I've got 4,000 miles on my first set. Trouble-free. I'm so happy with them I picked up a spare set.
They go on sale pretty frequently. They are good enough to pay full-price for, but when they go under $200.... best deal in wheelsets I've ever seen.
The Corsa Lites come in under 1600 grams for the pair. My two sets weighed 660F/880R 680F/890R.
I weigh 200+, race, and ride these recreationally pretty hard.
11-02-14, 07:33 AM
#17
Senior Member
Shimano Ultegra 6800's can be had for $500 per set if you look around. They're just over 1600 grams, well built, and give you a tubeless option which is nice.
11-02-14, 07:52 AM
#18
Thread Killer
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 12,640
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
Liked 1,833 Times
in
1,102 Posts
Nashbar today: $180 for Vuelta Corsa Pro Road Wheelset and $150 for Vuelta Corsa Pro Road Wheelset - Campagnolo. But these aren't the Corsa Lites you are seeking -- these are rated at 2006g.
11-02-14, 08:01 AM
#19
Thread Killer
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 12,640
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
Liked 1,833 Times
in
1,102 Posts
You know I'd agree with you that going tubeless would count as an upgrade almost irrespective of aero and weight! Almost; it really depends on how one rides whether they can realize aero/weight 'bennies', but tubeless bennies are there regardless. Wide and tubeless and light and aero is the dream!
11-02-14, 08:12 AM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Upland CA
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
11-02-14, 08:51 AM
#21
Banned
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: take your time, enjoy the scenery, it will be there when you get to it
Posts: 7,281
Bikes: 07 IRO BFGB fixed-gear, 07 Pedal Force RS
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
If you look around, you can get them for a whole lot less than $500. Merlin Cycles $333.18
Shimano Ultegra 6800 11 Speed Wheels - Pair | Merlin Cycles
11-02-14, 09:01 AM
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Somewhere in TX
Posts: 2,266
Bikes: BH, Cervelo, Cube, Canyon
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
6 Posts
6800 Ultegra, Fulcrum Racing 3, or Bike Hub Store's Pacenti build kit built by a pro.
11-02-14, 10:40 AM
#24
Thread Killer
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 12,640
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
Liked 1,833 Times
in
1,102 Posts
11-02-14, 11:27 AM
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 28,682
Bikes: 1990 Romic Reynolds 531 custom build, Merlin Works CR Ti custom build, super light Workswell 066 custom build
Likes: 0
Liked 58 Times
in
36 Posts
You know I'd agree with you that going tubeless would count as an upgrade almost irrespective of aero and weight! Almost; it really depends on how one rides whether they can realize aero/weight 'bennies', but tubeless bennies are there regardless. Wide and tubeless and light and aero is the dream!