dtqjr

I ride a 2016 Cervelo R5 and looking to upgrade my stock wheelset Aksiums. I like to climb. I'll try to make this pretty specific in what I'm looking for. Good value, on the lighter side (I weigh 68 kg / 150 lb), rim brake, I prefer aluminum but would consider carbon, would prefer around $700 but for exceptional value situations, I'd be comfortable paying up to $1200.
I know there are a few Campy wheelsets that people seem to love for the value in this price range but interested in other suggestions. Thank you!

MoAlpha

Hed Ardennes SL.

dim

HED Belgium Plus (if they can fit your brakes) .... I have 2 sets .... (one for each bike).... not a true climbing rim, but it does everything well and most probably the finest alloy rim on the market IMHO .... these have the aerodynamic equal to FLO 30's ...

here's a good article:

https://novemberbicycles.com/blogs/b...ws-hed-belgium

Sy Reene

Try these out and let us know how it goes :-)
https://www.bike24.com/p2306399.html?q=tune+tsr

Robert A

Consider having a custom set built to your exact specs. Allows you to dial in the perfect balance between weight and speed. Mine are Easton R90SLs with White Industries hubs. Around $900 and weight is mid-1400g for the set. November, Spark and others do this.

Psimet2001 

*cough* I know a guy with time in the off season. *cough*

dscoduc

IMO, this is great advice. At the price point you posted, you should be able to find a builder who can put something together to match exactly what you need. If you are in the SoCal area I would recommend talking to Chris at SD Wheel Works.

bruce19

I bought a CAAD 12 about 6 months ago and it came with Aksiums. For under $500 I switched to Mavic Ksyrium Elite USTs. They came with tires. Best thing I've done in all the years I've been cycling. And, going into this I was a total skeptic.

noodle soup

What is this “off-season” thing?

I built over 100 bikes this week, and I’m just treading water.

bpcyclist

Not sure where you are located, but I am also upgrading Aksiums and I also would prefer aluminum, as it is very wet and rainy where I live. I finally settled on Neugent Cycling in the US and Hunt in the UK. Both offer high value for the dollar/euro/gbp. Ultimately, I just liked what Neugent had a bit better, though I would have been very happy I am sure with Hunt.

noodle soup

Does Neugent still use the insanely high DS spoke tension on his rear wheels?

Please link the wheelset you are looking at.

mgopack42 

I am a Campy guy, so how about neutron wheel looks like under 1500 grams for the set (published weight) should make good climbing wheels

bpcyclist

I didn't know that was a thing. How high were they? I am still awaiting mine.

jwalther

Used carbon tubulars.

noodle soup

From his website,

Spoke Tension Rear Drive Side: 170-180 KGF (on a Park Tensiometer 18-19 for CX Ray and 22-23 for Laser).
Spoke Tension Rear Non Drive Side: There is no spec for this because it is whatever it is to pull the rim to the center of the wheel. They will always be looser than the drive side spokes and often by quite bit.

His wheels require a high DS tension because the hubs use a sketchy geometry.

bpcyclist

How is it sketchy?

noodle soup

The design requires a very high DS tension, in order to get the NDS spokes high enough that they hold tension.

Psimet2001 

That would be fabulous.

Psimet2001 

That's messed up.

I vaguely remember him saying he was getting back into wheels after the failure of his last wheel company Nuvation (sp). Speaking as a wheel guy there's a ton of people that feel they have to set themselves apart by having a gimmick. Yet gimmicks don't work long term. Never have and won't start now.

jnbrown

I have this exact wheelset and it is great, built them myself. Those Easton Rims are really nice.
$900 seems hight I didn't spend anywhere near that.

Robert A

In the end, it was $1,000 including a pair of 5000TLs, KCNC skewers, tax, shipping and labor.

Kimmo 

RS81 (or Dura-Ace if you want even nicer hubs) C24s. The hubs aren't pretty, but have the best internals bar none. And there's only Shimano in the high end with the outboard axle bearing (Mavic doesn't count because they spoil their hubs with a bushing. A bushing!)...

Rims are super light aluminum with carbon laminate for strength, IIRC they're 365g. 16/20h, rear is off centre.

Pretty tight, yo

ETA - as a mechanic, the only problems I've seen with these were either down to abuse or salt air. They'll corrode if you spend a lot of time right on the coast, but that's about it. Shimano might even have fixed that; I've only seen it on the earlier generation.

Oh yeah, another thing to consider is tubulars... I picked up a set of R9000 wheels for AU$700 used. The tubular version is full carbon. Heaps lighter, and there are a few other pros to balance the fact a puncture that sealant won't fix will cost you a tyre...

dougphoto

can't go wrong with PISmet wheels, great company, great wheels, great service, and BIG supporter of the local cycling community

burnthesheep

Used 303 tubs, used Flo 30.

Used Giant SL in the lighter not deep version.

Lrdchaos

I just picked up a set of new Roval cl50 rims, they are fast on the flats and climb well. Specialized was offering 25% off so they were close to what your wanting to spend.