Replacement Lighter Wheels

[line71]

Hi
I just need some advice on a replacement wheelset
I have a 2013 Giant Defy 3,the wheels it came with are Giants S-R 2 i find them pretty heavy and feel quite sluggish particulary on inclines,hills
I would like to know what wheels would be a suitable replacement,i want something significantly lighter but still stiff and durable,i am on a tight budget but am willing to buy used wheels from ebay if i find something cheaper than buying new
Thanks alot

 

[fossyant]

Tyres and tubes first. Make the biggest difference. Oh and getting fit.

 

[jowwy]

whats the budget??

 

[Spoked Wheels]

Hi
I just need some advice on a replacement wheelset
I have a 2013 Giant Defy 3,the wheels it came with are Giants S-R 2 i find them pretty heavy and feel quite sluggish particulary on inclines,hills
I would like to know what wheels would be a suitable replacement,i want something significantly lighter but still stiff and durable,i am on a tight budget but am willing to buy used wheels from ebay if i find something cheaper than buying new
Thanks alot

I don't know how heavy your wheels are so when you say "significantly lighter" I don't know what weight is good enough. To build a light wheel that is stiff would cost more that you should be spending for that bike (if the bike is the bike I think it is). Having said that, it is possible to build a set of wheels that are a bit over the 1.6kg for about £200 which I think it's great value. I'm thinking Mavic Open Pro rims, Novatec hubs, a mixture of sapin laser and sapin race spokes or DT Swiss equivalent. Put those wheels with some lighter inner tubes and light tyres, ie Michelin Pro 4 and you would have made a significant improvement. If you are on the heavy side for your hight then loosing a bit of weight would make more sense I think.

 

[ushills]

Trackpump and fitness first, doubt you will notice any difference with a different set of wheels.

My handbuilts are occassionaly sluggish

 

[Spoked Wheels]

Trackpump and fitness first, doubt you will notice any difference with a different set of wheels.

My handbuilts are occassionaly sluggish

Fitness is the first route people should take but it isn't always what people do. I'm guilty of that. I bought a lighter bike when I should have lost some weight instead still, I just needed a new toy cause I wasn't trying to go faster. The lighter wheels make my riding uphill a bit easier and perhaps I go faster but that is just part of the package cause I certainly not trying to go fast. One thing that I'm grateful to a lighter bike and lighter wheels is that I'm not scare of some hills that I used to avoid before.

 

[accountantpete]

Basically you want something around 700g front wheel (without tyre etc) and 900g rear (without tyre and cassette).

Then you want to look for a decent maker (Mavic, Fulcrum, Campagnolo etc) to assure yourself that the wheels are light through being made of very strong lightweight material and are not going to flex your energy away going uphill.

 

[Hacienda71]

Planet X Al30s are pretty good value for money and are light at their price point. They are stiff and semi aero so quick on the flats as well as the hills. They also have a good enough spoke count to be pretty durable on potholed roads. If you want anything much better then either good £200 to £300 handbuilts or up your budget to £300 plus and start looking at Mavic Ksyriums or similar.

 

[Neil363]

I have the exact same bike and agree totally that new tyres make a hell of a difference. I've been flitting between my stock tyres and some Rubinos and the difference is amazing.

That said I too will eventually be in the market for some new wheels soon (weight loss target almost hit and I'll treat myself to some!), so will keep an eye on this thread if that's Ok. Sorry I cant be any more help but I'd definitely look at new tyres first, especially if on a tight budget.

 

[jowwy]

I don't know how heavy your wheels are so when you say "significantly lighter" I don't know what weight is good enough. To build a light wheel that is stiff would cost more that you should be spending for that bike (if the bike is the bike I think it is). Having said that, it is possible to build a set of wheels that are a bit over the 1.6kg for about £200 which I think it's great value. I'm thinking Mavic Open Pro rims, Novatec hubs, a mixture of sapin laser and sapin race spokes or DT Swiss equivalent. Put those wheels with some lighter inner tubes and light tyres, ie Michelin Pro 4 and you would have made a significant improvement. If you are on the heavy side for your hight then loosing a bit of weight would make more sense I think.

well oddly enough the bike is.a giant defy 3 2013 model that he states in his OP for just a little over £250 he can get a set of handbuilt wheels which would make the bike feel alot better

 

[Spoked Wheels]

well oddly enough the bike is.a giant defy 3 2013 model that he states in his OP for just a little over £250 he can get a set of handbuilt wheels which would make the bike feel alot better

, I thought the bike was worth £1200.

 

[jowwy]

, I thought the bike was worth £1200.

so why the laughing smiley

 

[Spoked Wheels]

so why the laughing smiley

Because the wheels I was suggesting would cost nearly as much as the bike, also because I was so wrong estimating the cost of the bike.

 

[Saluki]

Mavic Aksiums on my Defy 2.
Not sure that they make a whole lot of difference and I could lose and stone and some but one of the Giant wheels had a flat spot and the Aksiums were the right price (free, pinched them of OH's bike as he is well over the recommended 84kg for them).

 

[stumpy66]

I replaced my wheels on my defy with pro lite braccianos, i had a few broken spokes with the giant wheels, none on the prolites, so far