Wheel Advice please.

[Rob3rt]

Look at it another way - what justifies the higher costs of wheels from HED, ZIPP, Reynolds, etc. In other words, is a set of HED Ardennes really worth £800 more than a set of PX AL30s..??

Yes I get that, I think it swings both ways.

You have people cutting corners, you have people pandering to the hypebeasts! Somewhere in the middle you get true VFM. IMO.

 

[tigger]

All higher end wheels are overpriced, HEDs and Zipps in particular it seems. I'd stand by the £450 Hope Ardennes as fair, but not epic, VFM though. The FM Ardennes are crazy money!

 

[Rob3rt]

The H+Son Archetype rim might build into a nice wheelset, it is also wider like the HED and Zipp offerings.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

I personally think that with wheels from Zipp and HED you are getting expertise and investment in the tooling and development of the product.
http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=11045

Zipp are continuing to push wheel development with CFD with Intelligent Light / Fieldview who also work with the McLaren, RedBull and Ferrari F1 teams and have just received an award for their work.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/intelligent-light-receives-prestigious-hpc-141900190.html

Im not for a moment suggesting this makes good value for money, but someone has to pay for this extensive research and its usually the customer, the simple thing to decide for me is do you want a set of rims which have been subject to extensive research, development and testing and uses materials and manufacturing techniques sourced from the best of the motor sport and aerospace industry or a cheaper reproduction of these wheels.

 

[tigger]

The H+Son Archetype rim might build into a nice wheelset, it is also wider like the HED and Zipp offerings.

+1. I ear marked these a few months ago to to build new disk specific wheels for my Boardman CX. You can build 32 spoked DT Swiss on Hope Hubs approx 1600g for about £400 IIRC. Rims just over 450g so respectable for a cross / winter bike. Road wheels could be cheaper and lighter probably but not sure about the braking surface.

http://www.justridingalong.com/news/2012/09/cyclocross-wheels-and-tyres/

 

[geo]

If I was to opt for the c24 9000 wheelset, which gets great reviews. I read that it is 10 or 11 speed compatable ( using spacers for a 10 speed cassette ). If I was to opt for a new 11 speed cassette is it simply a case of fitting the 11 speed cassette or is it more complex than that, as in would I have to change other components like chain, gear levers, deraullier etc. sorry if this sounds a daft question but I really dont know the implications of changing from a 10 to 11 speed cassette. Cheers.

 

[Rob3rt]

You would need 11 spd shifters and chain. Mech's would probably be ok, but not sure.

 

[geo]

Thanks Rob, I feared that would be the answer ! I can see ££££ slipping away with that idea so 10 speed and spacer looks like the way to go if I opt for the c24 wheelset

 

[Winnershsaint]

I have the lastest incarnation Ksyrium Elite S. They came with their own Yksion tyres which are currently put away for drier warmer days, hence the Ultremo DDs. Haven't had opportunity to test them out as weather has been so poor and recovering from an accident.
http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/show-us-your-carbon.47549/post-2265931