Cheap long lasting wheels - R500?

janiejones said:

I'm looking to buy a cheap spare set of wheels, nothing special, look good, not too heavy and will last a while, to ride on recreational rides.

I have used Ambrosio, Alex and Campag Vento before, which I liked - has anyone has any experience with Shimano R500 - I'm not looking for performance for this bike - just reliable and not expensive.

Mavic Open Pro w/Ultegra hubs, $225 at Performance Bike. Super durable and reliable. Those Shimanos use proprietary spokes and anything with low spoke count is going to need some tweaking along the way.

capwater said:

Mavic Open Pro w/Ultegra hubs, $225 at Performance Bike. Super durable and reliable. Those Shimanos use proprietary spokes and anything with low spoke count is going to need some tweaking along the way.

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Don't buy them. There are better wheels out there. I'm not heavy or hard on my bike but I've had so much trouble with them compared with other wheels I've had.
I've had 3 broken spokes, numerous times I've had to adjust the spokes and now I carrry a spoke wrench in my underseat pack - just in case.
It's taken about 4000kilometres for them to settle down. 🙁
Paul

I was just at Performance bike today and their Titan Wheelset was awesome. 1755 g a set, aero rims, bladed spokes, and $179.00 a pair. I think I will be getting these for my OCR 1. And they have low hub friction too.

I looked at the Campy Sciroccos and they had bad hub friction. Then the Shimano 600 was only 10 speed. Velocity Spartacus has hub friction.

But these wheels have a 200 lb rider weight limit.

JTE83 said:

I was just at Performance bike today and their Titan Wheelset was awesome. 1755 g a set, aero rims, bladed spokes, and $179.00 a pair. I think I will be getting these for my OCR 1. And they have low hub friction too.

I looked at the Campy Sciroccos and they had bad hub friction. Then the Shimano 600 was only 10 speed. Velocity Spartacus has hub friction.

But these wheels have a 200 lb rider weight limit.

For the price; for an inexpensive backup set I was wondering whether these or the Gemini set from them would be a better set of wheels?

Just curious. What do you do about replacement spokes with a wheelset like these?

janiejones said:

I'm looking to buy a cheap spare set of wheels, nothing special, look good, not too heavy and will last a while, to ride on recreational rides.

I have used Ambrosio, Alex and Campag Vento before, which I liked - has anyone has any experience with Shimano R500 - I'm not looking for performance for this bike - just reliable and not expensive.

They're alryt for that purpose. If you can get a hold of the 550s even better. Expect to pay about $100 for a pair.

Easton Vista. They will last forever. OK, not forever, but they are STRONG (I have used them for cyclocross and road training) and fast ( I have used them for Time Trials and Road Races).

capwater said:

Mavic Open Pro w/Ultegra hubs, $225 at Performance Bike. Super durable and reliable. Those Shimanos use proprietary spokes and anything with low spoke count is going to need some tweaking along the way.

Not true. Every wheel I have had that was 'professionally built' comes out of true constantly. Mavic Open Pro, Velocity Aerohead OC, etc. All come out of true and have spokes that break. And they have been 'professionally built' by wheelbuilders, LBS', etc.

My best wheels have all been pre-builts. Campagnolo Eurus, Easton/Velomax Vista, Shimano 7801, all great wheels that are strong, don't break spokes, and stay in true.

capwater said:

Mavic Open Pro w/Ultegra hubs, $225 at Performance Bike. Super durable and reliable. Those Shimanos use proprietary spokes and anything with low spoke count is going to need some tweaking along the way.

I second the OP w/Ultegra hubs. Boudreaux liked them as well as he frequently recommended them.

SuperGo (now Performance) used to sell them for about $200, but the poster is in AUS so shipping would be pretty high.