First Racing Wheelset

Any 8/9/10 speed Shimano-type freehub will do, except certain DuraAce ones. The best you could get for that money would be a pair of second-hand Mavic Cosmic Carbones. You could do worse than Shimano wheels, such as R560 or WH-6600.

New strategy- Is it stupid to upgrade to ultegra + either 550 or 105 wheelset (MAX $250ish for wheels, could b more if i can get more work). Just this money is the only chance of a groupset upgrade in the next year or 2(affordable with those wheels because i dont need brakes, 650 au total). Would either of those wheelsets, or something at that price put me at a serious disadvantage at entry level racing or would they be fine in lower grades.

DirtTurtle said:

New strategy- Is it stupid to upgrade to ultegra + either 550 or 105 wheelset (MAX $250ish for wheels, could b more if i can get more work). Just this money is the only chance of a groupset upgrade in the next year or 2(affordable with those wheels because i dont need brakes, 650 au total). Would either of those wheelsets, or something at that price put me at a serious disadvantage at entry level racing or would they be fine in lower grades.

Your Ultegra upgrade would be reasonable on the basis of getting two extra gears - it would be less justifiable if you already had 9spd.
Frome the point of view of wheels, the R550/ 105 wheel (I think they're pretty much the same thing) is superior in aerodynamics to high-end Ksyriums and probably a lot of other high-end wheels. Since Ksyrium SLs are popular race wheels, you're only going to be ahead of those guys. I think those wheels would be fine. The only reason to pay more would be to get much lighter wheels ($$$$) or 50mm deep profile wheels ($$$$).

If you decide to go for the 105 grade wheels, get at least the WH-R560s or WH-5600, which are the same thing. They are a little better quality than the WH-R550s and WH-R540s. And it is the WH-R560s that performed well in the aerodynamic test that Artemidorus is referrring to. 🙂

I'd stay away form the lower end shimano wheels if you are going to hammer them or race them. Do a search and look at the complaints about broken drive side spokes. Had a chunky guy I ride with break two spokes with 2km of each other with only about 500km on the bike. Was a long walk to the train station. Shop convinced him they never have problems, replaced the spoke and sent him back on his way. WIll be interesting to see how long till he buys a new set of wheels.

If you are going to go pre built try and see if you can get a deal on a set of zondas or racing 3s (basically the same wheel). You can get good deals mail order from overseas (comobike??)

However for the money you are looking at you should be able to get a great set of hand builts. You can pick the grade of hub, spoke, rim, patterns, colour and really own the wheel. They will likely last longer and be cheaper to maintain.

If you are looking to race, get yourself solid equipment and have a go. If you are lacking high or low gears then going 10spd may help as you could extend you gearing range. As long as you bike isn't a tank in need of a service what will slow you down more is the engine, concentrate on that first then worry about the bike.

chainstay said:

If you decide to go for the 105 grade wheels, get at least the WH-R560s or WH-5600, which are the same thing. They are a little better quality than the WH-R550s and WH-R540s. And it is the WH-R560s that performed well in the aerodynamic test that Artemidorus is referrring to. 🙂

I've a friend with 560s and they seem identical in every respect to my 550. Aerodynamically, they must be identical. The 550 suffered from a bad batch of spokes, apparently.

That could be the case. The 560s have very good online reviews whereas the 540s and 550s have a fair number of folks writing in about stuff breaking, so that is why I recommended the poster at least get the 560s or 5600s. However, the OP is looking to spend a lot more money than this wheelset cost, so maybe it is a good idea that he investigate some custom builds as the poster above recommends.

chainstay said:

That could be the case. The 560s have very good online reviews whereas the 540s and 550s have a fair number of folks writing in about stuff breaking, so that is why I recommended the poster at least get the 560s or 5600s. However, the OP is looking to spend a lot more money than this wheelset cost, so maybe it is a good idea that he investigate some custom builds as the poster above recommends.

Custom builds are great for training, but can you really buy a reasonable custom wheelset with 16/20 bladed spokes? If so, can you get it much cheaper than the A$510 for which probikekit will deliver an ultegra wheelset to your door?

Thanks guys plenty of good information. I think dad and mum sounds like they might pitch in a bit so i can afford mid range wheels if i like. I like 560s, i have 500's at(way way cheaper) and so far havnt had any problems with the non aero spokes on those, although i am only a touch over 60kgs so theyre under alot of stress. Have had issues with trueness though, first tuneup after 4000km this mon. Dad loves mavics he seems to be willing to pay more for those (was looking at around Kysrium Elite i think or Cosmic Elite). Dont know what those are like, love the look of the fulcrums looks wise and not common around here(BONUS).

I might look into the customer area aswell, the main thing i want in my wheels is lowest possible rolling resistance(of course not easily breakable rims or ones heavy as lead).

Also im getting the ultegra groupset from probike, are the wheelsets anygood? Price range for wheels will probably be no more than 600 with pitchin from folks so it may be an option.

End of essay :P

At 60kg you shouldn't need to true a decent set of wheels after 4000km unless you ride terrible roads or treat your wheels poorly, even then 400km is not a lot.

If you can afford them Fulcrum racing 3s are great, but have you looked into custom builds yet?? See what it would cost you for ultegra or DA hubs, velocity rims, and butted spokes built to your liking.

Mavic wheels don't have the best rep in here. They don't have the best free hub design, not very aero, and have a high price for weight and performance. Very well marketed though.

Fulcrum racing 3 $500AUD plus postage from comobike. Since it is under $1000 you should get away without GST and import duties, but don't hold me to that!

Phill P said:

Mavic wheels don't have the best rep in here. They don't have the best free hub design, not very aero, and have a high price for weight and performance. Very well marketed though.

Not strictly true. They have a good reputation for robustness and noone would accuse the Cosmic Carbone of not being aerodynamic. The Cosmic Elite seems like a reasonable wheel.

Have to true my wheels for the reason that they are cheap R500s, lots of people have broken spoke problems and trueness is a major issue with them, mines at a point now where it feels like im dragging the back wheel along a bit anything over3 5-40kmh

Well think if they are only 500 au then might go for the fulcrums, or since artemidorus thinks elites arent to bad they are around the same price so thats also an option. Now that i have an idea of speciffically what customs 2 look for ill have a peek around. Truly thankfull for the advice, starting to learn parts etc but so many wheelsets hard 2 know.

artemidorus said:

Not strictly true. They have a good reputation for robustness and noone would accuse the Cosmic Carbone of not being aerodynamic. The Cosmic Elite seems like a reasonable wheel.

Mavics have a bad durability rep with thier free hub only having a bush not a bearing. From experience with my riding bunch had a guy (<80kg) break a spoke on Askiums after 5000km, where as it took me (100kg) 8000km to break one on my zondas, Zondas have less spokes too.

I wouldn't recommend carbones to somebody as thier every day every condition wheels. I was referring to the Ksryrims & Aksiums as being non aero.

Dirt Turtle:
Remember when buying from overseas your warrenty is overseas, and also the listed price does not include postage or any import duties. I'd be interested in hearing how you go if you buy them though, as the prices are very good (my girl friend rides 550s and they are getting on in age with no problems YET). Comobike will include anything else you order at the same time, so if you have the money buy some nice tyres at the same time, but don't buy extra light for everyday, save them to make you feel fast on race day.

yeah overseas is so so cheap, 550s for $155 au atm. Since ill be spending over $1000 the postage isnt 2 bad, so i think itll be either comobike or bikeprokit from what ive seen for pricing.

As for tires, got a set of pro race 2s, will get more its amazing how cheap they are overseas at retail, not a lucky ebay bid.

If you spend over A$1000 overseas, you will be paying GST and dealing with customs. It may not be worth it.

Yeah I've heard that you can get by customs if you order less than $1000 per shipment per supplier per month. Altohugh I'd say if you did this regually you might catch somebody's attension!

I'd order the wheels seperately to the groupset, and a few weeks apart to ensure not drawing the attension of customs. Either that or have the shipments sent to two different places (like a family members house/name).

I'd also like to see hwo people have gone buying frames from overseas. How much does a CAAD 9 frame cost in the US??

artemidorus said:

I've a friend with 560s and they seem identical in every respect to my 550. Aerodynamically, they must be identical. The 550 suffered from a bad batch of spokes, apparently.

I recently picked up a set of Shimano WH-5600s very inexpensively on a sale at Nashbar for $139 USD for the set. They were already on sale and then Nashbar had an additional 20% off coupon on top of the intitial sale. I am probably going to use them this winter for training, and I think, based on the information I have read on this forum regarding their relatively decent aerodynamic properties compared to Ksyrium SLs for example, use them next season on some of the relativley flat, charity event centuries that I regularly participate in. They are also going to be my "wheel in, wheel out" wheels for the limited races that I plan to enter next year. 🙂

I own a set of starlites and have enjoyed them, I think these mag pros would make a great set of race wheels.

vueltausa.commagnesium pro.htmOpen ↗

I have also read that aerodynamically speaking, shimanos chainstay bought are the best bang for the buck.