Wheel buying advise needed

I haven't had experience withe Ksyrium SLs, but I can offer some limited feedback. I just recently sold my Mavic Ksyrium Equipe wheels (which have 20/20 spokes). I loved these wheels, except that when I stood to climb (or stood to sprint, goofing off with my friends), the rear wheel would flex and I could hear the spokes briefly "clang" together. Drove me crazy!

I weigh the same as you -165-170 - and I see the SLs have (18/20 spokes), so I thought I'd offer that up. I'm currently working with some custom builders on a plan to get a higher spoke count combination.

Maybe the SLs have a stiffer rim, however? I'm not sure.

Scott

The shimano wheel is wider at 22mm, the Mavic 19mm. Much has been written on the benefits of wider wheels. The Shimano wheel is more expensive. I would forget the Mavic SL and just go with the regular Elite, which can be procured for way less $$. Same rims, same spokes[Edit:?], different hubs. The weight diff. comes from the hubs where any weight loss is negligible on both feel and performance.

I road a pair of Elites and beat them up bad for a couple thousand miles, like an Irish traveller bare knuckle boxer. They never left true or broke a spoke once, even with the low spoke count. 1550gm is light for a set of cheap factory wheels. Rumor has it lighter riders find them too stiff. They are very responsive, notably more than the Zipp101's I'm currently riding. I've ridden the deep section DA wheels of the version you are considering, and for a deep section wheel they were pretty comfortable, the shallower rim of the C24 probably more so. During a race, I hit a BAD pothole on the deep section version, the CRACK was loud enough that almost every rider close to me in the pack lifted their head and said WTF!? There was no damage to the edge of the wheel and it remained true. They are also a low spoke count wheel. I weigh 170lbs.The deep section version didn't seem to do so well on 50+mph descents.

The Mavic front hub skewers need to be greased after riding in the rain (yes the skewer), otherwise a clicking noise that was attributed to all kinds of things like the pedals, crankset, handlebar connection to the stem, would occur under load until after some serious troubleshooting. Skewers aside, the DA hubs are significantly better.

There are many wheel options, I have commented only on the wheels you asked about. Personally if I had the cash I would go for the DA wheels. And personally I would go for the clinchers.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by CyclinYooper [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

I just recently sold my Mavic Ksyrium Equipe wheels (which have 20/20 spokes). I loved these wheels, except that when I stood to climb (or stood to sprint, goofing off with my friends), the rear wheel would flex and I could hear the spokes briefly "clang" together. Drove me crazy!

I'm not sure about the newer Equipes, but comparitively speaking when compared to "same generation" Elites they were somewhat inferior.

Edit: I wonder if the clanging was the same noise as the clicking I heard before greasing the skewer. It took me, the store owner, and 2 separate mechanics to nail it down. Drove me crazy too! I road the Aksiums for awhile and they are a little further down on the Mavic totem then the Equipes. I liked those wheels also. However I've been a fanboy since the GP4's and may be biased.

I'd get the Shimanos over the Mavics any day. As mentioned the Shimanos are wider, which will produce a more optimal contact patch shape and will also allow you to run slightly lower pressure, thus giving you a slightly larger contact patch and thus more traction, all with the proverbial top-mounted cherry of more ride comfort. Also, the Shimano hubs beat the pants off of Mavic hubs. Dura Ace hubs are among the best of the best hubs.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by CyclinYooper [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

I just recently sold my Mavic Ksyrium Equipe wheels (which have 20/20 spokes). I loved these wheels, except that when I stood to climb (or stood to sprint, goofing off with my friends), the rear wheel would flex and I could hear the spokes briefly "clang" together. Drove me crazy!

I have these wheels on my Synapse. I put a little over 3000 miles on them this past year and they are still true. I am 10 lbs heavier than you and have never had the rear wheel flexing or spokes clanging.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by danfoz [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

I'm not sure about the newer Equipes, but comparitively speaking when compared to "same generation" Elites they were somewhat inferior.

:snip:

The Ksyrium wheel versions represent a "progression" of features, rather than inferior/superior. I have an older set (2006/7) of Equipes that I use for "rain wheels" on one bike and my wife has a 2011 set. They are solid wheelsets, well sealed, with traditional through rim spoke drilling and other mid-priced features. They share the Mavic Ksyrium delrin bushing in the hub body rather than a bearing, which tends to add a little free wheel drag with wear.

I demoed the Elite and SL before deciding to select other wheelsets. My perceptions were that the custom rim/ drilling for the Elite and SL shaves some weight and optimizes tubeless tires because the inner extrusion is uncompromised. The Equipe and Elite have standard steel "aero" spokes. The SL has beefy alu "aero" spokes.that make the SL stiffer and deliver a much harsher ride. That's subjective, but same bike, different wheelsets (same tires) that is what I perceived. The Elite and SL have weight saving hub design/components (alu/carbon) and an enhanced bearing adjustment system.

For the OP, the SL is a light, stiff wheelset - one to consider. Demo and see. No personal experience with Shimano wheels.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by sitzmark [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

The Ksyrium wheel versions represent a "progression" of features, rather than inferior/superior.

That is a better way to put it.

jimmynx

If you want BOMB Proof wheeles, Joe Young is the way to go. I had a set of DT240 swiss hubs laced with DT spokes to DT RR Rims. I used them for four years, Hash New Jersey Winters with Sink holes in the road. They are still true to date. My weight on avg was about 170, at my most porky 185.

Joe can build a wheel, period.

As for Price, Can you put a price on a set of wheeles that you can mount and forget? His prices are as fair a any you can find, if not better.

Regards

Paul

I see nobody treats Campagnolo's wheelset.. I wonder)

flyman2 said:

I see nobody treats Campagnolo's wheelset.. I wonder)

Can you complete those thoughts? As they stand, they make no sense.