Wheels/Rims...

bartsie said:

 
Alienator, what do you think of the complete A23 wheels? I'm seeing the Pro build for less than $600.
 
Also could you give a decent ref. to read up on wide rims. Will brakes need adjustment? Do tire manufacturers test the clinchers on wide rims?
 
I've been considering the Ksyrium Elites (couldn't actually google up their rim width!) - how do you reckon they compare to the A23s?
 
 

I don't know about complete A23 wheels. I choose the rims, spokes, and hubs for my wheels, and my next A23 rim will be built with Aerolite spokes and a White Industries H2 front hub. I don't know of a single best source for information on wide rims. A lot of bike rags have had articles on 'em, and it's likely a search will yield more results. Some brakes can't accommodate larger rims, but I don't have a list of such brakes. It's possible depending on how your brakes are set up that you may need to re-do the cable setup (possibly just in a different position or possibly with a new cable) or just back-off the barrel adjuster. It just depends on how far your barrel adjuster is screwed in when the brakes are initially setup and on what brakes you have. I have Mavic SSC brakes, and when I had the rear built up with an A23 rim, I had enough adjustment left in the barrel adjuster to accommodate the wider rim. Note, though, that I don't run my rear brakes nearly as close to the rim as my front brakes. Mavic's rims are typically 19mm wide rims. I'm not a big fan of Mavic wheels, especially their rear wheels with the delrin bushing equipped hub. I once used for a bit Ksyrium Elite wheel set, and wasn't terribly impressed. My impression was "meh." I think there are a bunch of better hubs out there and that a wheel built up with an A23 and hub of your choice (White Industries, Chris King, DT Swiss, Alchemy, I9, C4........) would be better and a bit lighter than the Ksyrium Elites. YMMV.

Quoted post said:

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

Those 3 sites are loaded with generalities.

But neither site is negative towards CF wheels, that was my point. They simply list pros and cons to either CF or AL wheels. I could have easily posted sites that are negative towards CF wheels because personally I don't like them and would never use them, but that's just my opinion, not the opinions however shared by most wheel builders, so I was trying to be as fair as one can be...at least I hope I was!!

I haven't been willing to buy CF clinchers until the latest generation came out (Zipp's Firecrest clinchers, Enve's SES series, 3T Mercurios--not officially out yet--and even the new Reynolds wheels with CTg.....), as I didn't think manufacturers had adequately addressed heat management in the brake tracks. Now they've done that and more. I wouldn't buy CF clinchers from an off-brand or from someone selling open mold wheels as I'd like to know/see that a company has effectively dealt with heat management. Durability of CF wheels has certainly improved. The new, wider cross sections on Zipp's and Enve's wheels should be more comfortable since the wheel cross sections will promote flex of the rim sidewall when bumps or worse are encountered. This should reduce the impulse applied to the clincher walls. Whether it's significant or not is another matter. At any rate, there are more than enough options to find something to meet any wheel buyer's fancy.

Well, I went ahead and ordered the wheels today.

Alchemy hubs, CXRay spokes, Enve 45mm CF clincher rims. They spec out at 1386 grams. It'll be a couple of weeks before they are ready (hubs are on back order). I'll post actual data when they are build.

PMP Skewers were ordered as well.

JoelS said:

Well, I went ahead and ordered the wheels today.
Alchemy hubs, CXRay spokes, Enve 45mm CF clincher rims. They spec out at 1386 grams. It'll be a couple of weeks before they are ready (hubs are on back order). I'll post actual data when they are build.

PMP Skewers were ordered as well.

Post pics when you get 'em.

Will do!

I'm pretty sure someone posted wheelbuilder.com but just want to get wheelbuilder.com out there ALIENATOR mentioned it to me and I just wanted to share, plus I'm too lazy to read all of the responses, so here's my response 🙂

Quoted post said:

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

I'm pretty sure someone posted wheelbuilder.com but just want to get wheelbuilder.com out there ALIENATOR mentioned it to me and I just wanted to share, plus I'm too lazy to read all of the responses, so here's my response [IMG]/img/vbsmilies/smilies/smile.gif[/IMG]

Well, I'm not too lazy to respond [IMG]/img/vbsmilies/smilies/rolleyes.gif[/IMG]. I'm quite familiar with WheelBuilder. But I'm having the wheels built up locally by a fellow that is a perfectionist, AND has quite an eye for detail. He's really good at what he does. But thanks for a suggestion, even if too late.

When carbon rims offer braking that as consistent as alloy rims I'll be willing to go that route but I've had a few rides on Zipp and Edge wheels that have left me wanting to wait until the next generation of rims... but that was a couple of years ago. Lets just say the experience didn't lend itself to wanting to hurl myself down a twisty narrow road for miles on end...

The thought of the up coming Dura Ace disk brakes and some nice carbon rims - that'd be worth a looksie - especially when someone designs a rim specifically for disk brake use only for a road bike.