Wheel choice (was Re: 7 to 8 Speed)

08-05-2004, 10:46 AM

I would like to thank everyone for their input on my 7 to 8 speed
conversion. Because I am using 8 speed bar-end shifters in friction
mode, I am delighted that I will be able to easily upgrade to 9 speed
with minimal cost. Also because of the discussion here I re-measured
my drop-outs and discovered that they are 130mm.

Now I can focus selecting the wheel. Originaly I had my mind made up
to go with aerospokes. However after reading reviews and talking with
LBS that it appears that the Aerospokes do surve their purpose - but
that purpose my not be mine.

Since I'm not a Clydesdale (When I weigh light I'm at 163lbs and when
I am heavy I am at 175lbs - I'm currently at 165lbs) I may be better
off with a lighter wheel.

Anyway here is what I'm looking for in order of priorities:

$500 wheelset (or less)

Aero - I am currently averaging about 23mph on a 6.6 mile rolling
lightly hilly time-trial course. About 19.5mph for 50 miles on a
hilly course.

Fast - I want to notice a difference from what I am currently riding.
Not just mentally faster - but measurably faster than my current pair
of stock Mavic 195s with RSX hubs (read "cheap" if you don't know
them). Now when I say fast I mean Time Trial fast - not Criterium
fast. Since my racing will be limited to TT and Triathlon's I don't
think quick acceleration is nearly as important.

Robust - I don't think I'm particularly hard on my wheels. I've
popped one spoke in 8 years (just a couple of months ago) on the set I
currently have. But I don't want to have to services these wheels on
a regular basis. I don't own a trueing stand and I don't want to
learn how to use one.

Light - I'm getting better on the hills, and with the new 9 speed I'll
be going to I will have some more gears to work with - but if it will
help me in the hills I would obviously prefer a lighter wheel to a
heavier wheel all other properties being equal.

Any Suggestions?

Thanks!
CF