that might be a stupid question but i have an Allez Comp 06 with 105's and Mavic Aksium Race wheels. I want to upgrade to a tarmac, maybe the level w/ ultegra's is it really worth it to upgrade or should i just ride this bike for a couple more years and buy what it

also the wheels i have on my Allez are Mavic Aksium Race, they weigh in at 1900grams for the pair...is it worth it to upgrade to ksyrium equipe/elites or higher? i just want a little more improvment any help is appreciated thank you

that might be a stupid question but i have an Allez Comp 06 with 105's and Mavic Aksium Race wheels. I want to upgrade to a tarmac, maybe the level w/ ultegra's is it really worth it to upgrade or should i just ride this bike for a couple more years and buy what it

also the wheels i have on my Allez are Mavic Aksium Race, they weigh in at 1900grams for the pair...is it worth it to upgrade to ksyrium equipe/elites or higher? i just want a little more improvment any help is appreciated thank you

Having just upgraded to Ksyrium SLs after many, many years on Mavic Open Pros (the standard in conventional wheels, IMO), I have a thing or two to say about it. First off, for most of the Ksyriums, you're not looking at a weight saving over conventional wheels. Nor are they more aero. What they seem to be is much more stiff. This can be good or bad, but at the level most people ride the difference is subtle. I would think most new riders would have trouble putting their fingers on any objective difference.

Can I tell the difference? Yes. Is it subtle? You betcha. Check out my thread in Wheels and Tires today if you want to know what I found.

In your case, you have a pretty decent set of wheels already too. I would NOT spend money on new wheels expecting to gain anything, unless you're ready to throw down on very expensive light and/or aero wheels.

In fact, I wouldn't change a thing until you've got at least a couple thousand miles in, and maybe not then. 105 is decent gear, and as I said you've got pretty good wheels there already. Ride, ride, ride, learn to maintain/service what you have, and upgrade when you feel pretty certain there's a particular lack in what you have.

There are alot better quality wheels for less money than the K's. I'd buy a better quality wheel and keep the originals as back ups. Oddsandendos.com has good quality hand built wheels that are readily serviceable(no special parts) and of course there are the standard Ultegra hubs with Velocity or open pro rims.

For me wheels are a big deal. I found the Ksyrium SL's to be stiffer, with a wonderful machined braking surface and overall balance than that found on many OEM wheels I've had such as Bontrager XX Lites, AC CR420's, and various Shimano wheels. And the difference from the Ksyriums to Zipp 303 tubulars is night and day- WAY stiffer, better bearings, aerodynamics, and way low weight for better acceleration and climbing.

I'd say see if a buddy would let you test out a set of his quality wheels on your bike to see if you could feel a difference. I suspect you would when jumping to sprint, climbing, and in high speed stability in downhills.

that might be a stupid question but i have an Allez Comp 06 with 105's and Mavic Aksium Race wheels. I want to upgrade to a tarmac, maybe the level w/ ultegra's is it really worth it to upgrade or should i just ride this bike for a couple more years and buy what it

also the wheels i have on my Allez are Mavic Aksium Race, they weigh in at 1900grams for the pair...is it worth it to upgrade to ksyrium equipe/elites or higher? i just want a little more improvment any help is appreciated thank you


You need to tell us where you live, and what kind of riding you do. Do you live near significant elevation? Are you climbing a lot? Are you thinking of racing? Time Trialling? What do you want out of your wheels? Bling? Durablility? Light Weight? Aero?
PERSONALLY, I think the K's are a waste of money. The Aksiums you have are more aero than the K's based on testing, and only a little heavier. We could give you more advice, but you really have to answer some of the questions above so that we can point you in the right direction.

Not sure I would agree with K's being a complete waste of money. Have a pair of Roval Rapides, ZIPP Weaponry, and Ksyrium ES. I love changing wheels out for different rides. K's are actually lighter than the Rapides, and rock stiff and hubs are pretty awesome. I would never pay retail for them, though, don't believe in paying over 1G on aluminum wheels. However, think they are the best daily riding, tour riding, and even good race wheels - all around best for me. Just my two cents. You can get them cheap on Ebay. Agree with phy that it matters what you're doing with them. For example, really notice the stiffness quality of the K's really comes into play when climbing hills.