I'm being offered a pair of mavic heliums in very good condition for roughly 150 dollars.
i'm ALL for owning a piece of bike history, but i only have two bikes and this will be the fourth wheelset, which makes it a little hard to justify, which means it'll probably be the rainy ride wheelset.
Now, i know the heliums were ridden to victory in the paris-roubaix and can stand the most demanding conditions yadda yadda yadda, but the paris roubaix is ONE day, and i want to know if they will withstand possibly years of riding in the rain, with propper care.
any input¿
cheers!

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.....................

Used light wheelset * years(commuting + rain filled potholes) = trouble squared

if those exact heliums were ridden in PR you might have something with your "a piece of bike history" justification...

ooh c'mon! they were the wheels that started the boutique wheel revolution!
plus they look really really cool!

ooh c'mon! they were the wheels that started the boutique wheel revolution!
plus they look really really cool!

You must be thinking of Roval Wheels.

I'd have to say that heliums are probably more suited to a race specific wheel, and something more stoudt wouldbe a better rain/commuting/training wheel.
Of course, with as many wheels you have, it couldn't hurt to see how durable they can be.
Please report your longterm review/results.

the rovals were the first to be factory-built, but i was under the impression that the heliums were the first to be significantly successful

Now, i know the heliums were ridden to victory in the paris-roubaix and can stand the most demanding conditions yadda yadda yadda, but the paris roubaix is ONE day, and i want to know if they will withstand possibly years of riding in the rain, with propper care.
any input¿
cheers!Not used in Paris Roubaix & NEVER ridden to victory. Heliums were the first CLIMBING wheelset. 1500g 26/28 spoke wheels for $150 - nice but not tough at all.

1500g 26/28 spoke wheels for $150 - nice but not tough at all.


troble is, i already have a 1500 gram wheelset. i ride K SLs as my everyday wheels.

I used to have a set of Heliums that I got used. I liked them, they stayed true but when I had 2 spokes ( rear wheel) break over the course of a couple of months, I figured the wheels were due for a major overhaul and decided to sell them. I'm not sure how many miles total the wheels had on them. I had probably put about 5000 on them before I sold them.

I wouldn'tthink they're good for commuter wheels, but I say for $150, good shape, they'd be good for training/rain wheels. Plus they look cool IMO.

They collect water easily and definitely if you go through puddles, pools, and flooded underpasses. Unless you are a featherweight, I would opt for sturdier wheels.