Rider: 170lbs
Use: general road riding, some fast "crit" type training
roads: some can get pretty bumpy here
wheels: ulegra/open pro and Mavic Aksium


if both were about the same price (maybe $10 difference), which should i go for?

or, to throw a wrench in the survey, what if i could get ulegra/cxp22 for $30 less?

Rider: 170lbs
Use: general road riding, some fast "crit" type training
roads: some can get pretty bumpy here
wheels: ulegra/open pro and Mavic Aksium


if both were about the same price (maybe $10 difference), which should i go for?

or, to throw a wrench in the survey, what if i could get ulegra/cxp22 for $30 less?
no brainer. tegs/OP.

No brainer: Ult/OP's. Smoother ride, very reliable (assuming good build for both wheelsets), and much easier to repair/maintain. The Ult/CXP22's should be similar to Ult/OP's. Aksiums have a different style, but looks are a personal choice.

I've just got some Dura-Ace/Open Pros wheels. Ride like a dream.

Askiums are Mavic's budget priced pre-built wheels. I haven't heard any bad things about them, but you hear nothing but good things about the OP"S. I currently have a set of D/A OP's that I am extremly happy with. I'm 275 lbs and they have about 1500 miles on them and have yet to see a spoke wrench. Their durability is well documented, and I can attest to that also. Another option is the Mavic cxp33 rims. Also very durable, but in a V shaped aero profile. But between the Askiums and OP/Ultegras, here's another nod to the OP's.

Go with the Ult/OPs. I am certain they are as light or lighter than the Aksiums. More importantly, you can get them repaired just about anywhere if you break a spoke or they need truing. I was on a bike tour with my brother when he cracked a rim on his Ksriums. Even though there was a very good bike shop in the town, they didn't have any spare K rims, so he had to buy a new set of wheels to continue the ride. Despite their reputation (or marketing?), the Mavic pre-built wheels are not bullet proof. I have seen a number of these wheels break spokes on rides with friends, and have seen broken rims twice.

I just got a set of Ulteg/OP from these guys -

http://www.bicyclewheelwarehouse.com/index.php?act=viewCat&catId=1

Just great.

I am on the verge of replacing my Aksiums with custom many-spoke jobs. Not OP's but Alexrims R400, same sort of idea.

I have tried both Aksium and 32 spoke Alex. The 32 spoke wheels are lighter, feel lighter and ride nicer. No aero disadvantage I could measure (downhill coastdown tests). They offer functional advantages and no disadvantages except lack of bling-style.

With your mass, 28 spoke rims should be fine if you can get them. Or maybe just for the front wheel, if you want max stiffness at the back.

i have a set of open pro/ultegras on the way. hopefully they will be here wednesday for a wednesday/thursday bike build...

I've used OPs for as long as they've been makin 'em. Have expiremented with other rims and always come back to OPs. They have proven to be one tough rim. The double eyelet design really anchors the spokes solidly. (I've seen too many other rims crack in this area)