Hi,

Looking for a clincher wheelset for a new C40, 57cm. Building with Campy record.

I would like a set of wheels that are fast, reliable/durable, and relatively comfortable (I guess good and everything but not great at anything). Only planning on one set of wheels...I am 160 lbs, and do a fair amt of climbing as well.

Was considering the Bontrager race xlites, '04 model or the campy neutron or eurus (all clinchers). Bontragers were considered as they are less expensive than the campy wheels (ie. the weak dollar). Any thoughts?

thx,

I have a set of 2002 Neutrons, clincher, which I use on my C40. They're my favorite wheels and I like them better than my Ksyrium SL's.

All that being said, a set of handbuilt wheels, say 32 rear and 28 front, using DT or Ambrosio Excellight rims along with Sapim Laser or DT Revolution spokes would work just as well. I have a set using Excellights and Lasers and they're just as nice as the Neutrons.

Despite my liking the Neutron's, one thing to note is the cost of parts. I pretzeled a front wheel, hitting a pedestrian at about 25mph. No one was hurt which was a miracle but the cost of a replacement rim and spokes is almost the same as a new wheel. Just something to keep in mind.

The good news is that the parts are available and repairing the wheel is not difficult.

I have no experience with the Bontranger's or the Eurus.

Boneman,
Thanks for the feedback! I will look into the handbuilt option. I was focussing on prebuilts because of something I read about the differences in spoke tension between drive and non-drive sides.

I usually used Nucleons (predecessor of Neutrons) and Ksyriums on my C40. I, right or wrong, like the "purity" of an all Campy bike with the Nucleons, but the Ksyriums are just great wheels. Me, I would never put Bontragers on a C40. I'd just go with Open Pros and Record hubs before I'd do that.

Doug

Hi,

Looking for a clincher wheelset for a new C40, 57cm. Building with Campy record.

I would like a set of wheels that are fast, reliable/durable, and relatively comfortable (I guess good and everything but not great at anything). Only planning on one set of wheels...I am 160 lbs, and do a fair amt of climbing as well.

Was considering the Bontrager race xlites, '04 model or the campy neutron or eurus (all clinchers). Bontragers were considered as they are less expensive than the campy wheels (ie. the weak dollar). Any thoughts?

thx,

Eurus are solid. 3500 miles into my second set and still running fast and true. I weigh about 180 and we do a lot of long climbing and fast descents. Mine have always run great with the Vittoria Open Corsa.

If you can spare the $$, check out the Hyperons.

Don't know about the Bontragers other than I see a lot of them around now.

I use a pair of Nucleons for my everyday wheel. Pretty durable and reasonably light. But, they are not has fast as Rolf Vectors I had on my last bike, a Zurich. But, I wanted a lower profile wheel on my C-40 than the Rolfs were. Broke a spoke last year and it wasn't easy or cheap to get it repaired. Also, it was so out of round that I couldn't ride and had to walk home. About 5k miles and the spoke is the only problem so far.

I just got a new set of Hyperons/Tufos that I plan to use for serious climbing and organized rides - or just whenever. Man what a wheelset! I'm using one of the heavier Tufos, but this still knocks off 400+ grams from the Nucleons. The bike feels so quick now...it's almost like getting quick little shots of NOX with each pedal stroke. People say tubies are out, but this combo with Tufos new adhesive and sealant is a snap to use. Plus, I felt if I was truly a cycling enthusiast as I claim to be, I had to experience a really high end wheel and tubies. You only live once, right?

With a C-40 i would get Mavic Cosmic Carbone. Deep section rims and all carbon construction. a bit pricey but worth every dollar.

With a C-40 i would get Mavic Cosmic Carbone. Deep section rims and all carbon construction. a bit pricey but worth every dollar.
The 2005 Carbones may be all carbon, but not the earlier models. I recently received a new 2004 rear Carbone to replace my broken 1998 model. The new 2004 SSC is still the same old aluminum rim with CF? faring. And I quit trying to use them for everyday riding.
~Al

Get a pair of Rolf Prima Elan Aero's if you want to climb fast. These wheels are as light as Campy Hyperons and less than 1/2 the price. Better yet, being clinchers, you can realistically train on them everyday without having to carry entire spare tires with you which you will have to do training on tubulars which no one does anymore but fools. Even the best pro's train on clinchers now. Elan Aero's would be a legitimate training and race day wheelset which can hang with just about any tubular on the market other than really deep V tubies from a performance point.