| Discussion: new bike wheels |
Subject: new bike wheels By: Laura M.
Written on: Thursday April 05, 2012 Message: I'm looking to upgrade my wheels on my Specialized
Dolce bike. I currently have the original wheels
and I want to upgrade without breaking the bank.
I know I could spend more on new wheels than I
originally spent on my bike but I am hoping to
spend in the $500 range (if not less). My LBS is
recommending a Bontrager wheel (I think its the
Race Lite wheel) and its about $580. Is that a
good wheel for that price range or should I
consider something else? I think probably any
wheel would be a huge improvement over what I have
now... |
Subject: RE: new bike wheels By: Jamie B.
Written on: Thursday April 05, 2012 Message: Stay as far away from Bontrager wheels as
possible! They are very unreliable and have all
kinds of warranty problems. I have been a Trek
store dealer or manager for more than 12 years and
filed no less than a dozen warranties a week on
these wheels. Research them on the web you will
find in other forums the problems. Rims
cracking, spokes constantly loosening, hubs
cracking, hub bearings coming loose. You name it
they have had it in the last 7 years. I actually
had to file 5 warranties on my own wheels too.
The wheel they have had the most problem with is
the Race Lite which is the one they are trying to
sell you. It really says something when the
company has to redesign a wheel every year to try
to figure things out. We have even gone the route
of eating the cost of Bontrager wheels and
upgrading customers to the a shimano 105 or Easton
wheel just to avoid all the return trips and free
maintenance we had to give out.
On
Treks own project one site they now offer shimano
and Mavic wheels to those who don't want Bontrager
on hi end bikes. So that says a lot when you do
something like that.
If you are
looking for some solid wheels go with Mavic or
Easton. much less problems and far less hassle! |
Subject: RE: new bike wheels By: Laura M.
Written on: Thursday April 05, 2012 Message: Thanks, Jamie. I did a quick research earlier and
found those same complaints. I was hoping you
would pipe in and either confirm the complaints or
recommend the wheels. I'll stay away from
Bontrager! |
Subject: RE: new bike wheels By: Jamie B.
Written on: Friday April 06, 2012 Message: No problem! Just wanted to save you some hassle
:) There is no rhyme or reason we have had some
customers that get years out of them and others
who we did warranties for once a year or so.
The wheels and some of Trek's other
warranty issues were one of the reasons we decided
to go with a different bike line for my new store
too. |
Subject: RE: new bike wheels By: Kurt J.
Written on: Saturday April 07, 2012 Message: Laura, new wheels aren't going to make you any
faster... :) |
Subject: RE: new bike wheels By: Jamie B.
Written on: Saturday April 07, 2012 Message: Yes they won't make you faster but they allow you
to be faster :) Smoother bearings equals less
drag equals more watts with the same amount of
work. Plus half a pound of rotational weight is
equal to 5 pounds rider weight. I am 1 full mph
faster on my race wheels on a 40k time trial.
Most people are amazed at the difference a nice
set of wheels make even the recreational riders
we let use at the shop. |
Subject: RE: new bike wheels By: Stacia J.
Written on: Sunday April 08, 2012 Message: I think Kurt's just jealous that you have a new
bike, and that instead of getting new wheels you
guys should split a stand-up paddleboard. |
Subject: RE: new bike wheels By: Laura M.
Written on: Sunday April 08, 2012 Message: @KJ...so there!
Jamie, looking at the
Mavic Ksyrium line, is there at huge difference
between the Elite, Equipe, the SL and SR? What do
I look for other than weight? I'm a small light
rider and easy on my wheels. I've never broken a
spoke for instance. |
Subject: RE: new bike wheels By: Jamie B.
Written on: Sunday April 08, 2012 Message: The ksyrium line is probably the best selling
wheel line of all time. It is very similar in
depth and built on the same mold so the are going
to handle very well top to bottom. Basically the
differences you are seeing from the Elite to the
SR are materials used in the hubs and spokes.
Lightening up a hub can save some watts and
improve rolling resistance too. Even though a
wheel may be similar in weight if the hub and
bearings are better than it will produce less
drag. From what it looks like is the spokes are
higher quality on the SR which will help deflect
some road vibrations.
The Mavic Elite
is a great wheel for the price! I thought I saw or
heard from a rep that it is the number 1 wheel of
all time. If you have the extra take that over
the Equippe the other 2 are up around the 1k and
above at that range there are better options that
will be more aerodynamic.
At the 800
dollar range the Easton EA90 is the best wheel out
there it is a little heavier but it is a deeper
dish rim making it more aero. This will help gain
speed but once up to speed help you maintain it
too. Don't know if there are any closeouts on the
web but never hurts to look especially if you can
find a coupon somewhere. If my store was open I
would hook you up big time but we are still in the
process of getting the site built :)
We
had a similar incident at my old shop. A lady had
a 600 dollar hydrid he husband bought the 400
dollar one. She was faster than him on downhills
even though he weighed 60 pounds more than her. We
switched up the wheels one day for them and he was
faster than her so he decided that he would spend
250 bucks on better wheels.
Hope this
helps let me know if you have any other questions!
|
Subject: RE: new bike wheels By: Jacob S.
Written on: Sunday April 08, 2012 Message: Hi Laura,
Great thread, I am looking for
a set of wheels in the same price range as well.
I am not in a hurry to buy, but these are the 3-4
sets I am focused on. The prices below are what I
can buy them for online in china where I live so
take them as a reference.
Mavic Ksyrium
Elite (~$480)
Fulcrum Racing 5
(~$340)
Shimano Ultegra 6700 (~$500)
DT
Swiss R1900 (~$350)
I think I am leaning
toward the Mavic Ksyrium Elite set. Reason is
much the same as Jamie's advice above, after
asking around with all the bikers I know I would
summarize that the Mavic rims have the best mix of
technology and quality. They get it by selling
good volume of a great product (the volume is why
their quality is so much better...they get lots of
user feedback and work out the
kinks)
Cheers...
|
Subject: RE: new bike wheels By: Laura M.
Written on: Monday April 09, 2012 Message: Thanks, Jamie that does help. Be sure and let us
know when your site is up and running. I'm even
tempted to take a road trip to visit your shop
since I'm losing faith in my lbs!
Jacob,
thanks for the info. With the research I've done
and yours and Jamie's input, I'm leaning heavily
towards the Mavic Elite. Btw, how is the training
in China? That's gotta be tough! |
Subject: RE: new bike wheels By: Jamie B.
Written on: Monday April 09, 2012 Message: That would be awesome love to meet you and help
you out. Right now we are locked in at Aug 1 for
opening. We could have gone a little earlier but
the model years turn in July/ Aug so we would have
basically carried old stock product that we would
have to put on sale immediately. With the Aug
opening we can do a proper pre season and get all
the new product and what old stuff we ordered will
be discounted. We will be doing some cool programs
and offering some ontri benefits too so more on
that once we get closer:)
Jacob brought
up some great points as well! He also listed some
other great options too! One wheel I would add to
that list is the Easton EA70. But think the Mavic
Elite is just a touch better at that price.
Good luck both of you and feel free to
hit me up anytime you have questions!
jb |
Subject: RE: new bike wheels By: Willard H.
Written on: Friday April 13, 2012 Message: I got the EA70s last summer and I think they are a
great upgrade from the stock Alex wheels I had,
and they were pretty reasonably priced on sale. |
Subject: RE: new bike wheels By: John D .
Written on: Friday April 13, 2012 Message: Look t Stan's wheels... They come highly
recommended from my bike shop. |
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