New wheels for my steel framed racer ?

[Ned]

I ride a 1996 Argos Racing Cycles steel framed bike and would like to upgrade the wheels. Current ones are Mavic MA3 rimmed, running 10 speed Campag. Would like something lighter (I am 140lbs, and use the bike for leisure riding). Suggestions please (something up to about £300 for a wheelset).

[NetworkMan]

Do you know the weight of what you have already? The MA3 is about 490g which is not that heavy.

[Brucey]

IIRC the rims you have are ~495g. You can get 'lighter wheels' but they will mostly be lighter in the hubs (often at the expense of durability) and spokes (fewer of them, often resulting in rather flexy wheel).

If you want a wheelset that suits the bike and feels more lively, you could get wheels built with Open ProC rims (about 435g?) and with lightweight spokes and nipples (Aluminium nipples are really only for summertime use though). This arrangement has the advantage that it is 'period correct' for the bike which may or may not matter to you. Between weight savings in the rims, spokes and hubs you might get ~200g lighter this way.

If you just want to go faster then a set of more aerodynamic rims would be a good choice. Some aero wheels are noticeably nastier to ride on though, and few are really lightweight either.

However the wheel choice is entirely skewed by what kind of tyres you want to use, and tyres are more important than wheels in determining the feel of the bike. So you probably need to say if you are going to use 23s, 25s or 28s and probably what sort they are (they come up different sizes and suit different rims better or worse too).

cheers

[Ned]

Thanks. Good point about summertime use only. I use 25mm tyres (currently Vittoria Rubino Pro ).

[Spinners]

I ride a skinny-tubed steel framed road bike and factory-built wheels never look quite right on it (to me at least) so I'm on 105 hubs on Open Pro rims.

[tatanab]

Do you need to replace them? The MA3 was quite a nice rim, and if they carry a 10 speed cassette then the wheels are more recent than the frame. If this is for occasional leisure riding I would stick with what you have.

[Jamesh]

For light weight wheels

Cero wheels from cycle division

Or superstar components wheels get good reviews.

https://www.superstarcomponents.com/en/ ... eelset.htm

Otherwise Ultegra wheels or Mavic kysrium are pretty well regarded.

Cheers James

[pwa]

https://www.hopetech.com/products/wheel ... -rs4/#tech

Hope hubs can do Campag. If you can afford it. And your sensitivity to freewheel noise is not too high.

[Debs]

Very interesting bicycle wheel build shop in Bristol

https://www.ryanbuildswheels.co.uk/

[alexnharvey]

Very interesting bicycle wheel build shop in Bristol

https://www.ryanbuildswheels.co.uk/

''e sells cheap spokes too.

[Debs]

Very interesting bicycle wheel build shop in Bristol

https://www.ryanbuildswheels.co.uk/

''e sells cheap spokes too.

Cheap but not nasty!
Well engineered Sapim and very good value for money.

This maybe of interest to Ned the OP:
Currently offered on Ryans shop is this pair of 28 spoke wheels for £250



Front:
Rim = DT Swiss R460, 700c, 18mm diameter, ERD 596mm.
Hub = Miche Primato, sealed bearings, 100mm QR axle.
Spokes = Sapim Race double butted stainless steel.
Weight = 0.87kg.

Rear:
Rim = DT Swiss R460, 700c, 18mm diameter, ERD 596mm.
Hub = Miche Primato, sealed bearings, 130mm QR axle.
Spokes = Sapim Race double butted stainless steel.
Weight = 1.0kg.

Currently set up with a Shimano free hub body but this can be swapped out to Campagnolo at the buyers request.

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May need to get confirmation of compatibility of cassette ( 10 speed on Ned's bike ) and QR axle width (?)

But Ryan is a jolly chap, knowledgeable, and good to talk these matters over.
Perhaps for a few bucks more a custom build with the inclusion of Hope hubs instead - if preferred?