Road Wheels & Road Wheel Recommendations?

Yeah I agree with you there in terms of road only rims. @ILb mentioned gravel though and having an alloy set with more robust tyres would be more preferable off-road and allow faster tyres and carbon rims to be saved for the road stuff.

Got the sigma sports Vel 50mm RL’s out today. Loud hub! Fine in wind. Most importantly they look cool.

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Parcours Paniagua would be my shout if you want prebuilt, wider than Hunt, Prime and better spokes (Sapim CX), similar level hubs.

As others have said Just riding along also Lark Light look good as well.

Custom / handbuilt at a noticeably 'better' spec (HED) than the above will be serious £££

Fulcrum racing 7 LG has been discontinued, what's the current equivalent?

Anybody used Ritchey Zeta Classic wheels, and can comment on their quality/value?
I'm in the contemplation phase of upgrades for my bike, with current exchange rates they work out at about £370, then I'd have to figure out how to get them from Europe to UK.
Ta

I've been tasked by a friend to find him some new road wheels.
11 speed Shimano
Rim brake
Quick release
Alloy rim/alloy brake tracks
Clincher
Rider weight 95kg
Budget £6-700ish
Preferably semi aero like a 40mm deep rim but I'm not sure if this is a deal-breaker.
In stock and available is a deal-breaker though as he's currently without a rear wheel.

Any suggestions?

Sorry, 40mm deep aluminium rims? Does he want wheels that weigh 2.5 kilos? 40mm isn't really semi aero and is well into aero territory. I don't even know any 40mm aluminium rims...

Or are you saying that a carbon fairing on an aluminium rim works?

Yeah, sorry carbon fairing.
Basically alloy brake surface for all weather braking is key.
He has carbon rim brakes on his TT bike and they are mildy terrifying in the wet

Aforce Al33 / Hope RS4 / Sapim CX-Rays £725

Or £625 with Sapim Race, or £865 with Swiss 240 EXP hubs.

Maybe not deep enough?

Nice, I'll send the link over to him.
The 40mm was a rough guide from him, I'm sure shallower would be ok considering he wants alloy brake surface.

Anyone know anything about these guys? Spotted on some deep Google diving:

https://www.kinetic-one.co.uk/sale--kine­tic-one-k1-33sl-ultimate-alloy-aero-whee­lset-9482-p.asp

Pretty sure there was a pair on here recently... Solid, but heavy (they make no secret of this, they’re designed to be so).

https://www.bikeinn.com/bike/vittoria-fr­axion-pair/137654259/p

Carbon fairing, not enough spokes?

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/pro-­lite-bracciano-dark-label-a42w-aero-whee­lset/rp-prod175434

Alternatively, 40mm deep alloy could be stronger for a 95kg rider

Look out for some nos Shimano rs81 c50

or these:
https://www.huntbikewheels.com/collectio­ns/road-cx-rim-brake-wheels/products/hun­t-race-aero-superdura-road-wheelset-1595­g-31deep-24wide

The Mavis Cosmics with the carbon faring seem to be exactly what you’ve described.

Mavis Cosmics

From a decade ago🙂 Current ones don't meet the spec, old ones are unfashionable skinny.

thanks for the suggestions all.

I also sent him over these:

https://www.merlincycles.com/dt-swiss-pr­1400-dicut-oxic-21-clincher-road-wheels-­700c-101032.html

and these:

https://www.merlincycles.com/chris-king-­r45-mavic-open-pro-hand-built-road-wheel­set-700c-221939.html

just in case I can tempt him with shallow rims and swanky hubs

Handbuilt DT Swiss RR411 with lightweight hubs like Carbon Ti or Campag Shamal Ultra C17?

It’s for a colnago C40 HP B-stay so presumably the Campag, but those big alluminium spokes put me off. Haven’t actually seen a pair; do they look that bad?

Older Zipp 404s

those big alluminium spokes put me off

I mean, rightly, obvs., but why didn't the Colnago put you off if you are even slightly concerned about aesthetics?

"I mean, rightly, obvs., but why didn't the Colnago put you off if you are even slightly concerned about aesthetics?"

The bike is practically new (despite being 17 years old); it still has the original chain in good condition. Wheels are Ambrosio Excellence with Campagnolo Record hubs in brand new condition and I want to preserve them; spread the work load to a second set of wheels.

Choices are limited and I’d like to try a slightly wider rim, 22mm external would be good.

Main thing is a good feeling ride and the Campagnolo’s fit the bill. And DT Swiss on a C40? Everything seems to require a compromise.

I'd take Fulcrum Racing 4/Campag Scirocco over the current Shamals. I don't know why anybody ever thought aluminium spokes were a good idea, much less why anybody is still flogging that particular dead horse.

^^ Too heavy for me 65kg rider.

Too heavy

Lol. Do the maths, you'd have to be riding up a pretty steep hill for the weight of Sciroccos to be a bigger problem than the drag of Shamals