Would anyone like to recommend me a tubeless road wheelset and tyres please? It's for a training/commuter bike so weight is not a big deal. I'd like to keep the cost below £300 if possible. Cheaper the better!
My last set of wheels were some Shimano R500s, so cheap and cheerful, yet so reliable and low maintenance. I'd love something similar, without the hassle of tubes.
EDIT: Forgot to add, they'll be going on a 2010/2011 Scott Speedster S20. I don't think rear/front axle standards have changed on road bikes so I'll not have to worry about that too hopefully!
I've got RS61 (which replaced my R-550), slightly lighter, and tubeless. I've not used the tubeless but it's a sealed bead so should be a doddle. I've also got some hand built Stans Alpha rims, but reviews say they're not too durable in the wet and they were a pig to build so I'd not recommend them unless you only commute in the dry.
The next tubeless in the shimano range would be the 6800 wheels which are a good chunk lighter again and have the new bearing adjustment system, I'd probably spend the extra and get those if I was buying again.
As for tubeless tires I've not tired any yet, but I've penciled in Schwalble One for when I've worn through my current sets.
I have that very bike. 105 10 speed? I put ultegra wheels on mine. I broke the original syncros rear and was given 500's as a replacement. There was a deal at ribble, about £230 i think. Ultegra are tubless ready and dont need a rim strip. I got a schwalbe tyre set sent over from one of zee german sites. Not had a puncture in over 12 months!
H Plus archetype rims work well tubeless and are pretty hardy so could handle commuter duties.
Yup, 105 10 Speed, but they came with R500s instead of Syncros. Probably a mid-year change, or I've got a 2011/2012 version.
The Ultegras look decent. I'll see if I can snag a pair. Anyone better than Ze Germans on price? Also, are you running the tyres with/without sealant? Also, how much clearance have you got? I currently run 23mms, but I'd not mind going to 25mms, or even 28mm for fun.
@bigdugsbaws H Plus looks nice, but beyond my budget once I include tyres 🙁
Looks like bike-discount don't have them in stock until the 31st sadly. May take a chance on some Hutchison Fusion 3s from Chaino instead.
The schwalbe kit comes with sealant. I could only get 23mm but will go with 25 next time.
I have been using Hope Hoops with Stans Alpha 400's and Schwalbe one's (23mm)
Nothing but a good word for them, I'm a tubeless (road) convert.
I have been tubeless on my MTB for about 6-7 years now, but really rate it on the road.
oh and my Schwalbes came from 'Ze Germans'
When my open pro's wear out i'll be having them rebuilt with a tubeless rim.
Ultegra 6800 wheelset with BC discount at Chaino came in under the cost of a single Hope rear wheel so I went with that. Probably will get a couple of Schwalbe Ones from Ze Germans (bike-discount) once they're in stock for the winter.
Went with the Hutchison in 25mm guise. I've got some sealant, so let's see how it goes when they turn up! This is the first major component upgrade the road bike's had. Can't help feeling a bit excited by it. What a saddo I am.
I wouldn't go for light rims (ultegra, alpha) for a commuter.
How come? Do they need a lot more maintenance?
I've got the option of going back to the R500s if I have to. They've been faultless so far. The allure of lighter wheels, and tubeless on top of that is quite the draw though. I'm also very lightweight, and all my commuting these days is sans backpack.
I race on Schwalbe one tubeless but wouldn't commute on them as they wear out pretty quickly and are relatively expensive evenfrom German stores.
Went with the Hutchison in 25mm guise.
OP - can I ask which ones out of interest? I have the "Atom Galactiks" but the are only available in 23mm AFAIK...
Velocity A23 are a tubeless rim to add one to the mix. Can probably get some handbuilt for around the £300 mark, not including tyres/paraphernalia though of course. I've built some asymmetric (on the rear) ones up for winter duties, happy with them so far.
Fusion 3s at Chainreaction.
I'll pop them on when they arrive and return with the verdict once I've used them for a few days. Going with my original Gatorskin on the front while it lasts.
If the Fusion is decent as a rear then I'll get one as a front next month.
I wouldn't go for light rims (ultegra, alpha) for a commuter.
In wouldn't class shimano in the same league as Stans for lightness. Stans are reputedly a bit thin and soft so they wear away in the wet, but Shimano have always been fine for me.
And shimano have the advantage of being almost disposable when it comes to pricing, £160 for rims, £40 spokes, £40 building for Stans, or just get 6800's and bin them when the rim wears.
I got the 6800s from Chaino for under £200 with BC discount. They don't seem super light at 1600g for a road wheelset. I've got MTB wheels that are over a 100g lighter!
Damn, wish I'd seen those sooner!
Rims wear out, light ones more quickly in wet (unless you are using disc brakes).
I don't KNOW about say Ultegra rims but as they are a light wheel the rim is likely to be light too. I know the Dura Ace carbon/alu ones wear in no time.
I've got MTB wheels that are over a 100g lighter!
The rims and spokes have 10% less material.
Because it's a smaller wheel?
Still thought 1600g wheels on a road bike would be plenty strong enough for commuting.
curiousyellow - Member
Because it's a smaller wheel?Still thought 1600g wheels on a road bike would be plenty strong enough for commuting.
Yes. Strong enough, but light rims wear out more quickly as above.
In a big year I'd only put in about 7500km. Should be ok for that I reckon.
I've just hit the button on a pair of the hunt aero wheels... will let you know how I get on.
First ride today on the commute and they're riding really nicely. Was a bit worried the tyres would come a cropper on some of the untidy sections of road I need to navigate, but they've been fine. 25mms do feel more comfortable than my old 23mm Gatorskins.
The instruction manual seemed to suggest fitting the vale section last when putting the tyre on. This did not work for me. I wound up removing and reseating the bead to get it on. Both tyres needed a dilute washing up liquid solution to fit. The Schwalbe - surprisingly - did not do the double "pop" the Hutchison did. Seems to have stayed up fine overnight, and on today's commute though!
I may swap the tyres over in about 4000kms to save on wear if I remnember to do so.
28mm tubeless Ones on Archetypes on my trainer. Bob on.
Unfortunately they'll probably not fit on my bike. There are some really good deals on them about at the moment though!
Still good 3 rides later. Even on the untidy, debris strewn roads on my commute.
The suppleness of racy tyres is strange compared to the hard as nails Gatorskins they've replaced. I'm running them at 80/90psi front/rear. The Hutchison seems to lose a couple of psi overnight according to my pressure gauge.
Pretty happy so far. May update this in a few months once I've tried them on a properly long ride. So far they're just doing 28km a day, which is hardly anything.