time has come for some new road wheels, clincher and disc brake, budget is up to £400, maybe stretch a little over.

Mainly used for the crappy roads of the lake district and a good amount of climbing.

Looked at

hunt
prime
JRA
all seem to do a alu set that weigh in around 1600 or just under for between £220 and £300

any benefit in going custom built and if so any advice on builders

thanks

I’d be tempted to consider Pacenti, if only because having built and ridden Pacenti and then Kinlin rims, I believe the Pacenti are definitely a higher quality construction, and lighter weight. I’ve also suffered more dings in the Kinlins although that might not be an issue on a road wheel.

I think it’s the assumed knowledge that Hunt use Kinlin rims, don’t know about Prime or JRA (JRA rims seem a tiny bit wider so perhaps not Kinlin)

I think you can get a Pacenti build within budget, couldn’t comment on the hubs though.

Have a look on Merlin, some good disc wheel deals there on DT Swiss at least.

For semi aero, PX have a Fulcrum 800 bundle for ~£145 and Merlin have Vision 35s for ~£200.

For carbon aero, you’re looking at £500+ at Merlin or Wiggle/CRC.

I went second hand hope pro 2 and some carbon aero rims from eBay.

I wanted lightish, 32 spoke wheels with hubs that could be adapter from my current qr 135mm hubs to 142mm bolt through set.

They are not 1600g. The front was a pain to get to seal tubeless.

I’d buy the rims again, although the hope hums and 32 spokes bumped the weight alot more than I thought.

It’s this seller on eBay.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274114688401?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=78auDSzORBm&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=a9M6NJdMTVq&var=574220963348&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

I have a set of their novatec hubs and carbon rims on one MTB. They are the same weight as the hunt xc on my other mtb bike. The ones from eBay have lasted much better than the hunt. The hunt have had great customer service.

Scribe?

DT Swiss from Merlin.

Considering what you are saying that you are looking for a set for “Crappy roads and plenty of climbing” I’d say you are going to have to decide where you want to compromise, a lighter build will be nicer for the climbs but perhaps not as robust for the crappy roads (your weight and riding style will obviously factor in this as well). Where as increasing the spoke count will give a weight penalty but will make a tougher set of wheels, this I suppose is wear a hand built set could be the better option as you could specify different spoke counts front and rear.

I have two sets of Hunt wheels, an Aero light disc set (now superseded by the Alloy SL disc) on my nice summer road bike, and a Four season All road set on my winter/all road bike, i’m very happy with both and i suspect either could suit you depending on your priorities.

If I was going to go handbuilt then I have heard plenty of good things about DCR Wheels:

Road disc / Gravel / CX

I’d be tempted to consider Pacenti, if only because having built and ridden Pacenti and then Kinlin rims, I believe the Pacenti are definitely a higher quality construction, and lighter weight. I’ve also suffered more dings in the Kinlins although that might not be an issue on a road wheel.

I think it’s the assumed knowledge that Hunt use Kinlin rims, don’t know about Prime or JRA (JRA rims seem a tiny bit wider so perhaps not Kinlin)

I think you can get a Pacenti build within budget, couldn’t comment on the hubs though.

I’ve got 2 x sets of Pacenti wheels, both with Hope hubs. The rims have been faultless – and have stood up well to my 100kg on crappy roads.

I can’t recommend JRA – the one build i had from them was garbage – although this could have been down to my choice of rims (H plus son) which were made of cheese.

I’ve got Prime carbon wheels and I’d happily try the alu options if I were on your budget. Especially if they’re on sale.

Considering what you are saying that you are looking for a set for “Crappy roads and plenty of climbing” I’d say you are going to have to decide where you want to compromise

Perhaps just light-ish wheels with bigger tyres? Like 30 or 32mm?

I’ve had a pair of Hunt Aero light disc on my winter bike for 3 winters now. In that time I’m guessing they’ve racked up 5-6000 miles. They are still true, and I think I’ve changed one bearing. I’ve recently swapped them onto my commuter bike, and Hunt sent me some free wheel adaptors, to convert them to QR.

If they give up, I’d buy another pair tomorrow.

JRA will be the best quality of those you mention – they are handbuilt (in the UK) and use Bitex hubs which are the pick of the far eastern hubs (and also nice and quiet).