The Beacon Message Board

Can anyone recommend some 700c wheels for light touring?
I'm currently trying to spec my Van Nicholas Yukon (c/w/ 11 speed Ultegra) for fast(ish), light weight, credit card touring. Bike+bits is currently about 9kg. I'm 80 kg (give or take a donut or two ) and I will be carrying no more than 10 kg via rear panniers (2 x 5 kg). So, all up should be less than 100 kg.
My current wheels, Mavic Kyserium SLs (nicked from my old racer) are too hard a ride with flat spokes that catch the wind and can't be fixed on-road.

I know Sean and Ian have had wheels built up by Echelon Cycles, so that it one possibility. Are there other bespoke or off-the-shelf alternatives?

Thanks

Barry, on my touring bike and on my training bike I have Campag's cheapest off-the-peg wheel: Khamsin, which you can get for a little over £100 I think. I have a minimalist approach to maintenance, yet I've never broken a spoke or knocked these wheels out of true in about 3 years of regular use, much of it on grotty winter back lanes, and even a little bit off road. The bearings are also still fine. They use a conventional spoke, so the scope for running repairs while touring is normal.

They're not specially light or sporty -- I wouldn't recommend them for high-performance use. However, I would have not the slightest hesitation in using them for the purpose you describe, and I'm in no doubt that they are the best value-for-money wheels I've ever owned.

My latest wheels also Hope and Mavic were built by Ben at Venture Bikes in Stirchley thus far I've been very pleased with them.

Open Sport Rims
As a proud descendant of MA2, MA40 and MA3, Open Sport is the perfect blend of successful Mavic rim features. It is the perfect balance of durability, weight and price.
Weight : 490 grams

Open Pro Rims
Open Pro is the latest version of Mavic "Open" rims, and as such is the most advanced evolution. Optimized up to the limit of material potential, Open Pro is probably the best road rim available.
Weight : 435 grams

Personally speaking, but I can see little point is spending the extra money on the Open Pro rims unless you are racing. This is reflected in their statement "Optimized up to the limit of material potential". The Open Sport rim is the preferred choice with most wheel builders for those that intend to tour, not only are the rims thicker but the rims also have that all important wear line on them.
That said, the Open Pro rims are double eyeleted, compared to a single eyelet on the Open Sport rims, which is much better.

+1 for Ben@Venture in Stirchley. I've got same as Dave and v happy with them. When rim is shot he can rebuild. He can talk you through options for what you need

36 spokes on the back for 100kg I'd have thought.

+2 for Ben

As my Open Sport rear rim is now down to it wear line, I have just gone to order a new 28 hole replacement. However, it would appear that Mavic no longer produce them in 28 holes.....

Thank you everyone for all your useful comments.

I finally got round to measuring the wear on some wheels I have with Open Pro rims. Wall thickness down to 1mm on the front. I didn't bother measuring the rear. So, as this is my 'winter' bike, I have ordered a pair of the Campag Khamsins off Wiggle for £111.

I've just bought a DT Swiss TK540 700c touring rim after reading good things about them.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/dt- ... m-ec039543

Going to have it built with my existing Shimano Deore hub.

I'd go for hand builts for ease of repair etc but it's hard to build a pair for anything like the price of the khamsins. If I was building some for myself I'd go open pros on hope. Thing about hand builts is the hubs are reusable so when you wear the rim out you can rebuild it. The factory wheels are pretty much throwaway. This means you can invest in some nice hubs which will last for years. Chris Kings yum

It's about £80 for rims £60 spokes (horribly expensive these days) and then whatever hubs. I charge £15 a wheel

Open sports are a fair bit cheaper at about £50 a pair.

Barry
Have sent you a pm