Rims, Rims, oh what kind of Rims

[cmdukes]

I am in the process of doing my comparison shopping for the purchase of a new bike. I was wondering if someone could fill me in on the quality of the different wheel that are on the bikes.

Mavic Ksyrium Equipe, Mavic Aksium Race, Bontrager Race Lite, and Shimano 550 Are the wheels on the bikes that I am looking at. Two Questions.


How would you rate these wheels in order of best to worst?
Are the difference in these wheels really noticeable that it should sway my purchase decision?
Thanks in advance for any help!!!

[531Aussie]

here are the specs

there are reviews for some of these wheels on http://www.roadbikereview.com/cat/wheels/wheelsets/PLS_2490CRX.ASPX

http://www.bontrager.com/Road/Wheelworks/Wheels/5863.php

http://bike.shimano.com/catalog/cycle/products/component.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441770808&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302033083&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474395181202&bmUID=1156481288095

http://www.mavic.com/ewb_pages/r/route.php


hmm...I'd probably go for the Equipes, BUT, if it was me, I wouldn't let such cheap wheel-sets determine a bike purchase. :)

what bikes are you looking at? Are they the same frame?

[cmdukes]

Thanks 531Aussie that is what I was looking for...

Here are the bikes that I am looking at, if you have any suggestions that would be a great help.

Cannondale Synapse Carbon 2
Scott CR1 Pro
Felt F3C
Specialized Tarmac Elite
Treck Pilot 5.2
I am a rider that just started riding again and I am currently on a 12 year old Trek 1200 and still keeping pace. I have increased my riding time drastically in the last two weeks. I am not interested in racing but I would like to push myself to the best rider I can be...If you have any suggestions on the bikes let me know

Thanks for your help

[badkarma]

I'd go for the Scott.

[badkarma]

Keep in mind that the Trek pilot and the Cdale Synapse should have a drastically different geometries than the other bikes as they're built more as recreational road bikes than as race bikes.

[SynapseGH]

Here are the bikes that I am looking at, if you have any suggestions that would be a great help.

Cannondale Synapse Carbon 2
Scott CR1 Pro
Felt F3C
Specialized Tarmac Elite
Treck Pilot 5.2
I am a rider that just started riding again and I am currently on a 12 year old Trek 1200 and still keeping pace. I have increased my riding time drastically in the last two weeks. I am not interested in racing but I would like to push myself to the best rider I can be...If you have any suggestions on the bikes let me know
I was in pretty much the same boat you are and after not riding for years decided to get back on the bike with the same philosophy you have above... no racing but getting fit and and being the best rider I can be. I had a 10-year old Lemond Zurich that was nice but after riding on my wife's new Cervelo Soloist Carbon I realized just how much things have changed over the years and fell in love with carbon frames. I made up a short list of bikes I was interested in including the Synapse Carbon 2, Trek Pilot 5.2 and Specialized Roubaix Expert. I made the list up from the "comfort geometry" performance bikes that various companies offered. In the begining before test riding, I really wanted to like the Trek the most because I have had Trek's in the past (still have an old Trek mountain bike) and have always been happy with the quality and feel. I used to race on an old Cannondale aluminum frame (probably 20 years ago now) and I had that Cannondale "feel" in the back of my mind when I thought of the Synapse. However, after riding all three, my opinion in order of preference was the Synapse, Pilot (close second) and the Roubaix (distant third). I kept riding the Pilot hoping to like it more than the Synapse but every time I got off the Pilot I found myself thinking "that wasn't bad" and every time I got off the Synapse I had a big grin on my face! Needless to say, I ended up with the Synapse and after putting about 350 miles on it in the last month or so I have absolutely no regrets and I am extremely pleased with the bike. Also, having been a bike mechanic I place a lot of value on quality components and I feel that the components are very solid on the Synapse... there is really nothing I wish was different. I did end up changing the seat but other than that am very happy.

More than anything, I would suggest you test ride everything you are interested in and let your "gut" decide. I probably would have ended up with a Pilot based on my initial preconceived notions had I not test ridden them all and I sure am glad I have the Synapse now! Hope this helps.

[cmdukes]

That is the kind of reply I was looking for....Thanks

[rayhuang]

That is the kind of reply I was looking for....Thanks
I am in no way affiliated with Fuji, but on a recommendation from a knowledgeable friend he said look at Fuji!! I would never put Fuji at the top of my list, not even top 10, but I am now riding a new Fuji Team Pro full CF monocoque bike with full CF fork and carbon seat post and the ride is amazing. Dura ace rear der. ULtegra everything else with a truvative compact GPX crank and Shimano R550 wheel set. With speedplay peddles it was less than 18 lbs from the showrooom floor!! Now with a set of full DT wheels its now 17 lbs!!

Bike was $2200 and my LBS will throw in Shimano peddles free, but I wanted Dura Ace cabling and AC water bottle cages instead.

Again-ride them all, but for even money I couldnt find a Giant, Trek, Felt that could compare in grouppo, weight, ride or geometry.

[bobbyOCR]

I am in the process of doing my comparison shopping for the purchase of a new bike. I was wondering if someone could fill me in on the quality of the different wheel that are on the bikes.

Mavic Ksyrium Equipe, Mavic Aksium Race, Bontrager Race Lite, and Shimano 550 Are the wheels on the bikes that I am looking at. Two Questions.

How would you rate these wheels in order of best to worst?
Are the difference in these wheels really noticeable that it should sway my purchase decision?
Thanks in advance for any help!!!I'd go with the specialized. nice stiff frame with good vibration dampening. That or the cannondale but the Specialized looks cooler IMO. I say go for the cheaper of those two and put money towards race wheels.

[BillM]

Don't get hung up on the details....ride them all....the answer will be obvious.