Help me decide on a new wheelset



the beef

New Member
Mar 27, 2006
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Earlier this week I took a moderate spill (dog incident - http://www.cyclingforums.com/t327300.html). So today I was on the phone with my LBS checking on the status of my bike. The guy, who was very friendly, told me that the wheelbuilder was not due in for another week or so, but he did do some phone research for me and found a nice wheelset at one of their other locations for me and offered it for a discount price.

The wheelset is Bontrager Select, 20 spoke front and 24 spoke back. They retail @ $199 for the set; the man on the phone said he could sell them for $120. According to him they had just been taken off of a new Trek 1500 and had never been ridden on!

Is this a good idea? My orignal wheels were crappy Alex DA22s that came stock with the Bianchi Brava. I'm also not sure if the Bontragers will be compatible - my bike has a Sora 8-spd cassette, and I think the Bontragers are rated for 9 and 10 speed. I still have my original 8-spd Shimano hubs, if that helps.

Any sort of knowledge would be wonderful!

Bontrager Select: http://bontrager.com/Road/Wheelworks/Wheels/5754.php
 
Bad news about the crash, I hope you came out better than the bike! The Selects are a very basic wheel. They'll do the job but perhaps you could use your existing hubs, get some reasonable rims and spokes and have them rebuilt? It may not be quite as cheap but the chances are the Selects were taken off a new bike for a reason; first thing the new owner upgraded.
 
The bonty selects are ****. For $200 go for the Mavic Aksium wheelset - 18/20 aero spokes, very solid, quite light. Just dont know if it'll take an 8 but ask your LBS for advice on this.
 
8 and 9 speed cassettes are the same width, no probs. Most are 8, 9, 10 speed compatible save for the D/A wheels that are 10 speed only due to the deeper splines.

Selects will get you down the road fine. It all depends on your budget. I'd love to recommend Zipp 404s, but I doubt you're looking to outlay that type of cash. You're riding a Brava, not a Colnago.........
 
I keep an extra set of wheels around just in case. I have one pair designated for winter riding and another for summer riding. That way if I am going for a ride and find a flat, I just swap the wheels. I reccomend you buy a set of wheels and also get the bent rim re-built. In the price range you are looking, wheels are all about the same, around 2000 grams for the pair. Look to make sure they have standard and replacable spokes.