Its hard to say precisely where the line lays, but I’m certain I’m well on the wrong side of it. I never notice lines as I pass over them but I can usually tell after I have because it feels suddenly liberating to leave reason, sensibility, and convention behind. I find them very restrictive – claustrophobic, almost. They force me into the same old way of thinking, always within a set of parameters of what is accepted. Parameters are a good thing, to be sure – especially for everyone else – but since I wasn’t involved in defining The Universal Limits of Reason and Sensibility, I can’t be sure they’re calibrated correctly so I prefer to roam freely and am quite satisfied to be considered crazy for the time being.
Just like most of us, I started down La Vie Velominatus rolling along on the wheels my first bike arrived with. I trusted them to be indestructible and always carry me about safely. Then one day while racing my friend, I locked up the back wheel coming into a corner too hard and destroyed it, the illusion of The Indestructible Wheel riding up the road alongside the friend I had only moments earlier been locked in shoulder-to-shoulder battle with. It was also at this precise moment that I faced the reality that a wheel is not only destructible, but a basic element facilitating productive locomotion aboard a bicycle.
I spent the next month shingling the roof of my family’s cabin in Northern Minnesota earning the money to buy a replacement wheel. And, having recently shingled a roof, I was suddenly a Shingling Authority, discussing in depth the merits of choice in color, material, and shingle pattern of every roof I passed by. Similarly, upon having been subjected to the myriad choices of replacement wheel, after purchasing my replacement wheel, I was a new inductee into the The Order of the Wheel and noticed (and commented upon) every bicycle wheel that passed me by. Due more to the volume of by observations than their merit, I was soon thereafter indulged by my Cycling Sensei – my father – to help him curate the wheels for his custom Eddy Merckx.
At the time, choices were more limited than they are today; quality of hub varied greatly, as did the rims, spokes, and tires. Everything was limited to an alloy of some kind, though you could have any spoke pattern you wanted, as long as it was 3-cross. At the time there was also a choice between tubular and clincher, which was a relatively new option. We labored over the choices and wound up having two wheelsets built – one clincher and aero; one box-section and tubular – a choice I stand by today.
That was my awakening, but nevertheless, I have throughout my life as a Velominatus had only one wheelset per bike. The lightest for Bike #1. Whenever Bike #n came into play, it received its own wheelset; as with all the other parts on Bikes #2…n; a hand-me-down from Bike #n-1’s upgrade. (Using the Hand-Me-Down Upgrade Methodology, a single upgrade improves not just one bicycle, but several – with the added benefit of filling a longer period of time moving bits from one noble steed to the next.)
It was only recently, during preparation for the 2012 edition of Keepers Tour over the cobbles of Northern France and Vlaanderen, that I took my own place in the realm of the Specialty Wheelset – which also afforded me another of those moments when I was strangely aware of having crossed one of Those Lines. After all, a big, fat Dutchman can’t be expected to ride over the pavé of Paris-Roubaix – unleashing the awesome wattage of his artillery – on just any old wheelset; certainly not any of those wheels which I already owned. This called for a set of wheels purpose-built for the occasion. Rims, hubs, spokes, and tires were selected with great care and assembled (four times) in a wine-enhanced rite.
Riding these wheels is a pleasure highlighted by the fact that I don’t always ride them. They hang on the workshop wall in a wheel bag, waiting for the Right Occasion to ride them. Those occasions are often anticipated several days – if not weeks – in advance and deliberated over carefully. Then, when the choice is finally made to pop them in for the ride, I wrap myself in the delta between my regular wheels and these. This contrast, like the negative space in a great painting, is the area in which I dwell while riding them. The difference in tire type, width, spoke pattern, weight. The way the wheel feels when the pedal is engaged. The way the wheels and tires flex over a bump in the road or hug the pavement in a corner.
I’ve since embarked on a journey to get each road bike in the house – mine as well as the VMH’s – on the same drive train in order to be able to maximize the wheel-swapping effect. Each wheel is a new language, each tire a new dialect, and inner tube a new turn of phrase. To paraphrase the nursery rhyme: one for sorrow, two for joy, three for hills and four for stones.
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@Dan_R
The beauty of pacific NW cross is we start out on dry dirt and sand then migrate to foot deep stop every 15 minutes to clean off 5kg+ of mud because the wheels literally won't roll. It takes a phd in wheel science to cordinate wheels, tires pressures with the actual physical capabiity to pilot them thru. And then the ability to suffer. So what are you recommending for the deep deep mud?
@gaswepass
Skids.
@Dan_R
more familiar w skidmarks... but I will take it under advisement.
Been hoping to upgrade the wheelset on my #1 for awhile. For two years been riding some Neuvations that fit into my Budgetatus. They're pretty light and have done well for the price. Starting to break spokes though and the VMH has okayed using some wedding gift money for them! I think this will equate with 2-3 of her special tea cups...
During a group ride yesterday a dude I know told me he's selling a wheelset. Mavic Ksyrium SL Premiums, pretty much brand new, all black. I've checked out some reviews, which are good/bad. Not aero, too expensive. Strong, light, durable, stiff. Seems like a lot of folks had these on some pretty fine road bikes a few years back, before all the deep carbon became the rage. He's asking $400. Actually have a pair of Ksyrium ESs from this guy and they've been great for cross riding.
A nice wheel at a good price? Or, better stuff to be had at this price?
Not interested in tubular of carbon at the moment. Don't road race, weigh 65 kg, want a relatively light durable wheel for some group rides, lots of solo riding. They'll be set up with Continental GP 4000s. This would also save me from shopping around/bidding, which with all the late season sales going on, could be an endless mission.
I've also seen the Cosmic Elite at a few places online for $500 with free shipping. That would be about even considering I'd need to pick up skewers & a freehub body for the set from the riding pal. And new comes with a warranty.
I guess the Elites are more aero, the SL Premiums less but maybe a better, stronger, lighter all around wheel?
Again, I'd like these for all-around riding. Some hills here and maybe even (finally) getting on over to Asheville and the Blue Ridge Parkway this fall. I've done just fine with my mid-profile Neuvations on group rides/races. Either of these wheelsets I'm sure would be a nice upgrade.
@Ron Ksyrium SLs new(ish) at that price are a great deal. You won't fault them once you buy them and ride them, especially the higher end ones. I get the feeling if you get to test ride them you'll really, really like them. Mavic is out of fashion on the internet but that doesn't have sweet FA to do with how they ride. I'm getting increasingly skeptical about people who tout the latest and greatest in wheel technology, especially when the increasingly marginal gains ad thousands of dollars in premium to the price.
Hi Minion. Thanks for the reply. That's what I was thinking. They seem to have sold for $1000-$1200 USD new so I thought that was a great deal. Plus, I'm already riding ESs (special edition Ksyriums with the silly red spoke) on my cross bike and they have been very, very nice. Zero problems, no noises, lots of cx abuse.
Yeah, I'm just after an upgrade and these seem like solid wheels at a good price. As scaler stated above in this thread, even lower end Ksyriums of today are as nice as very pricey wheelsets from 15 years ago. I definitely don't need PRO-level wheels, just something pretty good and durable. I think these are far above pretty good and have done really well for most riders. And, this will be short and sweet - I can ride over to his house one night this week and pick them up. No endless search for the ultimate bargain or bidding wars.
I too like new/nice stuff but I try and balance that with a bit of reality. I like quality stuff but at some point it just becomes consumerist lust, no different than obsessive buyers of anything.
@Ron
@minion
I ride Ksyrium Elites (2012). They are just great. Bombproof, really. Not gone out of true in just over a year of use; never trued them. Light enough and as for comfort, I've never noticed that they're uncomfortable. Smooth roads here, though, so I can ride what I like.
I find it weird they get grief online.
@Blah
I have been riding Ksyrium SLR Premuim wheels for three years and have just loved them. Very strong and light.
I agree that as far as factory hoops go, it is hard to beat Mavic. I would never call a set of wheels "bombproof," but when I built up a pair of Excellites for a buddy, he wanted, "bombproof, like my Mavics.
Go for it and get those wheels.