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Should i buy or not?

ithurtsithurts Posts: 37
in General Chat
Hi.

I am looking at a purchase of new wheels & saddle.

1. Thinking of a set of fulcrum 5 wheels, has anyone had any experience of these or able to recommend a good wheelset in the £2-3 hundred mark?

2. Saddles, where do i start. I am approx 70Kg in weight and quite often notch up 4 hrs in the saddle. I am riding a basic specialised saddle that came on my allez sport. Looking to urpgrade as it is now showing signs of age/use. Any good recommedations?

Thanks.
Gary

Comments

  • tri_tri_againtri_tri_again Posts: 39
    Not so sure about saddles – afaiac you're gonna get aching knackers after four or five hours in the saddle whatever's underneath you. But I've read quite a few good reviews of Easton's wheels at this price.

    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Easto ... 360036597/

    In fact, Eastons seem to come out quite well in a lot of the mags. Perhaps someone on here has a pair, and can compare them with the Fulcrums and Mavics at the same price.
  • ZacniciZacnici Posts: 1,385
    I have a Fizik Arione Tri 2 - purely by chance as the bike came with it but it is well endorsed including Mr C himself and here http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/reviews/arione.shtml

    Also have a look here http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/reviews/saddle06.shtml

    There was also a recent post about saddles that you may want to search for
  • jacjac Posts: 452
    Take a look at Easton EA50's for around the £200. Awesome wheel for the price. They're light, strong, quick and look pretty good too! Depends what you're after though.
  • jacjac Posts: 452
    In fact, looks like tri_tri_again has linked to them! Good work
  • ZacniciZacnici Posts: 1,385
    Forgot to add about the wheels - Easton EA70s, just inside the £300 budget http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=26447
    http://www.roadbikereview.com/cat/wheel ... 90crx.aspx

    I have them, no probs, seem to spin well, no rubbing or squeeling, no flexing from my 'prodigious' power output or weight but cannot compare to anything else I am afraid. My understanding is that they are the follow on from the Circuits and one of the best 'bang for buck' wheels but hey, stand to be corrected.
  • wyno70wyno70 Posts: 189
    I have Fulcrum racing 3's and love them. I'd definately recommend. Not sure about the 5's but everyone I know that rides any fulcrum wheel is very happy with it, so I'd say go for it.

    I'm 75Kg and often do 5+ hours in the saddle. My saddle is a Specialied Gel Toupé which I love. I would recommend it but saddles are a very personal thing, so what is good for me may well not be good for you. I tried 4 others before arriving at the Toupé. It works for me and I rate it highly.

    Good luck
  • sp1nsp1n Posts: 9
    Fulcrum 5s are a good entry level wheel, but i think you could get more for your money with hand builts to be honest.
    Got a pair built by steve at roadace, top guy, knows his stuff.
    With regards to saddles, Specialized ones you can get measured for, there are other brands I'm sure, get measured. I have a Specialized Alias saddle after being measured and all my bikes have that saddle now, no problems.
  • antonyfromozantonyfromoz Posts: 87
    I have been looking at the Racing 5 wheels too - my brother has a set and really likes them and the internet reviews are pretty much all positive. They appear to be fairly heavy for race wheels if that is the main use you will have for them but reasonably priced, solid and reliable as training wheels. As has often been said, you can usually only pick two of the following: strong, light, inexpensive... I am also looking at some of the lower level Campagnolo wheels (especially the Vento) which also seem to get pretty much universal support - which is probably not surprising considering that they are really the same company. To throw another couple of wheels into the mix - does anyone have any experience with Halo Mercury or Pro-lite wheels? The price is about the same but they have a deeper rim and are lighter than the Racing 5s...
  • hussler.hussler. Posts: 390
    I have access to a pair of Planet X training wheels....their alloy ones....for £110 brand new still in box...

    A lad I train with is selling them..... 32 hole, weigh around 15-1600g, think they cost about £150 from Planet X.

    PM me if your interested....

    I also have access to carbon rims for around £500 mark.....(they are listed in the for sale section)
  • antonyfromozantonyfromoz Posts: 87
    Ithurts - did you end up buying the wheels? I would be really interested in hearing how the purchase went and what your feelings about the wheels are when you get them...
  • danny_sdanny_s Posts: 235
    The fulcrums are really good wheels. I got a set of racing 1's last autumn when they were on a massive sale and am very happy with them. Two buddies that ride with me a lot of the time also are on fulcrums and are very happy with it as well. If it weren't for the 40% sale I'd have gotten the 5's myself. They're not aerodynamic, but if you do a lot of riding where ease of acceleration beats out ease of maintaining a speed, then it's a good wheel at the price.
  • ithurtsithurts Posts: 37
    Well, i have still not made the purchase of the wheels yet as i am just doing some research on the other suggestions from my original post. Thanks by the way for all the replies as they have been useful.

    I have however purchased a Charge Spoon Ti saddle based on almost 100% of reviews saying that they are well comfy and great value. So looking forward to getting that on my bike for a 2hr test ride on saturday, got it in bling bling white and bar tape to match, mmmmmmmmmm.

    Will keep you posated about the wheel situation.

    Thx.
  • antonyfromozantonyfromoz Posts: 87
    I am in the same position - I am still trying to decide if I want to get some new wheels and if so which ones. I am currently riding (or will be when the weather heats up ) Shimano R500 wheels and have thought to put them on my other bike, which currently has Alex spagetti rims. It is hard enough riding the hills without the bike trying to slow you down by braking on the hardest areas... Hopefully if I do this I will be able to improve the ride on both bikes and drop some weight from the Bianchi at the same time. Does anyone have any experience with Pro-Lite wheels (good or bad) or an opinion on Fulcrum Racing 5s as against Campy Vento or Scirocco wheels?
  • danny_sdanny_s Posts: 235
    Fulcrum wheels are made by Campy, but just done so that they can have a Shimano/SRAM cassette compatible wheel. If you're drivetrain is setup as Shimano, you're only getting the Fulcrums. If you're Campy, then you can go either way, but my preference would be to get the Vento's over Fulcrum 5's.
  • antonyfromozantonyfromoz Posts: 87
    One of the internet shops here has Ventos, Sciroccos and Fulcrum 5s all in both Campy and Shimano - although this is just about the only shop I have seen with the lower range Campy wheels for Shimano bikes. Why would you choose the Ventos over the Racing 5s?
  • shadowone1shadowone1 Posts: 1,408
    I have Fulcrum 5 on the Argon. These are now my training wheels. They are pretty good but I did find them a tad on the heavy side. Essentially I've had to true the front wheel once but thats about it.

    They also look quite good as well. Good for training but not for racing. If you can squeeze the cash I'd take Hussler up on his offer.
  • danny_sdanny_s Posts: 235
    antonyfromoz - The Ventos are cheaper than the 5's from what I've found. I think around that price there are lots of good value durable training wheels that won't give you any hassle or need much thought. They're comparable weight and aero-wise, so just get the ones that save you a bit for more race entries.
  • ithurtsithurts Posts: 37
    the saddle has landed!!!!!!! oh she is sooooooooooooo pretty....seems a shame to sit on her....
  • antonyfromozantonyfromoz Posts: 87
    Did you get the leather or synthetic?

    oops - just checked Wiggle and the Ti is only available in synthetic cover with white. I would be interested in your experiences though as an alternative to the Ponza i have at the moment (i have been looking at the Fizik Arione Wingflex and this is less than half the price).
  • FlavadaveFlavadave Posts: 749
    tri_tri_again wrote:
    I've read quite a few good reviews of Easton's wheels at this price.

    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Easto ... 360036597/

    Word of warning on the EA50's they are decent wheels for the price but they are an absolute #### to get tyres on. I'm upgrading to mavic ksyrium this year...
  • ithurtsithurts Posts: 37
    antonyfromoz wrote:
    Did you get the leather or synthetic?

    oops - just checked Wiggle and the Ti is only available in synthetic cover with white. I would be interested in your experiences though as an alternative to the Ponza i have at the moment (i have been looking at the Fizik Arione Wingflex and this is less than half the price).
    fromoz- i did a good 50k on the saddle this weekend and i must say that i my firat impressions are good. Nice and comfortable and looks the dogs.

    ithurts
  • ithurtsithurts Posts: 37
    Well, i finally bit the bullet and splashed some cash on a new wheelset.

    After much deliberation i went for a set of Mavi Kysrium Elites in silver. Just fitted them to my steed and they really do finish the bike off well.

    Hoping to ride them this weekend, weather dependant of course.

    ihurts.
  • demonclimberdemonclimber Posts: 42
    ok, I can't speak with any great authority but I bought a pair of Easton wheels after taking for granted rave reviews and they are THE most frustrating wheels EVER to get tyres onto - I picked up a thread somewhere on the interweb that this is because Easton wheels are a tiny bit bigger in diameter than others. I'm afraid I rue the day totally that I ever hit the 'ORDER' button for these, regardless of whether they're fab wheels or not.
  • shadowone1shadowone1 Posts: 1,408
    wait till you get a puncture 40 miles from home, cold hands, its raining and you've no phone or money to get home. With your only option to change tub or tube....bet you'll be double cursing and swearing then!!
  • jacjac Posts: 452
    Bitter experience Steve?
  • shadowone1shadowone1 Posts: 1,408
    kind of. I don't have those wheels but something similar has happened.

    I had to walk 5miles with the cleats on, I arrived at a bus stop and a kind old lady gave me money to get a bus home. I then got on the bus with the bike, sat down and I swear some of the looks I was getting... I more or less had to shout that I had a puncture and no way of repairing it.....

    Needless to say that rookie mistake has never been made again
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