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wheels and tyres

hi all
my confusion (and lack of knowledge) over wheels continues so here i am to ask for some advice - again!
my HIM is in antwerp and part of the bike leg is on cobbled streets surfaces
i also have a 56mile sporteve to run on a very hilly road terrain, the blenheim sprint and a rather flatish olympic
would any particular type of wheels/tyres be better than others?
ie carbon versus aluminium, thinner versus wider rims, clincher versus tubular etc
i have been looking and looking and the more i look the worse it gets...the choices are vast and i feel totally overwhelmed as i really don't know where to start and as they all seem to be pricey i dont want to spend money on the wrong product...help!

Comments

  • Quite a topic here lots of different views I suspect. However my vote would be to stick to clinchers for the time being, tubs can be a bit a bit awkward to change.

    I think I would spend my money on tyres, Michelin Pro race 3 about £60 per pair, fantastic tyres and will help. Whereas you'd be spending in the region of £600 upwards for wheels. However if I had the money then the world is your oyster.
  • FlavadaveFlavadave Posts: 749
    Michelin pro 3 on sale here... Bargain! Just ordered myself a couple.

    http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/michelin ... 41943.html
  • Go for clinchers, easier to change!! Look at Continental Gatorskins, hard wearing and durable. Reasonably priced also.
  • nivaghnivagh Posts: 595
    Ebay is sometimes a good place for tyres.

    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... :MESELX:IT
    Rubino Pro for 99p! (Disclosure - this is my listing!)

    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vittoria-Zaffiro- ... 335914f47b
    Zaffiro for a tenner
  • sp1nsp1n Posts: 9
    Aluminium rims sounds like they'll do the business for you, something like Cadence Aeros which are strong for the cobbles and aero for the flats. Have a chat with the wheelroom.
    As for tyres, people have listed some bargains there, Pro3s is what I am using now, very impressed with how they ride.
  • jmurt71jmurt71 Posts: 46
    Looking at a thread elsewhere recently of some guys looking to do Paris-Roubaix, seriously cobbly, recommended using at least 25mm tyres (or more if your bike can fit them) and ideally Specialised Roubaix Pro - although you will lose something using those tyres on normal roads, could just have another pair of racing tyres for the normal flat races.
  • graham33graham33 Posts: 265
    Hi, I thought I'd chip in with something I learnt from Joe Beer.

    The tyres: the more threads per inch(TPI) the better. He explained that they flex better, absorb bumps better to give more time in contact with the ground but esstentially they need less power to move them. he said about 15 watts per tyre with about 270TPI. where as having 404 (£3000) wheels give 20 watts each!

    I bought 320TPI and WOW! what a difference. I can't explain it, but even at 120PSI they're comfortale and smooth. These were £30 a tyre and in future I will always get these type. they took 6 minutes of my 21 mile commute to work!
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