Are Light Wheels the Right Wheels?

• Once upon a time, serious club roadies rode and raced strictly on handbuilt wheels. Hubs, rims, and spokes were carefully selected based on a rider's size, weight, and riding style. Lacing patterns actually mattered. Aluminum nipples were used to reduce rotational weight and add a bit of color. All of these things require a high degree of skill and a significant amount of time.

  In recent years, pre-built reduced-spoke and ultra-light wheels have dominated the road market. While it's true that this has led to some innovation, the main beneficiaries have been sponsored racers and lightweight amateurs. For the rest of us, not so much. I see at least one failed wheel per week. The typical failure will involve a hub flange or rim eyelet on a rear wheel with fewer than 28 spokes and a rider over 150lbs. Given these ingredients, it really doesn't matter if the wheel is OEM or aftermarket, $200 or $1200. Invariably, these wheels will fail.

  This is not to say that larger recreational riders must ride on a handbuilt set of 32h Ultegra hubs laced 3X to Mavic Open Pros. But riders should purchase wheels with reasonable expectations of durability and longevity. Pre-built wheelsets are easy money for bike shops, and even those with a high degree of integrity might stretch the truth when it comes to the appropriateness of a given wheelset. Wheelbuilding is virtually a lost art, and it does still have its place. Aesthetic and design considerations are limitless, and a skilled builder will pair a rider with a pair of hoops with the optimal balance of durability and minimal weight.

  All TATI handbuilt wheels include free trueing for life. You'll find rims from DT Swiss, Mavic, Salsa, Velocity, Araya, Campagnolo, and ZIPP. Choose from DT, Wheelsmith, or Sapim spokes. Nipples come in a dozen hues. Hubs by Phil Wood, Shimano, Campy, DT Swiss, Paul, Powertap, and American Classic. Every wheel will be perfect.

  Prebuilt wheels do have their place. For ultralights, please use them for race conditions only. If you really want a set of super aero and/or reduced spoke pre-builts for training, understand that they are somewhat disposable and not highly repairable given a failure. Or just buy a slightly heavier set and gain a bit of durability while saving yourself a bit of dough. TATI offers pre-builts by Campagnolo, Cane Creek, American Classic, Neuvation, ZIPP, Fulcrum, Mavic, Easton, FSA, and Reynolds.

  Best Overall Value: Neuvation M28 Aero2, $250

  At 1740g, these wheels are plenty light, but sturdy enough even for heavier riders to train on. The bladed spokes look great and and 27mm rim is extremely rigid, so they're pretty tough to bump out of true. But most importantly, these wheels do not use any proprietary or unusual parts, so they're easy to maintain.

  Best Ultralights: DT Swiss RR 1450 Mon Chasseral, $800

  Call them the anti Mavic Ksyrium SL. Not only are they 65g lighter and $300 less expensive, but they're more elegant and cleaner to boot. If Mavic's wheelsets are informed by Lamborghini, DT Swiss is Aston Martin. I see no reason to spend a penny more for professional class hoops.

  Best Deep Carbon: Neuvation CX 50, $800

  1520g, tubular only. These are race day 60mm full carbon rims, designed for riders under 160lbs. The rims are made from the same mold as the pre-dimple Zipps, laced to Neuvation's excellent sealed bearing hub. Incredibly cool looking with removable decals.