In the past seasons we rode Mavic Aksium as our training wheels (the complete Continental team). Didn't had any problems with them, not even true them once and made 24 000 km with them last season...now I don't race as a pro anymore (study..), but still have the same set, only true them a bit and already made almost 5000 km with them this year.. Also in the previous seasons we had Aksiums, also the older models, and I didn't had any problems with them..but I never had more than 65kg.

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Berk PROTO-TYPE Composites - Handmade In Slovenia
Berk Composites

i have about 7k miles on fulcrum 7s and went into my team's sponsor to true them and re tension.... didn't need it.

they are heavy, but it's ok

I know this is WW's but I really don't see why weight has any factor when considering "training" wheels?

Strength & durability should be the leading factors...and besides when you change to your light weight racing wheels on race day you'll feel like your flying...

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"It never gets easier, you just go faster..." - Greg Lemond

"Because technology alone is a poor substitute for experience." - Richard Sachs

Another vote for the Open Pros if you willing to entertain wheels not on your list.

Not easy! A lot of votes for a traditional wheel with some open pro rims combined with Shimano hubs. The only downside is the prices: +- 220 euro for a Ultegra & Open Pro-build. The Mavic Aksium's can be found for 160 euro (with free Mavic tires en tubes) at my LBS. So probably cashing out on the Aksium's!

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Pedal it!

Janman,

I don't ride Shimano but I would personally go for the Open Pro's with Ultegra hubs, they're much better than what's on the Askiums (with their crappy freehub). I would expect them to be more durable in the long run. By buying the Askium's you may save a buck with the initial purchase but pay for it in the long run...IMO

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"It never gets easier, you just go faster..." - Greg Lemond

"Because technology alone is a poor substitute for experience." - Richard Sachs

If you're buying factory I would go with the Fulcrum 5's or 7's before the Aksium's, the 5's are only another $50-$70 over the 7's so go with them.

I've had aksiums for 7 years without a problem, 5x on airplanes naked, 5 mountain holidays, the works. They spin nicely, havn't touched them, and i'm a lardy. On my 2nd bike now, and they were the original model.

As someone who has owned both, I vote Velocity A23 rims over Open Pros. The wider rim gives much better/safer handling/cornering, which is in my book key for a training wheel, and only costs maybe $15 more per rim. Noone wants to go down on a rainy day (or ever) and you are using these things day in day out.

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CLB

Really? Can you please explain how this is so?

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"It never gets easier, you just go faster..." - Greg Lemond

"Because technology alone is a poor substitute for experience." - Richard Sachs

Yeah.....I was gonna ask the same question. I have owned both and the difference wasn't earth shattering.

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2012 Fuji Altamira SE - 6.42kg

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Aksiums are heavy, stuff, treacle-hubbed parachutes!

Zondas or Racing 3s can be had cheap and occupy the training/racing crossover territory for about half the price of top end clinchers.

The newer Aksiums are actually pretty nice wheels, especially for the money. $270 US at retail. I have a couple sets laying around on beater bikes that have seen serious abuse. One rear hub finally broke (part that holds the spoke at the hub) after 5 years of use... and my wife was riding it on her commuter while riding down a set of stairs when it happened.

Nice though Zonda's and Racing 3's are, I think they are just a little bit too high up the food chain for trainers. The Scirocco rear was luvely mind.

Came to post this.


My 'training' wheels are Zonda's/Racing 5's. Double nicely for 'race' wheels for club races. Take a battering and let me feel like I'm flying when the tubular race wheels go in. Cannot ask much more of a training wheel really.


I know a certain recent Milan San-Remo winner trains with the heaviest wheels he can find

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Baum Ristretto, Baum Mondrian Corretto & the '89 Merckx! | "If you could eat it in one sitting, hold your line." | twitter.com/Tinea_Pedis