Reynolds KOM or custom built wheels?

[Registered Executioner]

My LBS has a pair of Reynolds KOM that have been gathering dust and now are being offered for a discounted price. On my gram scale, without skewers, the pair came in at 1050g.

As a point of reference I currently ride the Reynolds Stratus clinchers that weigh in at 1490g so I’m thinking I could drop and easy 400 to 500 grams by switching to the KOM wheelset & going with a lightweight set of tubular tires.

I weigh in at 170 pounds and while I’m not overly rough on wheels I can put out 1500 watts in a sprint. All the climbing locally is short but steep so these would be my fair-weather climbing wheels that I’d pair with the Crumpton frame I have on order.

So here is the dilemma:

Mr. Search pulls up limited, yet mixed reviews of the KOM wheelset – it seems that some people have actually had pretty bad luck with the wheels. I’ve also read that Reynolds had problems with the spoke/nipple choice early on with the KOM wheelset and also stories of uneven spoke tension contributing to the weakness of these wheels. All this information was dredged up on the internet so can only be trusted so far. Still 1050g is a very good weight provided that they will hold up. The wheelset in question is new but either a 2004 or 2005 model so I don’t know where that puts them in the production learning curve for Reynolds.

Other choice is to call up bikemesenger and have him put together a custom wheelset – not sure what ballpark price & weight is possible by going the custom route, but if it is competitive with the KOM wheelset than it could be the more reliable option. I'd rather have a reliable wheelset than a crazy light wheelset that is too fragile to ride.

Any advice would be welcomed.

Thanks.

[Sparta]

I´m sorry but I find your username extremely distastefull for this forum :

[Kayba]

I have the 2006 KOM's and use them as my every day wheels. So far I have been very happy with them. Had only a slight issue with the rear hub (White Industries - a little play caused by a loosening allen screw) but that has been solved. No issues whatsoever with the rim or the nipples. The brake surface is still like brandnew. I would definitely buy them again (but with the new stock DT Swiss hubs).
BTW I weigh 180 lbs.
Kayba

[CharlesM]

Not trying to stir up poo,

But if you can hold 1500 watts for more than a a completely irrelevant spurt, you should ride what ever wheels your pro sponsor is suggesting.




Back to topic, if big power and sprinting is your thing, and at 170 lbs, You have a GREAT wheel with the stratus...

If I were in your shoes I would stick with what you have as the better wheel choice for you...

[peterpen]

Not trying to stir up poo,

But if you can hold 1500 watts for more than a a completely irrelevant spurt, you should ride what ever wheels your pro sponsor is suggesting.

Probably quite a few people on this forum can hit "1500w in a sprint" but it's hitting that number after 4 hours of racing, knowing when to hit it, and holding it that *might* get a pro team interested.

sorry!
As for your choice, an ultra-light climbing specialist wheel doesn't seem like a good match for you or your terrain. If you want new, lighter wheels call Troy and see what he suggests. You could certainly drop a few hundred grams and still have an aero set which seems appropriate for you - say Zipp 285 rims/ 28 2x CX-Rays/ White Industries H1 hubs. I have a set like those but at 145lbs went 24 2x and find them plenty stiff for me. They're about 1200g.

[Registered Executioner]

Not trying to stir up poo,

But if you can hold 1500 watts for more than a a completely irrelevant spurt, you should ride what ever wheels your pro sponsor is suggesting.

Probably quite a few people on this forum can hit "1500w in a sprint" but it's hitting that number after 4 hours of racing, knowing when to hit it, and holding it that *might* get a pro team interested.

sorry!
As for your choice, an ultra-light climbing specialist wheel doesn't seem like a good match for you or your terrain. If you want new, lighter wheels call Troy and see what he suggests. You could certainly drop a few hundred grams and still have an aero set which seems appropriate for you - say Zipp 285 rims/ 28 2x CX-Rays/ White Industries H1 hubs. I have a set like those but at 145lbs went 24 2x and find them plenty stiff for me. They're about 1200g.

Didn't expect this post to dredge up such animosity!

Certainly wasn’t trying to imply that I can sustain 1500 watts, only that from a power profile standpoint I can burst up to that level and I don’t want my wheels to collapse because of it. My aim was to provide context towards my riding style, far too often I’ve seen posts asking for advice on components with no background – wheels that are designed for a 120lb climbing god are probably not a good match for me.

Just to clear this up too, my username is the name of a clothing line that I am launching (note the avatar). Part of the appeal of the name is that has to do with the many meanings of the word execute. Clearly there is a negative connotation with the word executioner but to execute is more neutral.

Either, way I am not in the capital punishment business and I do appreciate the OT opinion.

[Sparta]

Thx for the explanation, perhaps your location clouded my better judgement - best of luck with your clthing line

[drjones96]

[VeloScaper]

If your avatar is the logo for your clothing line, I fail to see how it emphasizes someone who can get things done given the crossed bones representing death. This lends to mean executioner to me and not someone who can execute or get things done.

good luck with that clothing line, though might have a following over there in Texas.

[520 Dan]

ANYWAY...

I would probably go with a deeper section wheel.

[mzagorski]

If sprinting is your thing when why go for wheels with the KoM label? unless your going for sprints at the top of mountains.. which at 170lbs.. might be borderline for you?.. Not saying people can't climb at 170lbs but KoM stuff might be better for a rider in 130-140lb range..

also, i doubt that 1500w of sprinting would trash those KoM's... they're really nice wheels IMHO.. Owned a set (Cirro, not the lighter KoM version), thrashed them on crappy roads in Mexico, cobbles...dogs... schoolkids.. and they survived as true as when the race started. Nice hoops. have seen failures on the KoM's but not the standard Cirro's...

[CharlesM]

Didn't expect this post to dredge up such animosity!

Certainly wasn’t trying to imply that I can sustain 1500 watts, only that from a power profile standpoint I can burst up to that level and I don’t want my wheels to collapse because of it. My aim was to provide context towards my riding style, far too often I’ve seen posts asking for advice on components with no background – wheels that are designed for a 120lb climbing god are probably not a good match for me.

Just to clear this up too, my username is the name of a clothing line that I am launching (note the avatar). Part of the appeal of the name is that has to do with the many meanings of the word execute. Clearly there is a negative connotation with the word executioner but to execute is more neutral.

Either, way I am not in the capital punishment business and I do appreciate the OT opinion.

I think the Logo rocks! I am amazed at the attempts at humor but what amounts to a complete lack of any sense of humor in forums sometimes...


Gotcha on the watts splurge, and at 170 I get what you're sayin.

I would stick with what you have. Loosing the aero benefit and stiffness doesn't seem like something that I would give up just to loose a few more grams... There are other wheels you could build or buy, but you have a pretty great set with the Stratus. Not sure that another big money outlay would get you a massive improvement over what you already have.

[drjones96]

What's wrong with being an executioner? Somebody's got to throw the switch.

[Karbon]

If you like the clinchers why not get a set of the DV tubulars and rebuild them into some lighter hubs? The rims are real light, it'd be easy to chop a couple of hundred grams off them at listed weight with lighter hubs and spokes. The end result would be lighter than a set of regular KOMs.

I was going to do this with a pair of tubular DV's when the rear M5 hub was available, I calculated it would chop about 200gm off.

[VeloScaper]

What's wrong with being an executioner? Somebody's got to throw the switch.

Ponder your question next time you have an aggressive driver behind you and you look over your shoulder and see the driver wearing a cap with Reg. Ex.'s logo on it.


oh, and yea stick wit' wa u got.