Wheel upgrade?

@shakebeforeusing - thanks, I'm upgrading from Bontrager race wheels to Franc, so hopefully I'll see a similar improvement.

Thought I'd add my experiences (if you haven't already made a choice, swissside did have a Christmas sale...). I've been riding the Gotthard wheelset for about 3 months now (on an Equilibrium funilly enough) and have tried Ksyrium Elites (and know others that ride them). Not sure about the bikeradar review, giving them 3.5 stars with a review that basically says the only negative is that rim isn't excessively wide... reviewer must've been having a bad day...

From riding them they're excellent in every way. They handle well, are utterly bombproof and go like stonk! I upgraded from a set of Bontrager race wheels, and although those weren't sluggish by any means I immediately felt the difference. They both accelerate and hold speed well and have a pleasant hmming noise whilst going along (like a very quiet deep section wheel). I've noticed no flex whatsoever in them on both testing climbs and descents and they're completely true despite some good thrashings (included a pothole which broke a ride mates handbuilt wheel, which I then had to fix at the road side ).

Compared to the Ksyriums I'm sure this will be exactly the same, with the Gotthards a tad more durable due to the better spokes. There's not much to tell them apart to be honest apart from the looks (and imo the gotthards are gorgeous, no bias... ). Sifting through the data gives the results that I beleive the Gotthards have slightly heavier rims with lighter hubs, and have a slight aerodynamic over the box section Ksyriums. According to Swissside's data from their Hadron testing this will be about 25% of the gain from going for a full on deep rim wheelset (i.e. ~80mm), with better performance in side winds.

Also, in response to the negative points posted in the review I've had no problem with the rim width running 25mm tyres evn at low pressures, and the QR skewers provided were possibly faulty. Mine engage very solidly, although they do have the disadvantage of having external cams. I also have the titanium skewers which are pretty much bog standard titanium QRs. They're a bit harder to close than the standard ones as expected for titanium, and can be a bit fiddlier to get to the best tension. In all, I would really bother with the extra expense again.

No idea why that turned up here! I was commenting on another post.

I am similar height and weight to OP, and run a CAAD10. Are you my twin, separated at birth?

I changed my wheels to Elite S and have done a few thousand miles on them now. They have been utterly bombproof if a tad unexciting.

Take a wheel off and say you're off to get it looked at at the LBS - "I think there's something not right dearest" - take the wheel out for a drive in the car and come back effing and blinding at the cost of a repair (make it >60% the cost of the new wheel if she asks)... Order the new wheel (and the matching one). Profit (for the wheel seller).

Kyseriums are bomb proof. No truing required. Best add-on to my bike. You don't want the bottom end ones though, you need the ones with the aluminium milling around the rim. Class.

Does the wife like clothes, handbags and shoes?

Job done!

Conti Gatorskins and 4 Season tyres always feels 'sluggish' to me and just bounce and skip along at high pressures. GP4000s a better bet, or the Vredestein Xtreme. Read an article in an Australian Cycle magazine that claimed there was nearly a 20 watt increase in rolling resistance between the GP4000 and the 4 Season which is a big difference

Shimano 6700s are over 1600g with rim tape. I found them a dull unresponsive wheel. My Fulcrum 5s (2014, with the bigger axle) though heavier feel a much better more lively wheel.

Fulcrum 3s are excellent too, stiff and lively. It's not all about weight.

I recently got some Zondas for my CAAD10 (with Shimano 10sp hub). Haven't put a lot of miles on them yet, but I find them excellent so far. Have some Krysium Elite S's on another bike and I'd have to say there's not much between them and the Zondas, and the Zondas were almost half the price.

I had my fulcrum 3s for 2 years and I use them everyday for everything, commute, weekend rides, they have taken a lot of abuse and are still true. The front rim is showing signs of wear but I have done a lot of miles on the wheels and they have been excellent.

Go for it!