While Shimano’s 7850 C24-CL wheels do not stand out in every area, they offer great balance in all departments and are regarded as one of the best all round cycling wheels on offer.

They are designed to balance key design elements and to deliver the best riding wheels for intended design use through a balance of opposing factors.

They are a light design, but not too light. They are stiff without being too restrictive. And they are an attractive design without being too innovative.

Probably the best feature about the wheels is the brake performance. Being a carbon fiber product, the braking on the Shimano Dura-Ace series are smooth, confident and powerful, with minimal pulsing or grabbing.

The C24s are subtle and understated in their performance – even the carbon wrap looks, at first glance, like a merely black anodized aluminum finish.

But If you ride Shimano or SRAM, these wheels are, for the money, one of the best blends of lightweight, stiffness and ride quality available.

SPECS:

* Pro-Tour performance with the convenience of clinchers
* Patent pending Shimano carbon-alloy composite construction
* Aerodynamic 24mm profile rims
* New titanium freehub body w/quick engagement
* New wider flange hubs and offset rear rim for increased rigidity and power transmission
* Shimano quality proven angular contact bearings with oversize 7075 alloy axles
* Weight: 1386g (pair)

Running 16 spokes on the front and 20 spokes on the rear, Reynolds has designed a wheelset that is capable of producing personal best racing times but, importantly, standing up to the pressures of daily road riding as well.

Serious cyclists are always looking for wheels that are light and fast but for a long time these attributes came in wheels with a tendency to break easily. It looks like the Stratus DV has ended that problem and now and road cycling is better for it.

You can expect these wheels to add speed to your road cycling, and at the same time they won’t need to be trued as often as other carbon racing wheels.

Specs:

Rim Weight: 350g
Front Wheel Weight: 515g
Rim Weight: 725g
Spokes Road and Track: 16 Front,20 Rear
Rim Width: 21mm
Rim Height: 46mm
Size: 700c

The 303s are exceptionally light carbon wheels that spin well and look great on just about any bike.

Although they are not the stiffest wheels on the market, they are stiff enough to ensure you are getting reward for effort when pedaling.

Some have noted that climbing on the 303s is a great experience, and that cross winds do not tend to affect them much.

If there is a question mark over these wheels it is about their ability to take a knock. Many riders have reported their wheels breaking easily; obviously fragility is a characteristic of carbon and with that in mind these wheels will not be for everyone.

These are certainly top line racing wheels and you have to fork out a fair bit of money to secure a pair. For this reason they are recommended for racing but not for daily riding.

Specs:

Front wheels expertly built with 20 spokes
Rear 700c wheels built with 28 spokes; Rear 650c wheels built with 24 spokes
Carefully selected, ovalized, rolled stainless steel spokes
Tubular rims are monocoque molded, precision drilled and hand finished
Right in the middle is ZIPP’s proprietary lightweight, precision machined, black anodized, performance, sealed bearing hubs

Mavic CXP 33 wheels are at the front of the campaign to lower the weight of bike rims while keeping their speed and aerodynamic quality.

At only 1300 grams the wheels are certainly value for money. You won’t be burnt at the bank by these wheels.

But aside from the good weight and great design, the CXP 33 is ultra reliable and durable.

Even hardened road riders will get good value and distance out of these wheels

DT Swiss RR 1.1 wheels will give you flexibility and control, without the heavy grind of bumpy terrain.

These are not the lightest rims in the world but they are stiff and dependable. Many serious riders use these rims as alternative training wheels.

If there is a downside to these wheels it is that some have noted cracking around the eyelets. This is only an aesthetic point, however, and it does not affect the performance of the wheels.

For the casual road rider who needs something stiff and reliable, try these out.

This is what the Alex R390 aims to do and, most of the time, does very well.

You are not getting a top-of-the-line wheel here but you are getting something that will take a fair bit of punishment and which also features a wide breaking surface.

Most riders find this to be a stiff, basic wheel that gets them a long way. Some also buy a set of these (because they are so cheap) as backups in case their racing wheels break.