In reply to Escher:
I live in Spain and so the majority of my riding is in dry conditions (though I have been out in inclement weather recently, mostly as additional 'training' for the Etape Eryri in Snowdonia). Also, I only really do 1000-2000km a year max, so rims wearing down is the least of my worries really.
We have a lot of hills round here and an average ride will see me up and down 1000m of vertical ground (My favourite loop around Montseny has over 3000m of ascent over a 100km), so wheels that are good for climbing are very important for me. I guess this rules out aero wheels.
All this talk of handbuilt wheels has got me thinking though. I have built several mountain bike wheels over the years, front and rear, each of which has survived several trip to the downhill chutes of the alps and pyrenees. I don't suppose building road wheels is much different? Though perhaps it requires a lighter touch.
But I see the Ultegra wheelset is now on wiggle for 268 pounds. A Hope Pro 3 hub + decent rims + spokes will cost way more than that, and I'll have to do the work of building it! With a 1 year old daughter and restricted time, I would rather be out riding. On the other hand, I would like to have some shiny Hope hubs...
Post edited at 10:01