Which Wheels Should I Buy for my XC Bike????? Please help!!

gurus5000

Hello Everyone,

I would really appreciate some help on this topic. I have a 2007 Marin Eldridge Grade Hardtail bike and I would like to upgrade the wheel sets and not really sure where to start my budget is £300 for the whole set. I have looked at the Hope Hoops 4.2 DT Swiss set which loosks good but I just really want some advice and guidance

Thanks in advance

Andy B

What sort of riding are you doing?

£300 will get you a decent set of hand built wheels (much better than factory built wheels)

gurus5000

Im mainly doing xc riding places like grizedale/llandegla etc so where would you recommend going for some hand built wheel sets?

Andy B

Merlincycles or Stif are both very good wheelbuilders

Hope ProII or Shimano XTR hubs, or Chris King (if budget allows)

DT Swiss double butted spokes

Mavic XC717 (or XC719 rims if you're prone to knackering xc rims)

gurus5000

Thanks very much for your advice I live near Merlin so I may pop down and have a talk to the guys there. Have you got hand built wheels?

Thanks

supersonic

Talk spokes too with the builder.

DT supercomp worth a look to shave some weight.

dombo6

My Mavic 717s laced to 32 hole Hope hubs with DT swiss db spokes have stayed true for over 4 years. Handbuilt at Nirvana Cycles. They know the local trails and build wheels to suit.
For my roadbike I've gone factory for the lighter weight.

gurus5000

Hi dombo6,

So how do you find your wheels and what kind of cost were they for the set?

Thanks

Joe_Pineapples

I'm on my second set of handbuilt wheels from Merlin and they are top notch, it's what they built their reputation on.

U won't be disappointed.

dombo6

gurus5000 wrote:

Hi dombo6,

So how do you find your wheels and what kind of cost were they for the set?

Thanks

Seem to remember they were about £200-£250. I got them separately when upgrading to disc brakes after wearing out my second set of rear rims due to overzealous use of back brake! They replaced a set of handbuilt Dave Hindes which were XT hubs laced to 517s that were also good.
The rear one is four years old, perfectly true and hub still makes all the right noises and very smooth. Front one is slightly younger, 4 years old this March. They are reasonably light and strong enough for me - I use them for XC and ride fairly light anyway.
I had a loose spoke once (after 2 years' use) and that's been the only problem.
If they ever need replacing I'll go back to Simon at Nirvana, and get the same again.