Budget Wheels - Light XC All Mountain

thedirge

Trying to narrow down my choice of wheels and could really do with some experianced advice.

Cheap and Light and good quality are the main requirements, well I think they are, someone may have better advice.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RIGIDA-DISC-WHEEL ... dZViewItem

way off?

http://www.woollyhatshop.com/view_product.php?id=2803

these seem safe bet

http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/produ ... Inch_Wheel
or
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Halo-Combat-Wheel ... 4|294%3A50

the halo combats in white i think look very nice and would set the bike off well, however are they suitable, too heavy? the bike is not going to get too much punishment so overkill or is it a case of if you like them just get them?

thedirge

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BANKRUPT-26-MTN-BIKE-WHEELS-DISC-BRAKE-WHITE-BIGFOOT_W0QQitemZ170329461677QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_sportsleisure_cycling_bikeparts_SR?hash=item170329461677&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A15|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A4|294%3A50

cheap look nice but are they crap?

thedirge

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Brand-New-Disc-Wh ... 4|294%3A50

brand names decent price, suitable?

supersonic

None are particularly light - you'll need to spend more than that.

The mavic 117 isn't a particularly good rim, doesn't even have eyelets.

I'd get these:

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=produ ... egoryId=93

If you are heavy, then maybe a tougher rim and spokes.

thedirge

cool thanks for taking a look at them

shame I did like the look of the bigfoot ones, i checked on the hubs and it seems quando hubs are frequently used on many entry level bikes however are not rated very reliable, the rims looked nice being white and chainreaction sell the bigfoot rims for £45 or so, thought they may have been a steal.

At £50 are they a bargin? The shimano are twice the price nearly.

Would the halo combats be acceptable if I wanted to go white? and an alternative to the shimano at merlins?

oh and button is in pole position for tomorrow fantastic

James Beaumont

I'd really suggest getting the wheels from Melin. Dont get the Halos, theyre hugely heavy, I had a set of them on my freeride hardtail and even on that they were slight overkill. Wheels are a very important part of a mountain bike so it's really worth the extra £'s in the long run

thedirge

thanks james, halo's out seems the shimanos are the best option and worth the extra then.

allthegearnoidea

ive just taken delivery of the Xero session freeride wheels from Woollyhatshop, have to say very pleased with them! they weight just over 2kg and work out about 130grams heavier than the xero cyprus xc wheels! they roill very nicely and look good too! and are a very good price!!!

BOYDIE

I had this same problem last year,and went for a handbuilt set from CRC,XT disc hubs on dt swiss x455 rims,DT Spokes and nipples, all for £128 posted.Great wheels ,still straight and true.

Check out Merlin and CRC both hand build strong well priced wheels.

Prowlus

what sort of bike are they going onto ? Make and model if possible . If I were you I'd save up and go for the tried and tested Hope Hoops range

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=18789

for xc/am frames


http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=15900

for burlier am/fr frames

I have the 5.1ds on my ransom and theyre great for most of the things i do ie woodland decents etc and too me , their lighther than my alex rims that were on the bike originally. You can also mod the hubs into thru axles if you needed too without removing them from the wheels themselves for that extra stiffness plus you'll never need a cycle bell to warn dog walkers off ever again Love the hope clackers

Northwind

Strong, light and cheap is a big ask. It might be worth looking out for people selling off OEM-spec wheels from a strongly-built bike, they won't be light but they'll usually be tough...

thedirge

http://www.woollyhatshop.com/view_product.php?id=1336

so you've got these and they are very good? I like the idea of supporting a shop like woolyhat shop and its custom wheels over shimano, who from what I hear are really putting their margins up this year.

pdid

Yeah, as the old saying goes:

Strong, Light, Cheap.............pick two.

I`d go XT hubs on Mavic 719`s from Merlin.

thedirge

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=20307
fire eye excelerant

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=29707
funn xlrater

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=16099
da bomb da rim

found these in white, any suitable for a cutom job from chainreaction? xt hubs?

bomberesque

pdid wrote:

Yeah, as the old saying goes:

Strong, Light, Cheap.............pick two.

I`d go XT hubs on Mavic 719`s from Merlin.

^what he says.

I'd catagorise light AM wheel as a 28mm rim all up weight <2kg and for that I'd say Hope Hoops (5.1) but they'll spring you about 250, which seems way off your budget

Other variations on what pdid posted; deore hubs if you can't spring for XT, DTSwiss 5.1s if you fancy something swiss over Mavic for the rims + normal spokes will be much less than 200

Actually, prices seem to have gone up since my mate bought 5.1s on XTs from Merlin for 140 a pair, the exchange rate I suppose. Still, they'll do you Front and Rear Mavic EN321 on Deore disc hubs for 105 GBP, which is decent quality and about in your budget based upon what you posted above.

nicklouse

thedirge wrote:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=20307
fire eye excelerant

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=29707
funn xlrater

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=16099
da bomb da rim

found these in white, any suitable for a cutom job from chainreaction? xt hubs?

nope.

2 of those are wide DH rims and the other is ok.

James when you say Halo are hugely heavey it may be better to state which of the Halo range you consider to be heavy as they are not all heavy,

Infact some people recomend the same rimes (under a different name) as being great rims

back to the OP the Merlin deal is where you should be.

thedirge

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/productde ... AVIWHFM800

mavic crossride I'm not heading the right way here, i wanted to keep the costs down

allthegearnoidea

thedirge - Yes matey, theyare the ones i have! they have been very good this weekend, holding up to my weight (15 1/2st) through what i'd say is some aggressive Xc riding, some Very good Technical Rooty ST, down a fast section cut out by some down hillers through the woods and another sectoin of Log rolls and fast ST (done this section twice on thses rims so far), also some Very rocky bridleways, (last time down took a rock to the chainring bending 3 teeth out)
they were absolutely spot on, is early days as such at the mo but early impressions are good!
on that basis i know its not much of a recomendation but i would recomend them!

thedirge

cool cheers mate!

somebody saying "i've just bought these and they rock" is just fine with me they are definatly on the list of possibilities.

elPedro666

You said you want light but seem to be looking at really heavy wheels?! :?

That Merlin Deore deal is spot on for the money - cheap, solid, not too heavy.

Currently battering a pair of 517s (slightly lighter & less sturdy than 717s) silly - but they're holding up fine because they're well built, despite being around 1600grams for the pair. So much more important to have them well built and Merlin have a great reputation.

These aren't a bad bet:
http://www.woollyhatshop.com/view_product.php?id=2709

Or go here:
http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=produ ... egoryId=97
And get a lovely tight set of Mavic717s, on XT hubs with DT competition DB spokes for £160 - they will be superb if you're not a complete animal and last for ages.

Just noticed these too, more or less the same:
http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=produ ... egoryId=99

Don't be fooled into buying something heavy IF you don't need the extra strength - nothing makes a bike feel more alive than light, tight (well-built) wheels!

Old-skool XC rant over

thedirge

nice one elpedro, it does seem that the shimano's are the way to go, when so many people are telling me the same thing its hard to ignore it.

toasty

I'd get Crossrides personally, they'll fit wider tyres than the 517s on the Deore wheelset, 19mm rims instead of the little 17mm on the Deores. Mine lasted ages without ever needing any maintenance, lighter than the deore wheelset, very stiff compared to the bulk of wheels I've tried.

The Deores haven't been that expensive for long, all Shimano prices ramped up recently. The Crossrides have been around the £130 mark for donkeys though, they used to be compared directly to XT on 717s (favorably from my perspective :P). You see Crossrides shipping on a lot fo ~£1500 bikes and even then they're normally commented on.

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=product&productId=856&categoryId=93

9/10 review on bikeradar

thedirge

lol okay! what you've said makes sence and they are now the wheel of choice, i should screenshot my merlin basket lol, its changed like 20 times already!

Sram PG950 Cassette
Ratio: 11-32

SYSTEMEX Q/R COLLAR
SIZE: 31.8

SRAM PC971 9 SPEED CHAIN

Shimano SLX Gear Levers

Shimano SLX Front Mech - Triple
Model Type: Top Swing Model (34.9/31.8mm)

Shimano SLX Shadow Rear Mech
Cage Length: SGS Long Cage

MAVIC CROSSRIDE DISC 09
Hub Choice: 6 bolt IS

supersonic

Toasty wrote:

I'd get Crossrides personally, they'll fit wider tyres than the 517s on the Deore wheelset, 19mm rims instead of the little 17mm on the Deores. Mine lasted ages without ever needing any maintenance, lighter than the deore wheelset, very stiff compared to the bulk of wheels I've tried.

The Deores haven't been that expensive for long, all Shimano prices ramped up recently. The Crossrides have been around the £130 mark for donkeys though, they used to be compared directly to XT on 717s (favorably from my perspective :P). You see Crossrides shipping on a lot fo ~£1500 bikes and even then they're normally commented on.

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=product&productId=856&categoryId=93

9/10 review on bikeradar

Shimano say the Deore is 25mm, though external width I guess!

toasty

These aren't a bad bet:
http://www.woollyhatshop.com/view_product.php?id=2709

I was more comparing to that The Deore wheelset might come in as a proper 19mm internal as well then. Given a DT 4.2D is 17.8mm inside width, 23.6mm outside width.

elPedro666

Just for the record - I've no argument with the Mavics looking like really good value:

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=produ ... egoryId=93

!

'Sonic; I think Toasty meant 717s on Deore hubs, not a full deore set...

allthegearnoidea

when i was last up at mothers (easter) i dropped into the local bike shop there, now i dont use them for anything really as they are 3 1/2 hours away from me but they do offer advice as all lbs's do, but as i dont use them or know them i class it as independant advice!!
i asked them which was best in thier opinion over mavic crossrides/fulcrum red metal 5/xt on 717's (they offer wheel builds there, were on eof the first in the uk to offer Spank builds),
they guy said out of the choices given it would be the mavic's no question, the other two they have had issues with bearings and play, especially the Xt's, a few of the guys that they ride with have the xt's and mavics and of the two options the mavics have truely been a fit and forget wheel, (rhey ride the quantocs a lot) where as the xt's have been off for repairs to the bearings numerous times,

i would have gone for the crossrides but i just couldnt afford the extra they were over the ones i have got now, and they look great on the bike!