Which wheels?

The Cookie Monster
The Cookie Monster Posts: 36
edited September 2009 in MTB buying advice
i had a look on the search function, and couldnt find a real answer to my question, so i pose it to you now, i have £130-150 odd to buy a set of wheels (thats for the pair mind you!), im willing to spend a bit more if they are really worth the money though. im looking for some XC wheels which will be able to withstand minor abuse (like 4ft drops and big roots etc) but are still pretty light. i had a look at the Mavic Crossride wheels and at getting CRC to build me a pair (which added up to considerably less money than buying the bits and building them myself) any other ideas?

The CRC shimano XT hubs, DT swiss spokes and xm317 rim for £130ish sounded pretty good, as on a good wheel build, the rim quality shouldnt make too much difference.

any suggestions and advice would be welcome
Stumpjumper Comp: was marketed as a "cross country" bike, but with a bit of effort and 4 months in the saddle, i can safely call it a "cross continent" bike! Africa down, 6 to go. 8) FCN 11

Comments

  • The Spiderman
    The Spiderman Posts: 5,625
    Merlin built xt hubs with 717 rims would be my first choice,then Crossrides.
    If you are able to service and maintain cup and cone hubs get the XT 717 combo,if you prefer cartridge hubs get Crossrides.
    XT 717 have the adavantage of being able to source new spokes easier and in my experience 717 rims are pretty resistant to dings.
    Another potential candiate would be the new Superstar compontns wheel,bit heavier but the bearing are meant tobe good:http://superstar.tibolts.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=40&products_id=203
    2006 Giant XTC
    2010 Giant Defy Advanced
    2016 Boardman Pro 29er
    2016 Pinnacle Lithium 4
    2017 Canondale Supersix Evo
  • The Spiderman
    The Spiderman Posts: 5,625
    If you go for the XT/717 option pay the extra for db spokes.Worth the extra.
    2006 Giant XTC
    2010 Giant Defy Advanced
    2016 Boardman Pro 29er
    2016 Pinnacle Lithium 4
    2017 Canondale Supersix Evo
  • bomberesque
    bomberesque Posts: 1,701
    The Spiderman wrote:
    XT/717& db spokes.

    ^that

    4ft drops to flat? not small.....

    Maybe heaftier rims if you're really going to be doing drops >1m. I have DT Swiss 5.1s which I happily commit to stuff around that (although 3 ft is probably my own personal limit, but that's me-related rather than kit-related). Of course then they're heavier....
    Everything in moderation ... except beer
    Beer in moderation ... is a waste of beer

    If riding an XC race bike is like touching the trail,
    then riding a rigid singlespeed is like licking it
    ... or being punched by it, depending on the day
  • The Cookie Monster
    The Cookie Monster Posts: 36
    thanks for quick reply. would the xm719 be a bit more durable? its only about 150g heavier for the pair i think. im only 12 stone but i do like to take the straightest line through rock gardens and wouldnt do bigger than 4ft drops on my xc bike, but would be doing about 4ft drops :P the DT 5.1s look nice, but they are an extra £30 over xm719/xc717... :shock:
    Stumpjumper Comp: was marketed as a "cross country" bike, but with a bit of effort and 4 months in the saddle, i can safely call it a "cross continent" bike! Africa down, 6 to go. 8) FCN 11
  • The Cookie Monster
    The Cookie Monster Posts: 36
    also, merlin are £5-10 more expensive than CRC depending which rim i buy, is it money well spent? i havnt seen a complaint about eithers building ability so i dont know
    Stumpjumper Comp: was marketed as a "cross country" bike, but with a bit of effort and 4 months in the saddle, i can safely call it a "cross continent" bike! Africa down, 6 to go. 8) FCN 11
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    This is about a 3 and a half foot drop:

    batey-rock-dropoff.jpg

    Are you going bigger than that?
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • bomberesque
    bomberesque Posts: 1,701
    tbh if you're a decent rider (not landing badly) then you'll probably be OK with the 717s. If you break the back wheel, then you'll know to replace it with something bigger :lol:

    whet tyres are you using?
    Everything in moderation ... except beer
    Beer in moderation ... is a waste of beer

    If riding an XC race bike is like touching the trail,
    then riding a rigid singlespeed is like licking it
    ... or being punched by it, depending on the day
  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    I've 12' drops to transition on 719 on pro2 on a hardtail (i weigh 95kg), built by merlin with double butted spokes. So i'd guess that they'll be fine.


    I'd say 719 on slx hubs with double butted spokes from merlin would suit you perfectly.
    Neeermad
    Carbon 456
    456 lefty
    Pompino
    White Inbred
  • The Cookie Monster
    The Cookie Monster Posts: 36
    hmm, i probs wont be going bigger than your pic ss, as im predominantly going to be using them for xc use.

    as for tires, a mix between specialized fast trak lk and an ignitor(fr) monorail(rr) combination all 2"-2.1" ish

    12' drops on a hardtail? :shock: you shame me... id have to look twice at that on a dh rig!
    Stumpjumper Comp: was marketed as a "cross country" bike, but with a bit of effort and 4 months in the saddle, i can safely call it a "cross continent" bike! Africa down, 6 to go. 8) FCN 11
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    I'd go for the 719 rims as suggested, and always double butted spokes.
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • The Cookie Monster
    The Cookie Monster Posts: 36
    is it worth considering a 717 on the front and 719 on the rear combination? as i tend to land things rear wheel first and i weight the rear of my bike a lot more when things are getting out of hand (and thus my bike is taking more abuse)

    thanks for all the advice guys! youre a huge help
    Stumpjumper Comp: was marketed as a "cross country" bike, but with a bit of effort and 4 months in the saddle, i can safely call it a "cross continent" bike! Africa down, 6 to go. 8) FCN 11
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    For the sake of 70g... get the same ;-)
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • The Cookie Monster
    The Cookie Monster Posts: 36
    ok, cheers! finally, it costs £10 more to have them done at merlin than CRC, is it really worth the extra money? (ive built a few of my own wheels which are still riding strong and dead straight after 3 weeks in morzine and a few trips to wales, so i can tweak them if neccassary)
    Stumpjumper Comp: was marketed as a "cross country" bike, but with a bit of effort and 4 months in the saddle, i can safely call it a "cross continent" bike! Africa down, 6 to go. 8) FCN 11
  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    Get two 719...

    on the subject of me doing stupid things... it's the problem with being 23 and turning up on a nice bike, all the kids expect you to be able to do these things...
    Neeermad
    Carbon 456
    456 lefty
    Pompino
    White Inbred
  • The Cookie Monster
    The Cookie Monster Posts: 36
    haha, yeah, i know the feeling, except im 19 so im the little kid egging on the 23 year old who is pooing himself as he looks over a 12' drop... :wink:

    ok, so im gonna order 2 xt hubs, DT swiss DB spokes and 2 mavic xm719 rims, to be built by chain reaction cycles. if you have an objection, speak now or forever hold your peace!

    Thank you for all your advice guys! im used to fixing bicycles so all this buying nonsense is all new to me...
    Stumpjumper Comp: was marketed as a "cross country" bike, but with a bit of effort and 4 months in the saddle, i can safely call it a "cross continent" bike! Africa down, 6 to go. 8) FCN 11
  • eddyesi
    eddyesi Posts: 198
    My usual, get the Bontrager Rhythms from fleabay, usually around the £110-130 mark for unused ones off fuel ex's, and are as light as any 19mm setup for a 22mm rim, and pretty bombproof :wink:
    http://www.moredirt.co.uk/ratebike.php?id=6891
  • bomberesque
    bomberesque Posts: 1,701
    ride_whenever wrote:
    Get two 719...

    on the subject of me doing stupid things... it's the problem with being 23 and turning up on a nice bike, all the kids expect you to be able to do these things...

    try being 40 :lol: :roll:
    Everything in moderation ... except beer
    Beer in moderation ... is a waste of beer

    If riding an XC race bike is like touching the trail,
    then riding a rigid singlespeed is like licking it
    ... or being punched by it, depending on the day

Categories