Light XC wheels - help!

ashleymp777

Ok, so I'm having a bike built and I've totaly made my mind up on what I want APART from the wheels.

I want a custom pair made which are for XC riding and racing - I've look at the Stans rims and I just dont like them and as for hubs I probably want Chris King hubs. So what other rim choices are out there?

ride_whenever

Carbon rims.

njee20

Well King hubs aren't light, and Stan's rims are. So the combo you're looking at likely won't be light!

What don't you like about Stan's rims? They're the only thing to go for IMO, even more so if you value light weight.

If you're considering King hubs then presumably the budget's not a huge issue.

I'd have 240 hubs on Alpines, or AM Classic hubs on Podiums if they're a really light set you're after.

ashleymp777

Yes, budget no issue - so you think DT hubs eh!?

njee20

They wee all over King IMO, lighter, cheaper, better rolling, less maintenance. King hubs were the biggest among the biggest disappointments I've ever had. My DTs never need touching.

Or AM Classic if it's a proper light build, the larger flanges make for a stiffer wheel. The new NoTubes 30.3s look good too, may end up with a set of those on Podiums next season.

ashleymp777

Who makes the Alpines and AM classics?

neninja

Alpines are Stans ZTR race/XC rims

AM Classics are American Classic hubs

I can't begin to understand your dislike of Stans rims - they are the best lightweight reasonably priced rims available

meesterbond

How's about these ones.... Posh Wheels

1315g, although no idea how the Tune hubs stand up.

That said if budget really is no concern then I'd look at the Edge Carbon rims (or Enve as they now seem to be called)

RideXC

I'm running a pair of DT XR350 rims, pretty light... They're a step down from the XRC Carbon rims.

jairaj

meesterbond wrote:

How's about these ones.... Posh Wheels

1315g, although no idea how the Tune hubs stand up.

That said if budget really is no concern then I'd look at the Edge Carbon rims (or Enve as they now seem to be called)

The Stans 355 rim used on that wheel set is outdated. been replaced by either Stans Alpine for lighter weight or the Stans Crest for stronger.

Its still a good rim just think the other stans options are better.

njee20

Stans rims in order of weight/toughness, with old name and new name:

ZTR Race = Podium
Olympic = Alpine
355 = Crest

I had some Tune hubs, King and Kong Superscharf, the front was fine, but the rear gave me some grief, bearing life wasn't too bad, but they have carbon axles with bonded end caps and aren't user serviceable, a bearing replacement meant unbuilding the wheel and sending the hub back to Posh Bikes, not what I'd recommend!

I can't even imagine considering any other rims if you're custom building. What do you weigh, and what riding are these for?

ENVE rims aren't that light, Innolite XCC250s have to be the ultimate rims, similar money, but far lighter. There's a 970g pair on Weight Weenies with Extralite Ultrahub SPDs and Pillar Ti spokes.

Or, the new Roval Carbon wheels if they import them, or the new Reynolds XCs are both being touted as being about 1200g, they appear to use the same hubs.