CX wheel choice

hammerite

Currently using Shimano R500s for CX, with a Campag compatible cassette.

I have a spare wheelset - Campag Khamsin (normal road ones), thinking of getting these CX ready for spares in the pits, are they suitable for CX?

I know Campag do some specific CX wheelsets, is there that much difference? Are most road wheels suitable for CX?

Stellite

I see Probikekit have the Khamsin, but cyclocross specific. Think they have better sealing arrangement.

A lot of folk use Askiums for cross, including me.

I would imagine of you used your wheels for cross it would be worth checking the bearings after a muddy ride to see if they are getting contaminated or the seals are stopping the mud getting in. That would give you an idea how often to service the wheels.

FransJacques

Zipp 303 with Dugast tubs is pretty standard, the firscrest model. You'll need 6 pairs. 2 pairs each with:

1 - Typhoon - multi purpose
2 - Rhinos - for mud
3 - Pipistrello (italian for bat) - for hardpack and grass

There is no telling what a course will be like so you need to pre-ride it the day before with your coach to make the tub selection.

You need 2 pairs of each because your coach will be in the pits with the spare wheels and a bucket of water for the bike.

Enjoy!

tim_wand

So thats 3 sets of Zipp 303 's , 6 Dugast Tubs ,a Coach and a day off work to ride the course before hand. No wonder I cant compete on my Planet X A57'S .

hammerite

FransJacques wrote:

Zipp 303 with Dugast tubs is pretty standard, the firscrest model. You'll need 6 pairs. 2 pairs each with:

1 - Typhoon - multi purpose
2 - Rhinos - for mud
3 - Pipistrello (italian for bat) - for hardpack and grass

There is no telling what a course will be like so you need to pre-ride it the day before with your coach to make the tub selection.

You need 2 pairs of each because your coach will be in the pits with the spare wheels and a bucket of water for the bike.

Enjoy!

Blimey Frans, whilst I'd love all that I've only just stretched enough to get a "pre owned" CX bike. At the moment I just want to be able to get round (I'm at the opposite end of sharp!), on a set of wheels and spare that won't be trashed after one race.

I would have a pit man though, he's not a coach, he's a keen 9yo who likes to help - and needs to work to pay off his first cross bike!

FransJacques

Bit of the ol tongue in cheek but a day checking out the pits at Koksijd last year was quite an eye-opener.

Basically you can CX on *any* wheel out there, but unlike road, leave a larger margin of error on breakage. In my limited personal racing experience (4 races over 5 years) I've seen said 303s, Ksyrium ES, Lightweights (no sheit!), RS10s, RS20s, lots of Pro-Lights (the house brand of Brand X it seems) and lots in between. I've not seen Hed Ardennes nor CL24s but nor would you expect to...

Shimano rims are not quite as wide as Hed's C2 rims but they are about 21mms which make them wider than a lot of Mavic or DTs so are, IMO, not a bad platform, but finding them with Campy freehubs are as rare as rocking horse poo.

I have no experience with Fulcrum 5s or 7s and the 7s are OE on many complete bikes so this is a perfect starting point.

hammerite

Thanks Frans, I did wonder if it was tongue in cheek. I was surprised at my first cross race that people had spare bikes worth as much as they were. But then I'm not used to racing in the same race as elites either, as cross is such a mixed bag of abilities.

The Shimano wheels I have (came with the cross bike) have a Campag compatible cassette on them, so I don't need to change anything there. The Campag wheels I have already kicking about at home, so means I don't need to buy a new set of wheels if they're suitable, so just need a 9 speed cassette and some tyres.

bigpikle

I've been impressed with my Shimano RS10's, and they have taken some abuse off road since I got the CX bike (including going down a hidden hole at high speed that I thought would snap the forks!) and they werent new when I got them either. I can really see the appeal of at least a spare set of wheels in case of p*******'s if nothing else, and as they're <£100 a set I'm very tempted. Very handy to have some options with different rubber as well.