need help buying a 'all mountain' wheelset sub £400

goytregrit

Got an alpine 160, have ridden alps on it but mainly UK riding for xc, trail centres and the DH. Even when I ride the DH at cwmcarn or FoD for example I alwasys ride the trails first and ride to the start of the DH so although I'm not competing I guess I fall in to sort of gravity enduro category. I will have a go at all the jumps and step downs but I'm not going big and at 43 probably won't be going bbigger.
I'm 100kg, regularly change the rubber but biggest I would use is say a 2.4 muddy Mary up front. Mostly use 2.2 conti barons. Not really planning on the tubeless set up. Anyway need new wheels which began as a quest to go lighht and strong. I like hope hubs, have done some research on net etc but really ccan't draw any conclusions. Flows seem light but are they strong and the tubeless leaning is not really a consideration for me. Are DT ex500 better than EN521? Some builders seem to be selling old 521-are these the same as en521? Why hope evo straight pull-any benefit etc. All confused.
Thanks for any advice.

supersonic

D521 are a heavier rim the EN521.

Not sure what rear hub standard you need but these are hard to beat value wise:

http://superstar.tibolts.co.uk/product_ ... cts_id=498

http://superstar.tibolts.co.uk/product_ ... cts_id=496

cycleclinic

The En521 is a decent enough rim but I do know people who have dented them and done other damge. The 721 rim or 729 is even tougher and is a down hill rim. I use 721 personally for trail riding and they just work and so far I have not managed to harm them in any way.

DT Swiss rims are goodEX500 would be my choice if you want a light freeride rim. They will be more easy to dent though but should prove durable depending on how kind you are to wheels, only you know that.

A very good rim for the riding you are doing is the Velocity P35. 35mm wide perfect for wider tyres. I think 2.4" tyres is the perfect width for these rims. Not to narrow not too wide. You could run wider on them as well if you like.



As for hubs Shimano XT hubs are very durable and inexpensive. They are my favourite MTB for those reasons. I like Hope hubs too but the only adavntage they have over XT hubs are the pretty colours they come in and they are a bit lighter. I use a set of Hope hubs and they continue to serve me well.

If you want extra stiffness and spoke life then avoid building with plain gauage spokes but use a 36H rim and hub and 36 spokes of course. The best spokes to use would be Sapim Race or DT Swiss Comps both are equally good and both a double butted 2.0/1.8/2.0mm spokes. A 32 Spoke wheel will be fine though.

Possible builds
Hope hub DT Swiss EX500 rims Sapim race spokes brass nipples for light gravity enduro wheel.
XT hubs Mavic 721 rims Sapim race spokes and brass nipples for a very durable wheelset - a good choice.
XT hubs and Mavic 729 rims Sapim race spokes and brass nipples for an even stiffer wheelset. The wider rim is perfect for wide 2.4" tyres.
XT hubs and Velocity P35 spaim race spokes and brass nipples - this would be my choice, the rim is tough but wider than any mavic rim. I like wide rims.

lawman

Unless I'm mistaken the alpine 160 comes with a Maxle swing arm and shimano have never done an xt hub in this layout, for 135x12. Personally I would choose Stans flow or flow EX rims, I've used Stans for a little while and they are my default choice now by a long way, zero issues, light, tough and I've yet to dent either sets of crests I run. Hope or superstar hubs on Stans rims and you won't go too far wrong. There's little point in looking at much else tbh.

goytregrit

Thanks for the replies, plenty of help there to make a choice.

goytregrit

Also yes Alpine has a maxle rear 135x12

DCR00

+1 for Superstar wheelsets. I have the AM490 on my Spesh and they take a beating.

goytregrit

Can't help but conclude that an Arch ex will be my best rim choice, apparently an "all mountain' rim. Lots of forums with owners thrashing them without failures and ultimately lighter than most other obvious rim alternatives. flow ex for example now seems a more DH orientated wheel.
? Still thinking..don't want to balls up and make a costly mistake.

supersonic

If you are riding DH and are 100kg, get the Flows.

goytregrit

supersonic wrote:

If you are riding DH and are 100kg, get the Flows.

I'm sure that's sound advice and I can draw some conclusions why, but is it due solely on rim strength or because of limited tyre width or both. Also do you specifically mean Flows or Flow ex. From what I've read seems the Flows were an Enduro rim adopted by the DH set and so now the Flow ex is a stronger/wider rim to meet that masrket. I've read of guys doing seasons in the Alps and the Mergavalanch on Arch ex. Just as a guide I did the ppds in alps last year and we did most of the red and black options. I'm reasonably quick on that stuff but I'd never attermpot stuff like the roads gap or river gap.
Wondering. Is it a 'spoke' secret. :?

supersonic

Either. Flow EX if you feel it warrants it. I would not recommend an Arch EX at your weight and riding.

goytregrit

supersonic wrote:

Either. Flow EX if you feel it warrants it. I would not recommend an Arch EX at your weight and riding.

thanks for your feedback. Have made mistake on my weight I'm only 85kg. Does this in anyway alter your previous suggestions?

cycleclinic

all the suggest rims are even more suitable if you are lighter.