Kinesis crosslight CX disc wheels

jotko
jotko Posts: 457
edited June 2013 in Road buying advice
Hi,

Looking to upgrade my leaden stock Croix de Fer wheels (on a budget that probably precludes handbuilt) - just wondering if anybody with any experience of these wheels:

http://www.kinesisbikes.co.uk/products/ ... ght-cxdisc

Can be had for £230 a set and come in at 1800g for the pair, good review here (whatever that's worth) - http://road.cc/content/review/69946-kin ... isc-wheels

Bike is used everyday for commuting with occasional tow path/trail rides, no proper off road really.

Comments

  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,337
    ... no, it doesn't preclude hand builts, especially if you are willing to source the hubs from the far east....
    something like these on Velovity A 23 (or Open PRO CD) non machined and Novatec 711/712 hubs I think came to a total of 250-260

    http://paolocoppo.drupalgardens.com/med ... ail/16/386

    I have had the same hubs on my Croix de fer for 18 months now and they are awesome
    left the forum March 2023
  • jotko
    jotko Posts: 457
    Cheers Ugo - you actually PM'd me ages ago with some info on handbuilts for Croix de Fer but for some reason I remembered you said they were more expensive than that, checking back you said £250-£300 so brain failure on my part.

    I will send a PM you way with some questions - be good to go down this route if possible.
  • jotko
    jotko Posts: 457
    I am now going down the Ugo handbuilt route which works out a similar price to the Kinesis wheelset :)

    Just need to wait for the hubs to arrive.....
  • BUR70N
    BUR70N Posts: 182
    Have been thinking the same of having a spare set of wheels ready for the off road stuff.

    Was looking at the Kinesis set and also the iron cross unless anyone has any better ideas.
  • holiver
    holiver Posts: 729
    I too am considering a disc CX/road wheel and looking at various hubs. Shimano XT seem a little heavy, although easy and cheap to source!

    I'm intrigued by the various Novatec options. What spec are you going for jotko?
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,337
    holiver wrote:
    I too am considering a disc CX/road wheel and looking at various hubs. Shimano XT seem a little heavy, although easy and cheap to source!

    I'm intrigued by the various Novatec options. What spec are you going for jotko?

    The Novatec 711/712 are excellent... problem is to get them from the UK... if you buy them on ebay it takes 3 weeks for them to get here... 90 pounds though... very good value
    left the forum March 2023
  • holiver
    holiver Posts: 729
    Thanks for the reply Ugo. Do you have any thoughts on the Novatec 811/812 hubs? Bit heavier but also a bit cheaper from what I can see.

    I'm thinking of building around 2 rim options - the Archetype or WTB Frequency i19 29", with some double butted spokes. Hoping to spend ~£250...
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,337
    holiver wrote:
    Thanks for the reply Ugo. Do you have any thoughts on the Novatec 811/812 hubs? Bit heavier but also a bit cheaper from what I can see.

    I'm thinking of building around 2 rim options - the Archetype or WTB Frequency i19 29", with some double butted spokes. Hoping to spend ~£250...
    Never used them... most Novatec hubs are good and heavier normally means better... worth a punt?
    I only have good words for the Archetype, never used the WTB
    left the forum March 2023
  • holiver
    holiver Posts: 729
    OK great, thanks again.

    Would a rim with an internal width of 21mm be too wide for 25mm or 28mm road tyres in your experience? I spotted the Superstar Sentinel 29" rim which claims to be very light (420g) and is very cheap (£40) too. I'm wondering if it is too good to be true...
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,337
    holiver wrote:
    OK great, thanks again.

    Would a rim with an internal width of 21mm be too wide for 25mm or 28mm road tyres in your experience? I spotted the Superstar Sentinel 29" rim which claims to be very light (420g) and is very cheap (£40) too. I'm wondering if it is too good to be true...

    Normally 29er rims are a very tight fit for road tyres. Have you considered Open PRO CD?
    I run Open PRO CD on my cross bike... they are obviously great for road tyres, but they work well even with touring and cross tyres up to 32-35 mm
    left the forum March 2023
  • holiver
    holiver Posts: 729
    I will certainly consider them. I'm planning to run 28mm road tyres and wider cross tyres on the rims at different times. The trend at present seems to be for rims with a wider internal width like the Archetype. The WTB rim I mentioned earlier has an internal width of 19mm, which I am guessing would suit larger road tyres and cross tyres a bit better than a more narrow rim like the Open Pro?
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,337
    holiver wrote:
    I will certainly consider them. I'm planning to run 28mm road tyres and wider cross tyres on the rims at different times. The trend at present seems to be for rims with a wider internal width like the Archetype. The WTB rim I mentioned earlier has an internal width of 19mm, which I am guessing would suit larger road tyres and cross tyres a bit better than a more narrow rim like the Open Pro?

    I run 32 mm Vittoria Randonneur on my OP and they're great, couldn't ask for a better fit
    left the forum March 2023
  • holiver
    holiver Posts: 729
    OK cool, I will give them some serious consideration!