Best Trail wheels for £1000

justkelly07

Hi There

Looking to upgrade the wheels on my Trek Fuel ex 9
And being relatively new to MTB and with so much choice could do with
Some advice please

Thanks

Justin

Chunkers1980

New and a grand for some wheels? Are you for real?

justkelly07

I say new last time I rode was 15 years ago so I consider that new as things have
Changed so much lol

Have been riding 3 times a week for last 8 weeks and really love it,
The ups are harder than I remember but the fast downs still make me grin
Ear to ear.

Riding woburn trails mainly but looking to venture further
Afield as my confidence and skill level increases.

So to answer the question no I'm not mad and I've always been told to spend as much as you
Can afford

Thanks

cooldad

In what way are the current wheels letting you down, and what are you trying to achieve. Weight? Strength?
Chucking money at something for the sake of chucking money at it is a bit pointless.

justkelly07

Looking to save weight mainly need all the help I can get with climbs and not
Overly happy with the grip of the xr3 tyres either so
Figured I do wheels and tyres first

Mark909

No offence but if you've only been riding again for 8 weeks why not put the money into exercise and a healthy diet? You'll shed more weight that way and become fitter rather than by just throwing money at new kit.

justkelly07

So now it's assumed I have a poor diet and it would be better spending 1k on improving it
Really ?????

Just want some advice on what wheels I could get that would improve on the bontys

Thanks

spr wheelie

i seen on crc a few weeks ago some haven carbons for a grand.

cooldad

So how much do your current wheels weigh?

cooldad

And what size are they? Rim and axles/hubs.

felix.london

...and what and where are you riding?

personally, I'd start with the tyres...

justkelly07

Am mainly riding woburn trails but looking to venture to
Other trail centres as my confidence increases

Wheels are bontrager Rhythm elite wheel and hubs approx 1900g
Without tyres

felix.london

http://superstar.tibolts.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=74&products_id=496

£200. £800 left for hookers and blow

justkelly07

Ha ha awesome not sure my wife would approve of the hookers
But think she would like to share the blow :P

felix.london

Seriously though - those wheels are a bargain. Or get a set of custom build Arch EX with all the bells and whistles for about £400

supersonic

What are your existing wheels? How much do they weigh?

justkelly07

See above for wheel details

26 inch bontys

supersonic

And how much do you weigh? WOuld you forsake a bit of strength for lighter weight? Also what axle standards do you require?

justkelly07

I'm about 80-85kg and not a heavy rider more
Controlled and slowish lol

Haven't found my balls yet so taking the downhills slowly

Would def sacrifice some strength for weight

justkelly07

Axle standards 142x12 rear and 15 front

The Rookie

Get the Superstars and some decent tyres and use the rest of the pot elsewhere (blow or the bike!)

rapid_donkey

If it was my money, I would be looking at a Merlin wheel build using Hope hubs, Stans Flow EX rims and the best spokes they offer.
You will have fantastic wheels and £500 odd in change to pay for petrol to get yourself to Sherwood Pines, Cannock Chase, Wakerley Woods etc (all doable in a day from Bedfordshire).

justkelly07

Thanks rapid that's the kinda advice I was looking
For.

Any suggestion on a good tyre combo to go with
The wheels ???

supersonic

But those wheels are barely lighter than what you have.

cooldad

But they say Hope, which immediately doubles the value of the bike.
Doesn't it?
Thousands of random Ebayers can't be wrong.

justkelly07

At least I have a starting point with some ideas
On where to start and will talk to Merlin to see what they recommend aswell.

Would like to reduce weight by at least a lb if possible so that's why I posted as I'm
Still a learner but want to have the lightest bike possible for my money.

Thanks

Twelly

Would like to reduce weight by at least a lb if possible so that's why I posted as I'm
Still a learner but want to have the lightest bike possible for my money.

Thanks

Road bikes are pretty light. Buy one of them.

felix.london

Superstar, Crests on Tesla hubs with CX Ray spokes, under £400 and probably about 1600g for the set

dusk

Get Mavic Crossmax ST, light, strong, look great and will leave you with £500 change from your grand

felix.london

Good wheels for sure but I rate my Arch EX/Trizoid over the Crossmax ST that I've tried.

dusk

I haven't ridden ST's but if they're good enough for Jerome Clementz.....

I've got SX's and they're awesome, I like UST as well as I can't be bothered to faff with DIY tubeless kits.

I was tempted by some Stan's rims for my hardtail but they're not cheap!