MTB Wheelsets: Repair Bontrager, or New Mavic?

iLukeKendall

I'm currently faced with a bit of a decision; the rear hub on my Trek Mamba 2013 is in need of a service, as it's making a grinding sound as it rolls, and both the rear and front wheels need truing already.

The wheels are Bontrager AT-850 32 hole double-walled rims with Formula DC20 LW alloy front hub and Formula DC22 LW alloy rear hub.

If I took the bike to my LBS for a full service, I'll be looking at a £55 bill, plus parts.

Alternatively, I have been looking at a Mavic Crossone Wheelset (http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mavi ... prod111099) priced at £152.99.

In your opinion, what would I be better off doing? Service my existing hub and have the wheels trued, with the potential to have to do this again in another 12 months, or buy a new set of Mavic wheels? Would the Mavic wheels be more reliable or better for XC use?

My second question, is that that particular Mavic wheelset is designed for 10 speed, however my bike is only 9 speed. Would I need a spacer of some sort, and would the gears need re-indexing?

Thanks for any advice - I'm new to all this!

supersonic

Service the hub. No point in throwing out a 90% usable wheelset.

cooldad

Parktools below for hub servicing. Easy ten minute job, all you need is a couple of cone spanners - about £5.

10 speed and 9 speed freehubs are the same size. But you'll have to adjust the indexing at some point, (reasonably often probably) so again, Parktools.

iLukeKendall

After watching a few YouTube videos it looks like something I probably could do myself. Just need to order a chain whip and cone spanners. I watched this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6B2PoG9YCI - is that bolt-thing that he uses with the chain whip at the start (to remove the cassette) a part of the hub, or is that a separate tool? If so, is everything I need included in this? (Minus KMC quick-link chain pliers)? http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/x-to ... -prod40997

Sorry if it's a stupid question - I've not actually looked at my hubs yet!

cooldad

Everything you need is in that kit - decent tools as well, a bargain at the price. You don't need the pliers to open a chain link - easy enough by hand.

iLukeKendall

Thanks Cooldad - does seem like a great price considering you can pay £5+ for most of those tools individually! I'll try breaking the chain by hand later, although last time I tried it was impossible to separate, and I ended up breaking the quick link and having to buy a new one!

Thanks again!