Inexpensive Cross Wheels

JesseD

Any recommendations?

The Felt ones supplied with my F65X have finally given up the ghost, bike was a 2014 model which I bought last year secondhand and I knew at some point I would need to change them and buy new ones. I got out as much life as i could from them however now the bearings have gone, several spokes are seized and to be frank they look like they have seen better days.

I have Mavic Aksiums with 28c road tyres on them for road/commuting duties which are great however I am after a set of relatively inexpensive wheels to manage offroad stuff, need to be Shimano 10/11 speed as I am running a 5700 set up and also need to be tubeless compatible, also need to be strong to take a bashing!

Don't want to spend a fortune as I am saving for a mountain bike as well, so am thinking around the £100 - £150 mark.

Any suggestions?

roastie_cyclocross

Might be worth confirming Disc or rim brake?

I was going to suggest sticking with Askium if rim brake as this is what I use for CX racing and then you would not have to worry about adjusting brakes etc as the rim width would be the same, but then I saw the tubeless bit so ignore me.

Chris James

I use R501 wheels on my cross bike as rim brakes trash them fairly quickly through thick mud, sand and whatnot, and they are about the cheapest wheel going. I got my last set for about £65 but they seem hard to find now, and have gone up in price (£83.50 at Merlin).

They aren't tubeless, although I think you will struggle to find a strong tubeless wheel in your price range. To me tubeless seems a bit like the Emperor's new clothes. I race with big basic butyl tubes at 28 psi nominal and let air out if there are no roots or rocks. I've never pinch flatted in a race. I weigh about 12 stone. People on tubeless seem to be running similar pressures to me. To go MUCH lower I think you need tubular tyres.

R501s are very tough. I've used them for mountain bike trail centres, including drops offs and the like. The hubs seem pretty well sealed and in effect don't need touching as I trash the rims before the hubs get notchy.

robertpb

A set of MTB 29" wheels will be tough, that's what I have on my CX.

Maybe a set of these for £130, https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/WPFULRP29 ... 9-wheelset

JesseD

Sorry am looking for disc brakes.

robertpb

The Fulcrum wheelset from Planet X are disc.

bendertherobot

I've a pair of Fulcrum DB CX wheels going, with discs and a cassette, £100. But would need to post.

bendertherobot

These wheels here

https://photos.app.goo.gl/tnCawe94JzrA5GoC3

trek_dan

Superstar Components - think they currently have a 20% off everything discount code too.

JesseD

bendertherobot wrote:

I've a pair of Fulcrum DB CX wheels going, with discs and a cassette, £100. But would need to post.

Are they tubeless ready Bender?

How robust are they as they need to be used for riding cliff paths with rock gardens etc.

They look the business though!

JesseD

trek_dan wrote:

Superstar Components - think they currently have a 20% off everything discount code too.

Still ab bit out of my price range unfortunately

JesseD

robertpb wrote:

A set of MTB 29" wheels will be tough, that's what I have on my CX.

Maybe a set of these for £130, https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/WPFULRP29 ... 9-wheelset

They look interesting and could be a contender?

trek_dan

JesseD wrote:

trek_dan wrote:

Superstar Components - think they currently have a 20% off everything discount code too.

Still ab bit out of my price range unfortunately

I got a set of the Electro Alpine Trail wheels (slightly undesirable white on white colour scheme) for £150 in the sale last summer. Hadn't realised that they are £400 now. Shame as very decent.