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I'm after some new wheels, I am not a cyclo cross racer or the lightest rider in the world I just enjoy riding and like nice gear. I've used hope stuff for years so thinking hub hubs (red) PRO 4 or RS4 disc QR, my present wheels are 32 spoke, with mavic rims, I like Rapid rob tyres, I don't necessarily need these to be super light. Are RS4 hubs just for road?. Should I just go for Pro 4, I have never used centre lock rotors, Benefits ?.
So I need rim recommendations, Hub recommendations, and a Wheel builder in the northwest ( I am in Cheshire), I will source the bits. Should I go 24 or 32 bearing in mind I am 14st.
Cheers
Graham at 6th element (based in Urmston) builds my wheels but I get the rims and spokes through him and supply my own hubs (i'm a serial wheel wrecker)
I'd not actually broken one of Grahams builds till i did this:
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With regards to 28/32 I'd go 32, i'm bit lighter than you on 28s, if i lose a spoke that's the wheel well out of true, on a 32 I can afford to lose a couple and still ride it out to finish the ride or the next bike shop!
the weight saving on the spokes is not worth the risk IMHO and i am 10 st.32 for sure
Split the difference and go 28?
Hard to look past Stans Iron Cross for value, or if you want to only use wider tyres then Crests are slightly lighter but with lower max pressure.
I've got 32 on my mtb's (crests among others), 24/28 on my road bike (Stans Alpha 340) and I'm 15st. About to build a set of CX/gravel wheels with 28h Crest's, wasn't intentional they were s/h and I didn't think to ask if they were anything other than 32!
You could always learn to build your own, the Sheldon Brown site has a good free guide and a basic stand and the park tension gauge should set you back less than a wheelbuilder will charge (and DT comp spokes are very cheap from Rose bikes). It's not as hard as it looks as long as you're methodical and check each step as you go along (and a tension meter is pretty much a requirement, anyone who says they do it by ear/feel is lying or far more sensitive than me, I did one by ear just to see and it was all over the place!).
I will source the bits
Bear in mind the builder will make a considerable amount of his profit on the sale of components and that will be accounted for in their business model. I know a few that refuse to build with anything supplied appart from s/h hubs. It would be a bit like going to a baker and asking for a cheaper cake if you bring in the flour, butter, sugar and eggs.
Hope 20five Wheelset?
Mine have been bombproof. Obviously not the lightest but standard J bend spokes, flexibility with various axle / freehub types and fairly easy (with the correct size tape) to setup tubeless.
Get these DT Swiss CR1600 Spline they're brilliant, I've got a set myself on my CX / gravel bike and at the moment they've got tubless 40c tyres on them that went up with a track pump. 1000km in and not a single issue with them
talk to Rich at keep pedalling in Manchester (Stevenson sq) awesome wheelbuilder
Cheers guys, With me sourcing the bits, It isn't my intention to take any profit away from any wheelbuilder, last time I did this the builder couldn't fine the hope hub in the colour and spec I needed quickly.
Hope 20five wheelset just ordered. Cheers guys, Like the DT swiss but pricey even for me.
I was going to say that WTB KOMs have done me well. But too late! A friend has the hopes and they seem to do him well.
I was going to say that WTB KOMs have done me well. But too late! A friend has the hopes and they seem to do him well.
I managed to split the rim on a KOM. I'm still not sure it wasn't defective from new, but it started to come apart on the rimwall where the internal tube-bed meetings the rim edge. Obviously, I only noticed it 2 days before a holiday, so had a brief panic to fix!
(rebuilt it with another KOM and it's been fine for nearly a year now, so my bets are with either a duff rim, or a duff wheel build)