My I was looking at some new wheels. I've got some DT Swiss 1900s on a Canyon Lux Trail that I'm going to put on another bike.
They are 30mm rims. But when looking at new wheels I'm wondering if I need something like that. Back in the days of 26" I was riding 717s and crest rims. I then had some 29er crest rims that a spoke pulled through after 3 years. I bought some "wide" superstar wheels that were probably 22mm internal.
Given I'm not breaking stuff. Very much fit into the Down country rather than Enduro box I'm going to be fine getting some 28spoke xm421 built onto 350 hubs aren't I? Not that long ago that would have been a heavy DH rim?
Looking at fitwheels for that build or maybe the hunt xc wide ones unless there are other alternatives?
Whats Down Country ?
What's Down Country?
XM421’s will be fine and 350 hubs are solid.
I’ve got XM421’s on my do it all steel hardtail - its done a bit of steepish tech and been smashed round the red trails at Cwmcarn. I think I built them 32 rear / 28 front. I’m actually running 2.6” tyres on them and it’s been fine - people will say you need 30mm rims for that but they’ve been great. Only went 2.6” for a bit more volume on the back really - to give more comfort (rear is a 2.6” Forekaster with a Rimpact in there too for good measure).
A title I hoped would spark some responses.
It's just riding. Looking for everyday wheels, not race wheels or anything mega sturdy for bashing off rocks.
Mtb niche to sell more bikes to confuse people who need a bike for flow, one for jumping, one for all day and one that pops on the pump tracks.
We never had suspension. Tha's dunno thee born!
What's Down Country ?
A cross country FS Bike that can handle itself pretty well going down too. E.g. Transition Spur, YT Izzo
A cross country FS Bike that can handle itself pretty well going down too
Name one that can't. Down Country, whatever next.
Essentially a 120mm trail bike.
Those rims look spot-on.
I have Mavic XAs for when I want to get downcountry on my short-travel shred sled, they are 25mm internal and only have 18 or 20 spokes IIRC. Totally fine with 2.4in tyres - and you won't want wider than that or it's not downcountry any more, is it?
Down Country, whatever next.
Open Country is next - gravel and old school mountain biking combined. New niche.
Gravelcross. Like gravel but more focussed on Northern European terrain which is muddy.
Thanks for the few comments on wheels.
Time for Big Country to make a comeback?....
Don't know if your budget is up to it but I've been really happy with the DT Swiss XMC1200s on my Jeffsy. Super light, pretty strong, make the bike feel much more nimble. The new ones have a wider rim than mine which would just make them even better.
Time for Big Country to make a comeback?….
Going to be difficult without Stuart Adamson.
Time for Big Country to make a comeback?
"Big Country" to describe a bike suitable for big long map crossing missions that include proper fun downhill sections? I'm having that... thanks.
Pro4 on XM421 on my smuggler, they've been bashed around locally up and down steps, off drops and not had to touch them.
Sapim spokes, PWR washers and ali squorx nipples (brass on the eeeb)
I've always gone 32hole with the DT wheels I have, means less spoke length variations. ERD's are all within a few mm across 421/481/471
Is Down Country the new Dumb Country?
"Through Country" brambles and stingers etc.
Thats whatss mys ridings iss describess ass ?s
Name one that can’t. Down Country, whatever next.
Giant Anthem Advanced 29er
I'll recommend dtswiss as I'm fan boy.
Xr391 on 240exp. 25mm internal, fine on 2.4 tyres. Very light and seem strong enough for me, but I'm fairly light and don't destroy wheels. Pretty sure fitwheels will do them
Looking for some similar wheels myself and was just about to mention the xr391. I'd looked at a build with sapim d-lights and brass nipples. What about bitex mt hubs at £135 a pair?
I always liked ‘crossing country’
OP- I’ve made it up to 30mm rims on my Solaris (sid, carbon bars but 200mm dropper and all steel chainring/cassette to give an idea of priorities). It seems to me that above about 25mm the weight starts to pick up more. I don’t think i get as much benefit from the wider rim on the back so if it breaks I’ll probably drop back to something like a 391/421.
That said, I’ve just stuck the older lightweight front wheel on with a 2.3 winter tyre. It’s so unfashionably narrow at 23mm you’d think I’d die but it’s great, so maybe 25mm both ends is a sweet spot.
On my recent Up Country build I had specced: Bitex 211 6 bolt hubs, Stan's Arch MK4 i28 rims, Sapim CX ray spokes & brass nipples, including rim tapes and valves they weighed in at 1760g on the kitchen scales.
True Up Country i29mm wheelsets can drop to 1240g with something like the Roval Control SL but will Costa lotta.
Down Country, whatever next.
You absolute country?
True Up Country i29mm wheelsets can drop to 1240g with something like the Roval Control SL but will Costa lotta.
You can get them sub 1100g if you really spend try.
If you’ve got a big budget then reserve 28mm look good or those we are one composites. Less budget then the hunts are lightweight to spin up quickly
Hard pushed to see past Hunt wheels at the moment I reckon.
29 Trail Wide - 30mm internal 1831g - £350
29 XC Wide - 25mm internal 1647g - £370
29 XC Race Wide - 24mm internal 1517g - £450
Open Country is next
I do enjoy a bit of radio 4.
Back on topic , I've got xm421s on both my bikes and they've been perfect over the last few years - my riding sounds pretty similar too yours. One set had 350s, the other 240s.
However, as a long term purchase I'd probably get xm481s, the minimal weight difference is outweighed by more tyre options I reckon.
I didn't get on with wider tyres (2.6) on the xm421 rims.
My Spur came with 26mm internal rims. My other bike ("down countrified" Giant Anthem) is also rocking 25mm internal rims. Both completely fine for their intended purposes running 2.25 - 2.4 tyres. No issues whatsoever.
I put some Roval Control SLs on my spur they are rather good if you want carbon
Name one that can’t.
Every XC bike for the last 30 years. MTB's have been shaped like 1980's road bikes for the whole time.
And to think we laughed at ebike specific saddles, now we have threads on down country wheels and gravel seatposts.
I have XM 421's on DT 350's. 25mm internal and perfect for 2.3 tires.
2.6 on another bike on 30mm rims and wouldn't want a narrower rim for that.
Personally I’d go for a 30mm rim. The weight difference on a wheelset built up with XM421s vs. XM481s is 50g a wheel. I doubt you’re really going to notice that but the wider rim gives you the option of running >2.4” tyres if you fancy.
Hard pushed to see past Hunt wheels at the moment I reckon.
But when you can get custom wheels with Hope Pro 4s and DT rims for about £130 more, maybe it's not so hard?
Not dissing Hunt, just think they need to be about £50 cheaper per wheelset to really appeal.
Thought it was the name of Joe Bonamassa's new band.
But when you can get custom wheels with Hope Pro 4s and DT rims for about £130 more, maybe it’s not so hard?
Comparable, in what way?
Asking as I'm looking for a new front as I now need a Boost wheel, but at their prices might as well buy a wheelset.
Upcountry is the new thing apparently...
Every XC bike for the last 30 years. MTB’s have been shaped like 1980’s road bikes for the whole time.
What?
Open Country is next
Then Country Bus
Have arc27 with pro4 on my bike for an unmentioned option.
Used for everything from EWS trails to twentyfour12.
Just do the job without any hassle.
I have not even been into mountain bikes for years (yeah on an MTB forum, shoot me) but I have been aware of the term down country for some time.
Clearly it is a cross country bike that can go downhill better than a cross country bike.
Makes sense to me as a 100mm 70 degree XC bike is going to be different than a 120mm 66 degree down country bike but will both be built with similar components and similar weights.
Wheels aside Enduro wasn't a thing when I started riding. Neither was Trail, neither was gravel.
It isn't that this style of riding is new, just that someone has labelled it. I think I've always ridden down country! Likewise I've always ridden gravel (long not very technical off road rides on a CX bike).
Never sure why there is so much hate for new labels.
I'm decided on 25mm rims. Leaning towards JRA at them moment. I can customise the build and the last set of wheels I had from them survived many seasons of CX, 3 goes at the 3pks and then got "retired" to my winter road bike before I sold it on. Never missed a beat in that time.
