You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Tempted by a pair of wheels I’ve found which would be pretty good for my forthcoming 29er enduro-ey build. The hubs are a known quantity, but any comments about how the Mk3 Flow rims hold up? Historically, I don’t tend to bend rims, but I do tend to end up with LOTS of dings*, despite tyre pressures on the higher side. Riding will mostly be the nastier ends of the Peak, Lakes, Tweed valley etc.
Thanks!
*not helped by having had access to cheap WTB KOM rims for a bit, which seem to be made out of the finest Camembert.
I had some on my Spitfire. Liked them. Only sold them on as they wouldn't fit the replacement bike.
Just check for cracks around the spoke holes.
As said keep an eye out for cracking around the spoke holes, my rear one had multiple cracked spoke holes on the rear rim, had it replaced under warranty then sold the wheels on and bought some Hope Fortus wheels which have been spot on so far
Have a set on my nomad, been bomb proof for 4 years and I am not sympathetic to the rear wheel...
Just built a set and I've been running 2.6 nobby nics on them. So far so good.
They have redesigned the MK3 flow recently, and I haven't used that version, it's a very recent revision. The previous MK3 flow 29" rims were poor in my experience. Never had cracking at spoke holes but even with cush core, I dented 3 rims on the rear and 1 on the front, that's with DH casing maxxis tyres too.
I do ride rocky trails reasonably quickly, but I got sick of rebuilding my wheels. Unless you're getting them super cheap I wouldn't bother.
Just built up some DT Swiss ex511 rims, the quality is night and day over Stan's, finish is excellent, too early to tell about durability though.
I liked the old Flow EXs, so Flow mk3 was my top choice for my last 27.5 wheelset. Read a lot of stuff online about cracking around the spoke holes, but disregarded it.
Sure enough, my rear cracked around the spoke holes in four places. Had to have wheel rebuilt and chose DT EX511 this time.
They have redesigned the MK3 flow recently, and I haven’t used that version, it’s a very recent revision.
I liked the old Flow EXs
Not so much a redesign of the flow MK3 more an additional rim in the flow lines up as the new rims are ‘flow EX3’s’. Designed to be stronger by strengthening the internal bridge in the rim and designed for aggressive riders / enduro / down hill usage. About 100g heavier per rim than the MK3, same Internal diameter and tyre size range etc. Came out August last year and pretty much the same price as the MK3
I had one on the rear for about 6 months accidentally (asked for a mk3 and shop built wheel with an ex3) and decided to live with it. Been pretty bomb proof and have clattered it off some big rocks and cased a couple of water bars but all seems good. You do notice the extra weight when climbing, but only on fire roads / tarmac. Deff stronger than the MK3 I had before which at least one of the poor lines I have taken in the past 6 months would of dented it
I dented a Flow Mk3 on the first ride - I was playing with low pressures and rode straight in to a square step 🤦♂️
It never broke though and I only replaced it because the ding was pronounced enough I had trouble getting tyres mounted.
IMO I'd buy the wheels and maybe swap to a Flow EX3 of Arch on the back if you get cracks.
Maybe moreso if you use additional tyre foam inserts.
I'm 100kg+. So I sit pretty firmly in the Clydesdale category and have been running flow mk3 rims on my 29" enduro bike for the last 18 months. I'm typically pretty tough on wheels.
They seem to be pretty strong and are still running dead true. But I have started to notice the aforementioned cracks around the spoke holes recently - they are present on the front and the back. I'm not sure whether the shop used nipple washers when they were built up though.. YMMV.
I like Stans rims, always have done. The MK3s are markedly more comfortable than my carbons on the FS and they seem to add to the composure of my hardtail. I remember reading that they had been specifically designed to be more vertically/radially compliant. They tubeless readily and tend to be lighter than some in their category. The low sidewall height seems to genuinely help reduce pinch flats and rim damage and they're not stupidly expensive to replace.
I've had an original MK1 flow crack at the spoke holes, but it was about 4 or 5 years old. I built my existing wheels with MK3s myself with a tension meter because they do require lower tensions and so far, they've been straight and true with no cracks. Theyre at best 9 months old though, so the jury is kinda still out.
I believe the cracks are blamed on overtensioned spokes. My arch is the first wheel I've dented in a way it can't be bent back and I run 35-40psi at the back (85kg). It's a pain in the arse to get the tyre seated now.
I killed a set in less than 6 months, I found the didn’t dent but instead flexed and ended up kept getting really loose spokes, replaced them with EX511 and they have been perfect.
My Flow MK3's have been great. Slightly dented the rear when I punctured. Now run a rimpact in the rear. Apart from that, 2000+ miles and still going well. If your worried a EX3 rear and MK3 front could be a great set up for a enduro bike.
I do wonder if they need a more careful wheel build than some others.
Also, didn't the old Flow and Flow EX require particularly high spoke tension? Wouldn't surprise me if that has lead to some over-zealous spoke tensioning from some wheel builders?
Also, didn’t the old Flow and Flow EX require particularly high spoke tension?
My recollection was that the recommended maximum spoke tensions were lower than most other rims..