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Recently bought a carbon Trek Checkpoint, which I love. It has all the good points of my Domane but doesn't feel like it's going to fall apart if I hit a pothole or kerb.
It's hard to describe, but it just has this zing about it, bit like the dirty disco I got years ago, but a bit more comfy. It responds quickly and ...
anyway. I guess the best way to describe it is that it's like going from a Trek Slash to an Occam to a checkpoint. Just feels light and sprightly and I want to pedal it fast everywhere. I really look forward to office days so I get the chance to use it.
Anyway, I'm waffling. I'm looking for some carbon wheels as I think they'll increase the zing aspect even more. I'm a bit cautious as I realise that the carbon DtSwiss XMCs that I got for my Occam weren't actually as good on techy rock as the alloy ones, so perhaps I didn't want something quite that stiff. The Lines on the Slash do seem a bit more forgiving.
Was thinking of waiting till the next Hunt sale and trying them... but keen to hear suggestions for other options.
Not quite decided whether I'd put the " road" tyres on the new wheels or some semi knobbies....
Also, apologies for the stupid gear freak frivolous nature of this post. I fully realise that I don't need carbon wheels and it's a gratuitous, offensive waste of money.
But anyway, which sub £1k zingy wheels?
If you're happy with hookless then Zipp 303's have a good rep https://fawkes-cycles.co.uk/zipp-303-xplr-s-carbon-tubeless-disc-brake-cl-700c-wheelset-pair-p41386/s83335
The Chinese OEM's are also doing wide and lighter for much less money. I've had a set of road wheels from Tagoola that I'm happy with. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009786441645.html
I’ve been running Just Riding Along Monitor Carbons for 18 months now. Pretty happy with them. Not silly light, but on the sensible side and they’ve taken a battering across the Peak and most recently 700k of Torino-Nice in their stride. There’s been a good few near wrist-breaking misjudgements at speed through rocks that have killed tyres but not damaged the rim.
As usual for JRA wheels (I have 3 sets now, the oldest ones i’ve had for over a decade), they’re very well built - much better than my experience with Hunt and I’ve always found Jon very responsive for advice and spare parts (so far just a different freehub and pawl springs).
I (fairly) recently bought Hunt 35 Carbon Gravel wheels for my Topstone. I already had some nice Vel carbon wheels in 650 size but wanted a 700 option. I can't fault them really. They had a bit of a battering on one particular Perthshire trip that caused a weird bulge in a mates tyre after a bit of a rocky "jump" but my wheels sailed through it all. If I had one complaint it's that the freehub is a wee bit noisy but it does mean I don't need a bell 😊
Just FWIW it feels to me that the 650x47 combo "spins up" quicker even if it does seem a bit more draggy than the 700x40 on longer, smoother rides.
I bought a pair of the Hunt 34 Carbon Gravel wheels in their sale in January and very good they are to, though the freehub ratchet is loud! The back up from Hunt is excellent. Handy, as I have had a couple of issues with the rear Alpha hub on my Ti Camino.
I have some 303s and 45mm rim depth feels a bit too much for proper gravel bashing - like they're more vulnerable to rock strikes. Depends what you're riding - they are fine for hanging with Laureen on the Cheshire bridleways, stuff like that. Less fine for driving round the Peak.
My new gravel bike came with DT Swiss GRC 1400 (42mm rim depth) and they're brilliant. Lightweight and fast - fast enough for road rides averaging 17-18mph which my old gravel bike and wheels certainly weren't capable of!
I'd avoid hookless - heard too many horror stories plus it ties you into certain tyres and tubeless.
I have some 303s and 45mm rim depth feels a bit too much for proper gravel bashing - like they're more vulnerable to rock strikes.
I was hesitant about my 42's for that reason (and because I don't use deeper than that even on road anyway) but they've been fine so far. As you say though, I wouldn't go deeper at all.
fine for hanging with Laureen on the Cheshire bridleways,
It's been in brilliant condition this summer hasn't it!
Absolutely bone dry.....
I changed from carbon to alloy hoops on my gravel bike after wrecking a rear rim with rock strikes on highland category 3 gravel. I bought some Hope RX24 wide rim wheels. They are heavier but I don’t think they are slower I can still get some uphill CRs on Strava with them. I would only use nice wheels like Zipps on category 1 or2 gravel. That’s just because I’m miserable and don’t like shelling out big bucks for replacement wheels.
If you're happy with 650b/27.5 Merlin have been knocking these out https://www.merlincycles.com/ibis-s28-carbon-mtb-wheelset-275-336489.html
I bought a set a while ago wanting to use them on an MTB, but am struggling to find the 15mm end caps so they're still sat in a box. It seems Ibis supplied these on their Hakka gravel bike, as well as using the rims on some of their MTB wheelsets.