Discussion
I fancy getting some cheapish road wheels as an upgrade from the Giant PR2 set that came with my bike (Rapid 2016) as standard.
It's disc brake and QR skewers as standard and finding something from fulcrum, Dr Swiss, hunt, etc seems largely impossible. I'm pretty sure I can't use a hub adaptor on the rear wheel to fit a thru axle hub'd wheel.
So I wondered about more niche builds and there are some online. I looked at ryanbuildswheels and I can specify the wheels to the required specification but there will be the cost of the rotors and cassette on top too, so it starts to cost more than the cheap bike itself.
Madspeed7 seems to offer some very cheap wheels which could be suitable as the bike is only for commuting and general mucking about.
What else can I do? Second hand? Seems to risk being the wrong fit and condition could be worse than the wheels that are on ar the moment (they are perfectly serviceable). Is it worth just going to the LBS and seeing what options they offer?
It's disc brake and QR skewers as standard and finding something from fulcrum, Dr Swiss, hunt, etc seems largely impossible. I'm pretty sure I can't use a hub adaptor on the rear wheel to fit a thru axle hub'd wheel.
So I wondered about more niche builds and there are some online. I looked at ryanbuildswheels and I can specify the wheels to the required specification but there will be the cost of the rotors and cassette on top too, so it starts to cost more than the cheap bike itself.
Madspeed7 seems to offer some very cheap wheels which could be suitable as the bike is only for commuting and general mucking about.
What else can I do? Second hand? Seems to risk being the wrong fit and condition could be worse than the wheels that are on ar the moment (they are perfectly serviceable). Is it worth just going to the LBS and seeing what options they offer?
Edited by ucb on Saturday 23 October 08:13
Hunt say:
Hunt said:
We fit the axles you need, just complete the simple form shown after checkout:
All existing road/CX disc front axle standards are available including:
Quick Release (Quick release skewers included)
12mm Bolt Thru
15mm Bolt Thru
9mm Bolt Thru (uncommon)
I've got a set of Mavic Aksium wheels on my winter hack and that's disc with QR. They came with all the bits to swap between QR and bolt-thru.All existing road/CX disc front axle standards are available including:
Quick Release (Quick release skewers included)
12mm Bolt Thru
15mm Bolt Thru
9mm Bolt Thru (uncommon)
Ask them if you're not sure before ordering?
I'm not sure if Mavic have changed the Aksium since I purchased my set (a couple of years ago) but they say:
Front: Quick release and 12x100 through axle compatible
Rear: Quick Release, 12x142 and 12x135 compatible
https://www.mavic.com/en-fi/aksium-disc-rr0989.htm...
I'm not sure if Mavic have changed the Aksium since I purchased my set (a couple of years ago) but they say:
Front: Quick release and 12x100 through axle compatible
Rear: Quick Release, 12x142 and 12x135 compatible
https://www.mavic.com/en-fi/aksium-disc-rr0989.htm...
ucb said:
Thanks
I had read that it wasn't possible to convert from a 12x142 thru axle to a qr skewer though it is frame dependent.
Maybe I'll just give it a shot and buy some....
I converted a set of DT Swiss R24s (disc) from 12x142 thru axle to 135 QR, adapters are available but f*ckin’ expensive to buy individually… I had read that it wasn't possible to convert from a 12x142 thru axle to a qr skewer though it is frame dependent.
Maybe I'll just give it a shot and buy some....
Edited by wobert on Saturday 23 October 10:02
I think the other issue is 9mm quick release. The skewers on mine are 5mm. I think that's the same standard as 9mm refers to the axle size, not the skewer diameter but again not sure.
I could just buy a new bike if i could find one and convince my wife of the intangible benefits of a 3rd bike
I could just buy a new bike if i could find one and convince my wife of the intangible benefits of a 3rd bike
Edited by ucb on Saturday 23 October 16:13
135x9mm is a normal quick release. Don't forget there are some little stubs of the axle that fit into the dropouts, those are 9mm.
I bought some Prime wheels from Wiggle for a few hundred pounds, they are well made, came with 15mm endcaps for the front wheel and the QR back axle was less than a tenner.
I bought some Prime wheels from Wiggle for a few hundred pounds, they are well made, came with 15mm endcaps for the front wheel and the QR back axle was less than a tenner.
It's worth contacting some wheelbuilders. 'Custom' built wheels are not necessarily going to be the more expensive option.
Not the same wheels as you, obviously, but I needed a new set of wheels on my road bike because I'd worn the rims out. I wanted something similar to what was on there, not some snazzy deep section, carbon fibre, aero, cafe stop posing wheels. I thought I'd have to go to the likes of Wiggle for something "factory" off the shelf. But an email to DCR wheels, after a root around on their website, turned up a set of wheels that were aesthetically similar to the original wheels, lighter, and in all respects at least as good as anything offered off the shelf. In most respects (acknowledging confirmation bias) I'd say the new wheels are better than anything offered off the shelf at the price I paid.
I'm aware that DCR are not unique in custom building wheels, and that there are other people doing similar. It's just that DRC were the ones I used and I'm very satisfied with the resulting wheels. Their website here... https://dcrwheels.co.uk/
Not the same wheels as you, obviously, but I needed a new set of wheels on my road bike because I'd worn the rims out. I wanted something similar to what was on there, not some snazzy deep section, carbon fibre, aero, cafe stop posing wheels. I thought I'd have to go to the likes of Wiggle for something "factory" off the shelf. But an email to DCR wheels, after a root around on their website, turned up a set of wheels that were aesthetically similar to the original wheels, lighter, and in all respects at least as good as anything offered off the shelf. In most respects (acknowledging confirmation bias) I'd say the new wheels are better than anything offered off the shelf at the price I paid.
I'm aware that DCR are not unique in custom building wheels, and that there are other people doing similar. It's just that DRC were the ones I used and I'm very satisfied with the resulting wheels. Their website here... https://dcrwheels.co.uk/
I had some hunts with QR before the whole thing got nicked.
Basically the hubs will take whatever and you buy the endcaps to suit your application. If you're buying the wheels from hunt, you get to specify what fitment you want at order time.
FWIW the 12mm encaps I took out of my hunts, also fit into/are identical to the ones on my prime wheels. Probably the same generic hub!
Basically the hubs will take whatever and you buy the endcaps to suit your application. If you're buying the wheels from hunt, you get to specify what fitment you want at order time.
FWIW the 12mm encaps I took out of my hunts, also fit into/are identical to the ones on my prime wheels. Probably the same generic hub!
upsidedownmark said:
I had some hunts with QR before the whole thing got nicked.
Basically the hubs will take whatever and you buy the endcaps to suit your application. If you're buying the wheels from hunt, you get to specify what fitment you want at order time.
FWIW the 12mm encaps I took out of my hunts, also fit into/are identical to the ones on my prime wheels. Probably the same generic hub!
Yep, probably from Novatech.Basically the hubs will take whatever and you buy the endcaps to suit your application. If you're buying the wheels from hunt, you get to specify what fitment you want at order time.
FWIW the 12mm encaps I took out of my hunts, also fit into/are identical to the ones on my prime wheels. Probably the same generic hub!
Thats the issue people have with Hunt- the wheels are absolutely fine as a product- but it's all just off the shelf bits (Novatech hubs, Kinlin rims etc.) assembled in the far east dressed up with some nice etched logos and a bit of branding behind it. Can get the exact same (or better) for cheaper from a wheelbuilder.
lufbramatt said:
Yep, probably from Novatech.
Thats the issue people have with Hunt- the wheels are absolutely fine as a product- but it's all just off the shelf bits (Novatech hubs, Kinlin rims etc.) assembled in the far east dressed up with some nice etched logos and a bit of branding behind it. Can get the exact same (or better) for cheaper from a wheelbuilder.
Hunt, and dozens of other 'roll your own' (sorry, 'boutique') wheel brands.. they're everywhere.Thats the issue people have with Hunt- the wheels are absolutely fine as a product- but it's all just off the shelf bits (Novatech hubs, Kinlin rims etc.) assembled in the far east dressed up with some nice etched logos and a bit of branding behind it. Can get the exact same (or better) for cheaper from a wheelbuilder.
However to be fair, my experience was that wheelbuilders aren't any cheaper than the specific hunts that I wanted, and the wait *was* a lot less, which was why I bought the set of hunts I did, eyes wide open. Waits are now silly for everyone, but I also believe some of the high end hunt stuff isn't so 'off the shelf'.
When the bike got nicked, I went with the wiggles primes on the new one 'cos they were a good chunk cheaper. They're fine too. Then I got some zipps because shiny. Pros and cons to most things, different 'right answer' for different people.
lufbramatt said:
When the bike got nicked, I went with the wiggles primes on the new one 'cos they were a good chunk cheaper. They're fine too. Then I got some zipps because shiny. Pros and cons to most things, different 'right answer' for different people.
How'd you find the difference between fancy and the cheap brands... Worth the premium?Occasionally eye up primes and campag WTOs when thinking my Rovals are bust rather than just needing a service.
Edited by Dnlm on Tuesday 26th October 21:04
The primes were a massive improvement on the stock wheels. But they're about 1/2kg lighter, so not terribly surprising. At the price they were an absolute steal.
I couldn't tell you whether I was riding the primes or the hunt 4 seasons without looking at the stickers. Unsurprising as I'm pretty sure they're very similar wheels.
The zipps feel very nice, maybe a bit snappier, but I think that's probably mostly placebo / psychological. They're in the same ballpark as the primes weight wise, with a wider rim. Price/performance they're absolutely not worth it over primes. But what the hell, I can afford it, and sometimes it's nice to have nice things..
I couldn't tell you whether I was riding the primes or the hunt 4 seasons without looking at the stickers. Unsurprising as I'm pretty sure they're very similar wheels.
The zipps feel very nice, maybe a bit snappier, but I think that's probably mostly placebo / psychological. They're in the same ballpark as the primes weight wise, with a wider rim. Price/performance they're absolutely not worth it over primes. But what the hell, I can afford it, and sometimes it's nice to have nice things..
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