Wheels

[Moose.]

My rear wheel has pretty much had it. The bearings were serviced about 6 months ago after they were killed by a VERY muddy 24 hour race. The shop who serviced them told me they wouldn't last much longer. And now the free hub is clunking more and more, so figured it's about time to change the whole wheel really.

I'd pretty much settled on getting just a rear wheel, as the front is absolutely fine, but found this deal, on what I think is a set of Mavic Crossrides:

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=product&prod...

Considering everywhere else is selling just the rear wheel for £70, I think I might as well pay the little extra and get a set Can't quite tell if that price is for a whole set though (awaiting a reply from Merlin currently).

Anyway my question is, are there any other wheels I should be looking at for circa £100?

[lingus75]

Not as nice looking as the Mavic's but Merlin built me a set of XT's on Mavic rims (cant remember which) over a year ago and after an unblievable amount of abuse they still run perfectly.

[mk1fan]

I run a pair of Crossrides and they are very good. Not 'light' (disc specific ones would be lighter) but strong and smooth. I'm 14-stone and haven't had any problems. The spoke design does allow spokes to pop out but only under loads that would knacker a 'normal' spoked wheel anyway.

I paid £125 from my LBS for the dual use (rim and disc brake) pair in silver. For £100 they're a bargain. Rear freehub needs regular checking for looseness but is a simple thing to do.

[gbbird]

I think the price for those Mavic's is for the pair

I got myself a pair of DT Swiss rims on Shimano Deore Hubs for £90 from Merlin a month or so ago. Excellent value

[pdV6]

mk1fan said:

I run a pair of Crossrides and they are very good. Not 'light' (disc specific ones would be lighter) but strong and smooth. I'm 14-stone and haven't had any problems. The spoke design does allow spokes to pop out but only under loads that would knacker a 'normal' spoked wheel anyway.

I paid £125 from my LBS for the dual use (rim and disc brake) pair in silver. For £100 they're a bargain. Rear freehub needs regular checking for looseness but is a simple thing to do.

I too run Crossrides, also the dual use ones. I paid about £115 for an all-black set about a year ago.
I'm 17st and have given them a fair amount of abuse / crashing over the year and they've not needed trueing yet.
The only issue I've had was with a slipping freehub, which turned out to be a load of dirt that had got in. Been fine since.

£100 is a great price for 'em. Neil has a set as well and has had no issues at all with his.

[Moose.]

Just got confirmation the price is for the pair, and they're doing a 10% off all factory wheels this week Time to dig out the credit card

Sightly silly question; my current hubs are disc ones with 6 bolts holding the disc to them, so am assuming my current hubs are 6 bolt IS and not Shimano centre lock ones?

Edited by Moose. on Tuesday 30th October 14:49

[pdV6]

Moose. said:

Sightly silly question; my current hubs are disc ones with 6 bolts holding the disc to them, so am assuming my current hubs are 6 bolt IS and not Shimano centre lock ones?

You assume correctly.

[Moose.]

Consider them ordered. £96.45 delivered

[gbbird]

Bargain! I have Mavics on 2 of my bikes, and some DT Swiss on anotehr bike, all from Merlin, and i cannot fault them, nor Merlin's wheel building ability

[190Evoluzione]

Handbuilt wheels from Merlin are lovely, and tbh I'd choose a wheel laced to a Hope or CK hub over anything pre-built from Mavic...
As you prolly know, every single part of those hubs is available as a spare and will likely outlive the rest of the bike.
Never mind, maybe next time?

[Moose.]

Not keen on Hope hubs really, I'm trying to get rid of the clicking/clunking noises

These wheels won best value in MBUK magazine, so should do me for a while I reckon

[WildCards]

I've got some old Mavic Crossmax wheels on my Klein, they've rolled over everything in the last two years and been absolutely caked in mud and they're still going strong, no grinding, no play in the spokes nothing. Definately a good purchase if my experience is anything to go by.

[Emley]

lingus75 said:

Not as nice looking as the Mavic's but Merlin built me a set of XT's on Mavic rims (cant remember which) over a year ago and after an unblievable amount of abuse they still run perfectly.

Ditto

I run Mavic 717xc on XT hubs on both HT and full sus now.
Strong and light
Not as sexy as Hope hubs, but the XT's never let me down.

Neither does merlincycles.com for that matter... bullit-proof

Regards

Emley