MTB wheelsets for around £200?
Discussion
Evening all,
As you may have seen, I knackered a hub recently, and whilst I could in theory replace just the hub, the wheels themselves are 7 years old, and at 118kgs, I'm not the lightest of riders, so I figured I might as well just replace the whole wheelset.
Ideally, I'd like to come in at around the £200 mark for both front and rear, and have a few questions...
1. I've seen the Merlin wheelbuilder recommended, but is there anywhere else I should be looking?
Assuming the recommendation is to stick with Merlin, some more specific questions...
2. Shimano hubs - How much real world difference is there between Deore and XT? There's a £36 price difference for the pair.
3. Rims - The old ones (which came with the bike) were Mavic XM117. I'm assuming I'd see an improvement with either the XM319 or 719 (£32 upgrade for the pair compared to 319), but is the weight difference (460g vs 490) going to be significant?
4. Spokes!!! I have absolutely no bloody idea here!!! I'm assuming given my weight, I'm probably better off going for the cheapest (and presumably heaviest, sturdiest) options, unless I'm missing something here?
5. I've ruled out the XC rims mainly due to being somewhat larger than the average rider, and not wanting to limit myself to 2.10 tyres or less - although I do currently have 2.10 tyres on the bike, but again, does this make sense? My riding is pretty conservative (things like the Yoghurt Pots and Telegraph Road for those who know the Surrey Hills), with no drops more than a foot.
If I do go for XT hubs, 719 rims and the basic spokes, this comes in at £203.94 for the set. Is this good value? Would the extra £20 for heavily discounted Easton EA70 XCTs be worth it?
As you may have seen, I knackered a hub recently, and whilst I could in theory replace just the hub, the wheels themselves are 7 years old, and at 118kgs, I'm not the lightest of riders, so I figured I might as well just replace the whole wheelset.
Ideally, I'd like to come in at around the £200 mark for both front and rear, and have a few questions...
1. I've seen the Merlin wheelbuilder recommended, but is there anywhere else I should be looking?
Assuming the recommendation is to stick with Merlin, some more specific questions...
2. Shimano hubs - How much real world difference is there between Deore and XT? There's a £36 price difference for the pair.
3. Rims - The old ones (which came with the bike) were Mavic XM117. I'm assuming I'd see an improvement with either the XM319 or 719 (£32 upgrade for the pair compared to 319), but is the weight difference (460g vs 490) going to be significant?
4. Spokes!!! I have absolutely no bloody idea here!!! I'm assuming given my weight, I'm probably better off going for the cheapest (and presumably heaviest, sturdiest) options, unless I'm missing something here?
5. I've ruled out the XC rims mainly due to being somewhat larger than the average rider, and not wanting to limit myself to 2.10 tyres or less - although I do currently have 2.10 tyres on the bike, but again, does this make sense? My riding is pretty conservative (things like the Yoghurt Pots and Telegraph Road for those who know the Surrey Hills), with no drops more than a foot.
If I do go for XT hubs, 719 rims and the basic spokes, this comes in at £203.94 for the set. Is this good value? Would the extra £20 for heavily discounted Easton EA70 XCTs be worth it?
Edited by Kermit power on Saturday 5th April 20:15
I got the XT hubs, mavic 321 disc rims and black spoke package from Merlin cycles about 10 years ago. I am not a spec nerd, but I can tell you that the wheels have held together perfectly since then, no buckled rims/wobbly spokes/bearing issues. I'm not brutal with my bike, but I am a fairly aggressive rider. My experience with Merlin has been 100% good.
I'd try and get hold of some Hope Hoops with either the Arch or Flow rims.
I've had Hope Hoops on most of my MTB's and have never had a problem with them, the hubs are fully serviceable and simple enough to do yourself at home and the Stans rims can easily be set up to run tubeless.
For £200 you'd easy find a secondhand set but if you shop around you should be able to find a new set for not much more, I think I paid about £230-£240 for my last set.
I've had Hope Hoops on most of my MTB's and have never had a problem with them, the hubs are fully serviceable and simple enough to do yourself at home and the Stans rims can easily be set up to run tubeless.
For £200 you'd easy find a secondhand set but if you shop around you should be able to find a new set for not much more, I think I paid about £230-£240 for my last set.
You can't go wrong with Hope Hoops and Stans, you'd be looking at £300 ish though.
Superstar usually have good deals on - this looks a good offer, Stans Crest on Superstar hubs, assuming you don't mind white!
http://superstar.tibolts.co.uk/product_info.php?cP...
Superstar usually have good deals on - this looks a good offer, Stans Crest on Superstar hubs, assuming you don't mind white!
http://superstar.tibolts.co.uk/product_info.php?cP...
From experience, merlin build 32/36h wheels with a fair amount of flex in the spoke tension these days. My wheels were EN521s on Hope Pro2s with ACI db spokes and I put a fair buckle in the rear at Ashton court, not known for its big drops. I'm only 80kgs and would prefer more tension so will take them to be rebuilt at some point.
I found stans wheels a little soft ,I ride Surrey as well I am under 12 stone yes I service the wheels ,but still easily get out of shape ,best wheels so far mavics or good carbon set I do have a spare set of 819s on pro 2 hubs as you maybe aware tubeless ready ,xt are very good pro hubs .
Just get a pair of these and save your money. Seeing a wheel builder will escalate to a price point, which will be double. These are pretty robust wheels and friends who have them have not had any issues.
Just email Merlins, find when they are back in stock and ride.
http://www.merlincycles.com/mavic-crossride-disc-w...
Leave the wheel builders for pros and wanabees.
Just email Merlins, find when they are back in stock and ride.
http://www.merlincycles.com/mavic-crossride-disc-w...
Leave the wheel builders for pros and wanabees.
Kermit power said:
Hmm...
Sounds like it would be worth talking it through with the wheel builder, as people have suggested. Can anyone recommend a builder in Surrey or SW London? Would they be able to get anywhere near the online prices?
Try this guy:Sounds like it would be worth talking it through with the wheel builder, as people have suggested. Can anyone recommend a builder in Surrey or SW London? Would they be able to get anywhere near the online prices?
http://paolocoppo.drupalgardens.com
He built me a set of CX wheels using Novatech hubs and H Plus Sons rims, really good wheels.
Justin S said:
Just get a pair of these and save your money. Seeing a wheel builder will escalate to a price point, which will be double. These are pretty robust wheels and friends who have them have not had any issues.
Just email Merlins, find when they are back in stock and ride.
http://www.merlincycles.com/mavic-crossride-disc-w...
Leave the wheel builders for pros and wanabees.
They have no problem with the lack of braking surface?Just email Merlins, find when they are back in stock and ride.
http://www.merlincycles.com/mavic-crossride-disc-w...
Leave the wheel builders for pros and wanabees.
Magic919 said:
They don't. Did I miss the bit where you asked for disc-specific? It'll mean the wheels will tend to be stronger spoked, to cope with the loads.
Ah, you're right, sorry. Before editing my OP, I'd put in something about ruling out centre lock hubs because I didn't want the expense of replacing my brand new 6 bolt rotors. 
Kermit power said:
Hmm...
Sounds like it would be worth talking it through with the wheel builder, as people have suggested. Can anyone recommend a builder in Surrey or SW London? Would they be able to get anywhere near the online prices?
Try Apex in Clapham. I got some bog standard Mavics from them that have been great. It'll be a good indicator of what a LBS will cost if nothing else. Sounds like it would be worth talking it through with the wheel builder, as people have suggested. Can anyone recommend a builder in Surrey or SW London? Would they be able to get anywhere near the online prices?
Be warned though, they might try to push what they've got on the rack first.
I waited until some special deals came up on CRC for Mavic Crossmax and ended up paying about £280 all in for a front and rear set of Crossmax ST's. Along the lines of this, though this isn't your spec: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mavic-crossmax-...
I bought some Crossrides last year - might have been a close out 2012 set - and paid just over a ton for them.
Every single set of wheels Iv'e had since going discs has had numerous spokes snap. Could be because I'm too heavy (I'm also a larger fella at 16 1/2 stone), or it could be the way the wheels were built.
But I liked the idea of the bladed spokes as they don't twist and the wheel can't get out of shape from them coming loose.
I have to add though, this is for my commuter (Dahon Matrix) when I might have an occasional 'drop in' off a kerb, not for a bike I take off road.
Every single set of wheels Iv'e had since going discs has had numerous spokes snap. Could be because I'm too heavy (I'm also a larger fella at 16 1/2 stone), or it could be the way the wheels were built.
But I liked the idea of the bladed spokes as they don't twist and the wheel can't get out of shape from them coming loose.
I have to add though, this is for my commuter (Dahon Matrix) when I might have an occasional 'drop in' off a kerb, not for a bike I take off road.
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