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Help with choosing new wheels
After 18 months riding my 2010 Trance X2 t looks like I’ve given the wheels too much of a battering. They have a number of dings and wobbles in them and I’ve been advised by Bike Addiction that they are beyond repair.
After almost buying completely the wrong wheels form Gazza, 9mm instead of 15QR (sorry for pulling out at the 11th hour) I’ve realized I have no idea where to start and am hoping for some help from the community.
What I know is:
- I ride hard (probably a bit too hard) so need something strong
- I’m cost conscious and don’t need the latest and greatest.
- The front fork is a Fox 32 F120R, w/ 15QR Thru Axle
- From the Giant page the current setup is:
rims Mavic XM317 disc
hubs F: Giant Tracker Sealed 15mm R: Shimano Deore
spokes DT Competition, 14/15g
Some questions;
- The hubs and spokes on the current wheels are OK.. can I just buy rims and pay someone to build them up?
- If yes can you recommend someone in the Sydney area?
- If no what would be a good combination and where can buy from
- What else do I need to consider?
Thanks
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I've heard good things about TWE
http://www.twebikewheels.com.au/
I've been riding my Mavic 819 rims for quite some time now and found them to be super strong, and with the advantage of being tubeless ready. I'm running them on Hope hubs and have found them to be super strong too...no issues whatsoever to date....
I have a surplus set of DT Swiss wheels with QR15 front axle which I'd love to sell. I spec'd them new on my 575 so they aren't built to be wheels for groomed firetrail only.
DT 4.2 rims
Hugi 340 Hubs
Comp spokes
DT centerlock to ISO 6 bolt disc brake adapters (best thing since sliced pastrami) so they'll take either Shimano centerlock or normal rotors.
They were my good wheels, as I ran a set of Hope ProII/Mavic 819 rims for daily smashing, and these probably have less than 500 km's on them.
Currently set up tubeless with Yellow tape and Mavic valves.
You know where I am Daniel.
Ok, this one may be a bit controversial but a set of mavic crosstrails could be pretty sweet.
Otherwise the 821 on hopes is a pretty safe bet, i run wheels from TWE on the roadie and have nothing but praise for them, can't vouch for the MTB stuff though
Hey bud. We could all give loads of advice on here about whats nice and what we like etc.
I would suggest you ring Greg at TWE and tell him what you want and let him make the decisions for you. He will mix the spokes up (drive side and non-drive side) to ensure stiffness where its needed, he will recommend rims, and also hubs. His own hubs are pretty good.
Get on to TWE and enjoy the experience of something bespoke, with out a $$$ penalty.
Greg is a legend and I have been very very happy with the wheels he built for me taking my weight and riding style into consideration. I am very happy to recommend him!
As Ants and Chitts have said, Greg is a legend. I have nothing more to add than what has already been said.
Talk to him when he is back from Xmas Leave (Jan 3rd or 9th I think) and he will sort you out.
I wrote an article recently re my experience with TWE. A few years ago I found a great wheel builder and bought 3 sets at over $2K a set. I've worn them out or sold them and had to get myself on a new set and my old wheel builder is now retired or in the Bahamas or somewhere so I called Greg at TWE when I had the Fling in a few days time and had a problem with a hub. He took my spec, built a wheel overnight and I paid about a half of what I expected.
Bottom line is I'll keep using him!
Are the way to go
I've never dealt with twe but the guy in NZ that built my road wheels is happy to put new rims on old hubs if theit in good order.
If your looking at new rims on your old hubs have a chat to James at BA as well he rebuilds all the wheels for the guys in the shop he's super honest and a great guy.
For under $500 you could grab an 2011 XT wheelset (trail version) which would more than do the job for you.
Based on the description of your wheelsets current condition I'd be shocked if your spokes didn't need replacing.
If the rim is so out of true that it's beyond repair - then the spokes are probably rooted as well.
Thanks for all the advice.
I ended up going for the DT Swiss wheels from slowpup.
Swapped over my discs and gears and was back on the trails yesterday. Will certainly give a custom builder a try for my next set.
Daniel