Hi all,
I've just got myself a Trek Fuel EX 8. The wheels are rubbish. I need new wheels. I would like anyone with experience to comment on whether they will hold up to a 12 stone rider. I'm no DHer but I do like to get rough in forests.. oo er! 
I'm mainly thinking of these because of hoops.
Thanks all.
Yeah they'll be fine, I have a pair on my HT and weigh a bit more than 12st.
I've ridden and occasionally raced 355's and Crest without issue and I'm 14 stone. Home is the Lakes, so not towpath tootling either.
They'll be fine, i think the general consensus is they're not far off being strong as flows when built properly, but lighter with a narrower ID. Not that you'd be using a big tyre in the back of a Fuel EX 8, it wont fit 
I'm just over 13 stone and have been using Crests for 6 months.
No problems and I'm a pretty clumsy rider.
They are rated for 180lbs. I didn't go for them for this very reason, but then again I'm 17st and wasn't willing to take the risk. I went for flows and I'm very happy with them. YMMV
Thanks a lot all of you.
Sambob:
Not that you'd be using a big tyre in the back of a Fuel EX 8, it wont fit
Will my Maxxis HR 2.3 fit, seems like you'll know mate!
To throw a differing opinion into the mix - I'm 12st and my Hope wheelset (Crest rims on Pro3 hubs) buckle constantly (front and rear), with even when riding non-technical terrain, and need re-truing. The other week, I found they buckled even after one loop of Cannock where I took extra special care to roll over anything that might be a jump etc.
I'm a bit cheesed off as every single other opinion I've read (see above for example) seems to praise their strength. They've been sent back to Hope and they say the will 'sort them out' though what exactly this will entail I don't know - hope it's not just a retrue as that won't help and I can get that done locally anyway.
I had always thought Crests would be a good weight-saving upgrade over my crossrides, and as per above everyone seems to think they can handle abuse but now I'm not so sure.. Maybe it needs to be flows after all.. Hmm. Ive got till chrimbo to decide I guess..
12 stones! Your a fly weight! Crests will be fine!
I'm 12 stone too.. Mostly Scottish trail centres and natural xc. The odd mince around GT freeride park or Omega man about as gnar as I get on my 575.. Do the collective think they'd handle it?
Im 11.5 and having a set of Crest built up this week. I'd describe my riding as clumsy, rough trails with a few drop-offs thrown in and Crests were suggested by my wheel builder. So I'll let you know 
My Pro3's with 355s (slightly stronger than crests I think) where fine until a dog came at me from the side - taken some XC abuse and I am 12.5 stone.
Can Crests take a 2.5" tyre (like a rubber queen 2.4!)?
Probably a bit narrow for 2.5" tyres.
Given my Crests quite a bit of abuse on my HT and they've been fine, quite surprised. I'm 12st too.
Edit: Alejandro, wonder if that is anything to do with the pro 3 hub? Mine are on pro 2 evo SP and have been fine.
Can Crests take a 2.5" tyre (like a rubber queen 2.4!)?Taken from JRA web brochure
Hope that helps
They are rated for 180lbs. I didn't go for them for this very reason
That's not true - Notubes do not stipulate a weight limit
We are often asked if we have a weight limit but it's more important to consider all of the components in the wheel as well as the intended use.
Some individual builders may well do to cover themselves though
Thanks guys... look out for a "what rim for 2.5" tyre" thread in just a mo!
those particular wheels may have a limit [as I said] but the rims don't
I've got 355's on my Nicolai Helius CC and they've been ridden pretty hard for the past 18 months including the peaks and welsh mountains, straight as the day I bought them and no dents or buckles either.
depends on how you ride, I'd run one on the front but not back. I put a sizeable ding in one on the back of my hardtail (was just about to build one for my FS rear, went with arch instead). Mate has also but a massive ding in his crest pro3 front. Fortunatley mine will still run tubeless with a little faff at inflation time, my mates won't. Probably fine for most people but if you get it wrong or hit a rock in just the right (wrong) way it could cost ya (and if it happens a week after buying it it really smarts 
). OTOH I have a pro3 355 front and that's been fine.
most dings are caused by not running high enough tyre pressure tho.
most dings are caused by not running high enough tyre pressure tho.possibly but do you run pressure thats reasonable for 99% of the riding you do and trade off with grip and comfort vs rock strikes or do you bung in an extra 10psi just incase you hit a very sharp bit of rock or mistime something? Chances are unless you run >60psi you'll still ding at some point but have to endure rock hard tyres all the time.
Just saying when they do ding* the result can be quite bad
*inevitable for all rims IME (not tried silly heavy DH rims tho)
I've used 317, 819, 5.1, shimano wheels, a rock strike normally just bends the side wall, you can persuade them back into shape with an adjustable, I've seen 2 crests with bent rims
Hmmm, I'm with GW here (never thought I'd say that ) there's not really a direct correlation between strength and susceptibility to denting. I've never dented a rim like I did my XC717s, but I'd say they're stronger than my Podium MMX rims!
Unless you really really wallop a Stan's rim you can bend it back, just like you can any other rim. And if you really really wallop it then you obviously are running too little pressure!
On the OP, you'll be absolutely fine, I find it strange when people say things like "I've even taken mine to some trail centres and they've been fine". They're designed as an all round rim, there are 2 (significantly) lighter options in the NoTubes arsenal, and even my (290g) Podiums have proven perfectly tough. I'd be seriously annoyed if I destroyed any rim through 'normal' riding, be that natural or trail centre! Unless I started doing regular drops of more than 3ft or so they'd be my all round choice!
there's not really a direct correlation between strength and susceptibility to denting.it's ok Njee, you're not really with me on this.
There definitely is a correlation between strength and susceptibility to denting as all rims are not made from the same material, or go through the same manufacturing processes or indeed have the same amount of material to resist denting in the first place.
possibly but do you run pressure thats reasonable for 99% of the riding you doNo 100%, comfort is for pussies and grip is achievable with body positioning/weight distribution.
Unless you really really wallop a Stan's rim you can bend it back, just like you can any other rimThis is my point I've bent sidewalls on rims before and fixed them, on the crest I and a mate within a couple of weeks both put a visible flat spot in the rim, thats the rim not a flat spot on the wheel. Unfixable. I'd guess this is down to the lack of material and therefore strength. I'm not saying crests are weak assed rubbish just that in certain circumstances they don't seem to shrug off big hits like other (heavier) rims have. All in my experience of course, limited sample etc if my mate hadn't done the same thing I'd have written mine off as pure bad luck, a culmination of rocks speed mistimed weight shift whatever.
GW, hmmm.
A lot depends on the wheel builder. Two wheels built with the same components are not necessarily equal.
A badly assembled wheel built with Flow rims will be weaker than a well built wheel using Crests.
it's ok Njee, you're not really with me on this. There definitely is a correlation between strength and susceptibility to denting as all rims are not made from the same material, or go through the same manufacturing processes or indeed have the same amount of material to resist denting in the first place.
That's lucky! We've also just ascertained that my Podiums are indeed stronger my XC717s. Result
The only rim I've ever really flat spotted was an Open Pro on the road. I hit a pothole concealed in a deep puddle. I still have every faith in the rims as a very tough all rounder, and they've never needed truing at all, the back one just has a flat spot which you can feel on really smooth roads!
Just avoid hitting any border collies and you'll be fine.
Crests are great rims, I'm 13 stone and had no problems apart from a crappy build from Superstar. I now have Arches but think I preferred the Crests.
A badly assembled wheel built with Flow rims will be weaker than a well built wheel using Crestsyeah laterally/radially the pro built wheel will be stronger but not the rim. You can build a pretty strong bike from paper thin ali tubes and it'll last
a "flat spot" and a "ding" are two entirely different things Njee.
I've flatspotted DH rims with stupidly high pressure (for DH) without puncturing or dinging the rim, it just takes an incredibly harsh hit.
D0NK - Membera visible flat spot in the rim, thats the rim not a flat spot on the wheel.
I don't understand what you mean here.
I (11 st) ran Crests front & rear & put a significant ding in the rear at Afan within 3 months at 30psi (with tubes). A friend (also 11st) had the same happen to him too. Neither of us are particularly clumsy riders (although I'm sure someone will be along in a minute to tell me that as I dinged the rim I clearly am). Swapped to Arch on the rear in June, with no dings so far.
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