[Closed] 29er rims, Crest vs. Arch EX

If you do, I'd be interested in buying your old rims. Cheers!

OK, I'll drop you a line if I do the rebuild 🙂

find 'em a bit noodly

What's that then?

What's that then?

A real flexy 'uh oh, the skewer/axle has come undone' feel in rough terrain. In fairness, the flex only becomes an issue in natural rockeries etc., and I am at least 90kg in full kit. On normal run of mill trail centre type terrain, they're absolutely fine. However, a lot of my local natural riding involves the type of terrain that they're a bit flexy on - and I just haven't got the time to keep switching between these wheels and my heavy duty set.

I went for Arches and they're nice, however if they do a 29er flow I'd tell you to get them (if they come as Hope Hoops) as they're cheaper and only a bit heavier.

I'm pretty certain Crests have a 85kg limit, so you may be a touch too big for them.

From what I understand the Arch's are a stiffer/tougher rim but not Flow DH rad core tough.

FWIW I find my Crests very good and no flexier than the 355's I have on my 26" bike, but I'm 10kg lighter on a good day 😉

hi ! ive ran both.............

not a lot of difference in flex / twist, but the arch ex allows the tyre to sit flatter on the rim..........

i settled on arch ex.......... lovely !

I believe the Crest is the new 355

I never noticed much difference in flex between my Flows and Arches. The crest however is very flexy in comparison. I can easily make it buzz the chainstay even although there is 5mm clearance. That's built onto an Alfine too with no dish so should be a stronger build.

I'd go with the Arches unless you are racing competitively.

I found Crests a bit flexy under my 14st weight and gentle riding. And even worse than that they are a royal pain to get tyres on and off of. By the time I got a Crossmark on I was too knackered to ride.

By the time I got a Crossmark on I was too knackered to ride

Cheers for the feedback on the rims. There's a bit of a fleet of bikes & wheels going on in this household - so I've got, or have ridden 355's, Crests and Flows in 26" size, but am fairly new to 29ers.
Have been really impressed with Crests in 26" and even use 'em on my 140mm FS bike instead of Flows.

However, although spoke tension is OK on the 29er wheels, they're way flexier (I know some of it's inevitible with the larger diameter, i just didn't anticipate 'em being so flexy).

p.s. I'm already too stick insectoid to loose any more weight.... 😉

Tension can only go so high on the Crests because of the eyelets I believe. The Sun Ringles I got from CRC on the cheap are much stiffer for no real weight penalty.

And it seems that 29er Crests have a very special reputation for being a git to seat tyres on. It took me two days with the Crossmark and nearly as long with a Ardent. Stupidly tight.

Tension can only go so high on the Crests because of the eyelets I believe

I've heard some stuff about the Crest 29er's reputation for being difficult to get tyres on. I must have been lucky with the tyres I've tried (Maxxis Beavers, Aspens and Spesh Purgatory), 'cos they've all been reasonably easy to fit and inflate tubeless. (much easier than my mutha****er Giant PXC2 rims and Maxxis tyres 👿 )

16st kitted and run Flows, better flat surface tyre contact, less flex, no truing, only little weight penalty.
No brainer if you like the pies or just heavy.
Know too many people on crests that are either similar weight or ride hard who have to true them and moan about flex !
Go flow !

I've got the archs and find them great and I am about 90kg.

Not too heavy and tough enough for xc racing on a HT. I don't live in a dorky areas so I can't really comment on that thoug

What's the weight penalty of the 29er Arch rim over the Crest?

Was planning on buying some Hope Hoop Crest 29er wheels but now you've got me thinking.

29er Crests have a very special reputation for being a git to seat tyres on. ... Stupidly tight.

+1

You should try getting 28mm 700c road tyres on (commuter). You'd think you were trying to fit BMX tyres...

Just put the tyre in a sink full of very hot soapy water for 10 minutes and they fly on. 🙂

steve_b77 - Member
I'm pretty certain Crests have a 85kg limit

The Hope wheelsets do, the rims themselves don't.

I've been hammering mine (26" mind) with an extra 15kg without issues.

I have the crests on a full rigid and I give them some stick. I'm a 13.5 stone muscle man as well and I give the bike the same abuse I do with my full susser which has the Salsa semi rims(heavier duty). 😉

I've been hammering mine (26" mind) with an extra 15kg without issues.

Paceman, AFAIK, the Arch EX 29er rim is about 70g heavier than the Crest 29er.