I'm interested in a lightweight 26" XC race wheelset. I weigh 12.5stone/80kg. Want lightweight and longer term reliability with a budget of approx £500. Prefer 6 bolt not centrelock.
I've looked at these so far.
DT350 straight pull/CXRay/Crest - 28spoke, 80kg limit, 1378g and DT240/CXRay/Alpine - 32 spoke, 1364g no limit stated but £200 more.
All of these with alloy nipples - brass adds 40g approx.
Are alpines worth it for 20g the wheelset, 40g brass worth it for long term reliability, pros and cons of stronger rim with fewer spokes vs lighter rim with more spokes? Straight pull?
Any help appreciated!
Straight pull are more hassle than they're worth, and a bugger to find in the shops too. That sounds light for DT350s too?
I'd not bother with CX-Rays again (used them in 3 sets of wheels, now using Revs), they're no stiffer, and having higher fatigue strength I just found nipples break instead of the spoke, same end result!
If you can live with white and Centrelock [url= http://www.actionsports.de/gb/Wheels/Wheelset-Specials/MTB-Disc-Wheels-26er/DT-Swiss-240S-Centerlock-NoTubes-ZTR-Alpine-Laufradsatz-Limited-white-1390g::43072.html ]these[/url] are good, on their custom build it's only €540 for black 6-bolt with Revs. If you want to go a bit mental [url= http://www.actionsports.de/gb/Wheels/Wheelset-Specials/MTB-Disc-Wheels-26er/DT-Swiss-180-Carbon-Ceramic-disc-NoTubes-ZTR-Podium-MMX-DT-Swiss-Aerolite-1190g-Laufradsatz::57905.html ]these[/url] are a bargain.
something like this if they're back in stock soon.
[url= http://www.justridingalong.com/custom-hand-built-wheel-sets/no-tubes-ztr-3-30-hubs-laced-to-notubes-ztr-alpine-rims.html ]http://www.justridingalong.com/custom-hand-built-wheel-sets/no-tubes-ztr-3-30-hubs-laced-to-notubes-ztr-alpine-rims.html[/url]
I've got superstar superleggara ti hubs/ cxray/ alpines which cost £500 about 3 years ago.
You might get a great bargain 2nd hand. I'm sure there will be loads of unused 26" wheels around at the moment.
I've found these to be fine for XC but I'm only 71kg
http://www.justridingalong.com/custom-hand-built-wheel-sets/suggested-builds/american-classic-disc-130-225-hubs-laced-to-notubes-ztr-podium-rims.html
Worth ringing Just Riding Along and talking through your options. They're really helpful. Can recommend Amercian Classics on Crests with CX Ray. 🙂
American Classic Tubeless 26 or the 'Race' version which is even lighter.
Mine have been clumsily battered over/through anything & everything and still run smooth & true. My maintenance regime is rather, ermmm, sparing too.
Actually... a friend may be selling DT190s on Alpines, I'll ask him!
ditto American classic wheelset
YGM
A wheelset with American Classic hubs/ Stans Alpine rims sold on Ebay yesterday for about £150 - there's bound to be others come up for sale.
I have a set of barely used Alpine on Stans hubs, alloy nipples, DT revs built by justriding along that I'm probably going to sell. Very light and nice.... drop me a mail if you're interested (rodmason AT gmail DOT com)