Have got 26" crests and find them a bit too flexy for my liking. Question will arch ex be noticeably stiffer, anyone ridden both? Would rather keep the build light so tempted by arch ex rather than flow ex. But then again if the arch will still flex I've not solved my issue. Arch ex seems to tick box in terms of my type of riding. Tho flow seems to be a bit cheaper and in stock. Choices choices.
I've ridden both, but in different forks, on different bikes and different tyres.
I can offer you no useful insights whatsoever. Sorry. I had fun on both though!
I'd be surprised if the difference in stiffness between the 3 rims themselves is noticeable. Much more down to the wheel build I'd have thought. Unless it is the tyre that you are feeling flex that is...
I had Crests on my Hope Pro 3s and felt they were on the light flexy side, could've been down to the low spoke count, now have Arch Ex rims on Pro2s and the seem much better for the type of riding I do(trail centre reds and blacks).
You could get the Flows rather than the beefier Flow EX, Crests and Arch EX rims are both 21mm wide whereas the Flows are wider (23mm I think) and more suited to tougher usage, Flow EX are over 25mm wide.
Are they discontinuing the standard Flows?
Have just started using arch ex on my new build and can't tell them apart from the crest I had before and could not notice the crest being more flexable than the mmx rims on the xc bike
Arch did not flinch at fod last week on there first ride
Went from crest to flow, both hope hoops both 15mm front 12mm rear
I noticed a big increase in stiffness which has mentally helped my riding out alot
Weight difference was not that much, definately notice the stiffness change more than I do the extra rolling weight
I wanted arch but got the flows real cheap, not regretted it
i have flows and they are great
daughter has arch x and i have not ridden them but all i know is the tryes are bloody lot harder to put on than flows...........
Swingbing, yes can feel the tyre rolling about. But when try rolling the tyre by hand, surprising how much flex is also coming from the wheel itself. Whether its the rim, or spokes too (not sure what spokes they are), don't know. Can get a flow build for about £260 new though arch ex going to be £320 or so.
The wider the better for rims to improve tyre profile and volume, stiffer/stronger is also a bonus. Unless you're mincing about it's not worth saving the weight.
Having gone from Arch Ex's to Flow Ex's, I much prefer the Flow's for the added support and volume they give to big tyres. The weight difference is not great, but it is noticeable.
The two rims seem virtually identical in design except for the width. I do have trouble believing that the extra few mm of width lends a noticeable amount of stiffness to the wheel itself. I'd be interested to hear anyones opinion on that though.