For generic xc/trails/racing
Or Hope Pro4 on tech XC.
For weird reasons I now have both these sets available to me
£370 posted on the Mavics
£320 posted for the Hopes.
Depends on how hard you are on parts. If you regularly break spokes or need new bearings then I’d go with the Hopes as you will have to wait for your LBS to order the Mavic parts as not many LBSs will have the in stock. Standard spokes are much easier to source.
You already have wheels. Mavics for racing, your current wheels for winter / bombing around.
I know I have wheels already. But I tried to Cancel the Mavics but he's accepted the offer, the Hopes are arriving Monday but easy to return.
So I have a choice of which of the above to keep and which to send back/decline.
I rarely if ever break wheels, but I do like the fact Hopes are easy via most lbs.
Thats what I'm saying.
Keep the Mavics - they are better "for race" wheels. The just revert to your current pair for bombing around Swinley. If you only wanted 1 pair of wheels ever, get the Hopes.
Wasn't planning on just 1 set no. 1 will have race rubber the other will have wtb trail boss. I've got another other spare set in 27.5 too which are without tyres currently.
Why the Mavic over the Hope?
I’d build my own wheels for that sort of budget. Hope Prob4 hubs or Dt350’s, using DT Swiss spokes. For me I’d go competitions for durability but you could go lighter for xc. I’d then pick up a decent Dt Swiss rim - starbike arenusually the cheapest for DT. Whilst you don’t want a huge wide sturdy rim I think I’d go bigger than 19mm internal. Maybe somewhere around 23-25mm to give you more tyre options and a better shape.
I did pro4’s / Dt competition / Dt xm481’s for about £350 I think it was. Did build them myself though so no labour cost. If you substituted the rims for something light I think you’d have a very decent and durable wheelset.
IMHO - They're 100g lighter, but I bought some Mavics and like many reviews say, I feel they spin up lighter than the weigh in at. For the constant on/off of where you'll be racing them, every little assist with acceleration over a 2hr period helps.
Yes if they break they make take a bit more to sort out, but you'll have spares.
Last week I raced with my "winter" wheels which are OEM Scott DT1900 - I could feel the difference and although heavier by 200g those DT's are not bad wheels.
Here you weeksy - the kind of thing Joe is talking about if like me you can't build / are too impatient:
Food for thought. I can't build wheels myself.
In 2017 I couldn’t build wheels, but had a go this year and built 3 pairs myself just from the Sheldon brown online guide. All seem to be true and round after some good use. It’s not as hard as you might think!
Agree with you, but quite a daunting one first time, something I need to get my act together and address though I must admit.
You could look at Hunt as well thinking about it. I have their road wheels and happy with them.
https://www.huntbikewheels.com/collections/mtb-wheels/products/hunt-xcwide-mtb-wheelset
Light and in budget. Might need to see if they can do them in 27.5” as they only
Lol I can't have 3 sets paid for, it's getting silly then.
We can’t help you made bad wheel choices 😃
I fairly recently bought a set of Hope XCs on Pro4 rims, for my Giant Anthem, to replace the stock carbon rimmed ones. They are much better in every way and I’m very pleased with them. I was initially a bit unsure about a 19.5mm internal rim, as narrow by current trends. With 2.25 Nobby Nic/Hans Dampf setup they are spot on for the riding I do, which is similar to OP description
Other reviews seem to be positive too. Added to the fact both my LBS will support them easily, it's getting to be a no brained.
I forgot about the Hunt wheels.
Get those.
Of those two the Mavics are better, despite the annoying spokes & hub tempriment issues.
I'd still buy neither though over the DT's I linked too previously, or a second hand pair of carbon Rovals if you're just trail riding for the same sort of money.