Road wheels for gravel bike

My winter road bike with its long-drop brakes can’t comfortably hack the super steep, appallingly surfaced roads round my new house, especially under the current weather conditions. I thought I’d try to sharpen up my disc-braked gravel bike a bit with new wheels so that I can do road rides without fear of dying everytime the road goes south.

I want to run something like a 32 mm tyre. The bike (Kinesis G2) is ace with its stock 38 mm for commuting through Somme-like conditions if I take a less-hilly route to work but it’s a bit of a pig on the steeper and longer climbs on rides I prefer doing on weekends/days not in work. Thinking of new wheels for the days out and a lighter cassette than the Apex boat-anchor.

In-stock choice at my budget (about £400) isn’t that wide, by the looks. I think I’m down to a choice between Fulcrum 3 db and DT Swiss ER 32 1600 Spline. Can’t think of a way of choosing between them. DT is slightly heavier (don’t care about the difference) and the deeper-section rim look stiff but I guess that can be offset a bit with the tyre choice. Dunno. I proper loves the Zondas on my summer bike and these are a lot like the Fulcrums.

Any views on these or reasonable alternatives? Not that interested in Hunt, especially with the associated wait. Ta.

I use some Prime Race wheels, do the job. Not sure what they have in stock these days

Out of stock, innit.

Ryanbuildswheels factotum gravel for 320? 6 week build time though

Again: nowt wrong with those bar the wait…

Am generally a fan of Fulcrum wheels but bike shops I have spoken to hate them for their lack of sealing, so I wouldn’t choose them for winter or gravel use (assuming gravel = muddy or river crossings etc).

Whereas I get the impression DT hubs are pretty much bombproof, mine have certainly had a pretty tough year and are spinning incredibly smoothly still.

Ooh. That substantive and might swing it. Cheers. My Zondas are lasting well but only tend to get ridden in good weather.

It’s for road use but in all weathers and the roads are appalling (think inches-deep potholes full of water and debris everywhere).

DT Swiss CR 1600 would save a few grams. They would be my choice. I’ve been eyeing them up to go on my Fugio.

Yes. These might have been first-choice but I think they’re about £100 over budget, unfortunately.

I love my Hope Pro4s. 2 years mixed riding and bombproof so far. From memory, should be within budget. The trademark Hope click to the rear hub (which I love) is great for alerting walkers if you’re using shared route….

Dt Swiss all day long, I thought Fulcrum were budget wheels! I have never thought of them for my mountain bikes, where as DT Swiss good for Road, Gravel or MTB

I thought Fulcrum were budget wheels

Aftermarket they’re great, basically Campag, simple, easily serviced cup and cone hubs that spin for ever, light for the money, stiff. In fact spec for spec I think they probably embarass a lot of bigger name wheels.

Granted, below the £350 mark I think the quality tails off, my buddy repeatedly destroyed the freehubs on his cheapy stock Fulcrums.

Edit: actually I doubt the through axle/disc hubs are the same internals so most of the above probably doesn’t apply…

@burnside about £460 for the CR 1600 on Freewheel if you sign up and use the 15% welcome discount.

Might lighter tyres alone do it?

Seems a lot of expense to go from 38mm to 32mm…

Still want to keep the other tyres/wheels for commuting/rougher stuff as per the original post. So no, it’s not a lot of expense for what I want. See?

Bought just riding along wheels for my wife’s bike and really impressed with the service and quality. £390, light and still perfectly true

Hadn’t remembered JRA Claudie: are these the MAP wheels?

Sure

JRA look great, good comms as well. I keep trying to justify some Lark wheels for my singlespeed…

I have someCampag fit Zondas I’m planning on selling for £150.

No, I bought the lark lights for her as she is on rim brakes. But when my roval slx24s die I will get the MAPs as I’m very impressed with the build quality and bearings. The other big thing for me is that for tubeless, the bead properly locks into the rim on her wheels so, with no pressure, the tyre doesn’t fall off the rim. On the rovals, although they are tubeless, the bead does come off the rim with no pressure

ctk – are those disc wheels?

Gah no they are not. Should have read your post properly!

I bought some Pacenti wheels recently,very nice and great service.