Wheel advice needed

[d8mok]

My 2008 stumpy has been brilliant since i purchased it back in late 2007. Its never needed anything but over the last 2 years the rear hub/freewheel has had several problems. It is very noisy when going over bumps (sounds like its falling apart) and it rolls very slowly. Local bike shop where i got it from (jejames) has done a few temporary fixes but i think it my need more attention. The hubs on my bike seem like where specialized saved a few pennies as all the other bits are brilliant for the £1500 i paid.

This is my bike spec as standard. Are the hubs and wheels any good? I dont want to be taking a step backwards by buying some new stuff if these will repair.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/st...

I do mostly fitness riding along road/paths but do occasionally go into the woods to get muddy. No drops or anything on this bike though.

Do i get a new hub built onto my rim? I'd probably do the front too as it appears to be a cheap specialized hub.

Or go for a new set of wheels? Id spend around the £250 mark plus some new tyres(maybe more if needed) My other two bikes have Hope hubs and they are brilliant so they are my preference.

Cheers

[anonymous-user]

Merlin cycles have a custom wheel builder guide on their web page which is north s look. Hope pro 2s on mavic xc717 would be a good starting point.

[P-Jay]

Spesh own-brand hubs are pretty poor, they do make some nice ones under another name, but I don't recall it off-hand.

Superstar do some great wheel builds (if a bit flashy looking) and review well.

Personally I don't think you can beat a set of hand-made wheels from a really good LBS builder. For that application a nice set of Stan's or Mavic rims on Hope (if the budget allows) or Shimano Hubs.

CRC also have a really good build menu thing you can play around with.

[P-Jay]

After closer look, your current rear hub is DT Swiss so should be reasonable even if it's an OE one built for Spesh.

But if it's dead, it's dead.

[d8mok]

Thanks for the replies.

The rear hub will probably keep going a bit longer but at some point it'll explode (or something less dramatic) so with a upcoming birthday i might pool the cash and treat it to some shiny wheels. Plus i feel its slowing me down a little too.

Ive played around on the wheel builders on various websites (inc merlin) but to be honest i have no idea whats a good rim for what im doing.

The last wheels i got were about 10 years ago And there was only two choices mavic or sunrims.

Ive read alittle about tubeless too? Worth it? I like the idea of less rotating mass and lighter wheels.

[Jimbo.]

P-Jay said:

Spesh own-brand hubs are pretty poor, they do make some nice ones under another name, but I don't recall it off-hand.

Superstar do some great wheel builds (if a bit flashy looking) and review well.

Personally I don't think you can beat a set of hand-made wheels from a really good LBS builder. For that application a nice set of Stan's or Mavic rims on Hope (if the budget allows) or Shimano Hubs.

CRC also have a really good build menu thing you can play around with.

"Stout", IIRC, is the name given to their generic hubs. They're...meh. They'll do. Just don't expect anything Shimano like.
Roval are Specialized "bling" wheel range.

Shimano XT hubs (keep then serviced!) + Mavic XM719 rims + DT Comp spokes, all built by Merlin Cycles. All the wheel most MTB'ers would ever need.

[d8mok]

Jimbo. said:

"Stout", IIRC, is the name given to their generic hubs. They're...meh. They'll do. Just don't expect anything Shimano like.
Roval are Specialized "bling" wheel range.

Shimano XT hubs (keep then serviced!) + Mavic XM719 rims + DT Comp spokes, all built by Merlin Cycles. All the wheel most MTB'ers would ever need.

But do they look all nice and shiny like the Hope's?

i'll price them up. Might pop into my local bike shop and see what they can do. I like the idea of red Hope pro on xc717 with black Dt spokes from merlin for £295.

[Jimbo.]

d8mok said:

But do they look all nice and shiny like the Hope's?

i'll price them up. Might pop into my local bike shop and see what they can do. I like the idea of red Hope pro on xc717 with black Dt spokes from merlin for £295.

No. They do however cost a bit less, and work just as well

[.Adam.]

Have a look here, some other options and prices.

[d8mok]

Update-

Got some xc717 discs, built onto red hope pro evo II , with Sapim spokes. Built locally by a guy who has built me lots of wheels. Fitted them last night, but haven't rode it yet.

[smack]

d8mok said:

Update-

Got some xc717 discs, built onto red hope pro evo II , with Sapim spokes. Built locally by a guy who has built me lots of wheels. Fitted them last night, but haven't rode it yet.

Wise choice! Hope hubs will outlive a Shimano hub, so cheaper in the long run. Plus bling factor, and it keeps the Northern's who make them off the streets.

[d8mok]

First ride went well. Only did about 15 miles but all seemed good.

Love the clicky sound of a hope. And that totals 3 current bikes fitted with them.

[zebedee]

d8mok said:

First ride went well. Only did about 15 miles but all seemed good.

Love the clicky sound of a hope. And that totals 3 current bikes fitted with them.

Good work, just rolled out on my road bike with a Hope hub fitted for first time today - Pro 3 built by Hope onto a Mavic Open Pro rim, £160 on wiggle due to extra discount from Wiggo winning the tour (cheers Bradley!) Nice wheel and the freewheel noise certainly alerts pedestrians! Bit weird when you go downhill and realise the freewheel is starting to overtake your pedalling effort but I love them and love supporting a good British company. Both my MTBs also run Hope hubs and headsets (my old skool full rigid even has a Hope Ultralight, which weighs about as much as a mars bar and has remote control helicopter bearings in it!) and my front sus one has a Hope BB too.