Gravel bike wheelset - what next?
Discussion
Have just had the gravel bike's rear wheel rebuilt, again, and the front trued, and now looking for a stronger wheelset. Current set is OE with the Norco Search, so Norco hub and rim, rebuilt with plain spokes after the originals didn't last too well. The problem seems to be that they're only 28H rims, which sees to be the way now, and I give the bike a bit of a spanking - gravel and singletrack, as well as Tarmac, and ride it as if I stole it whenever I get the chance.
I'd like to go tubeless too, if poss. So, spec is...
700c
Capable of taking 35-40c tyre
Thru-axle hub
Disc brake specific
Tubeless
Also, any tubeless tyres worth looking at? Current tyres are Clement USH and they are excellent - almost puncture proof too.
Budget? Not yet known, lets see what the options might be first. I've been using Hope Pro 2Evo/3 hubs for a few years on my FS mtb and have had zero problems. Same for the Mavic 721 rims to which they're laced. Maybe this is an option for 700c?
I'd like to go tubeless too, if poss. So, spec is...
700c
Capable of taking 35-40c tyre
Thru-axle hub
Disc brake specific
Tubeless
Also, any tubeless tyres worth looking at? Current tyres are Clement USH and they are excellent - almost puncture proof too.
Budget? Not yet known, lets see what the options might be first. I've been using Hope Pro 2Evo/3 hubs for a few years on my FS mtb and have had zero problems. Same for the Mavic 721 rims to which they're laced. Maybe this is an option for 700c?
Edited by PomBstard on Saturday 30th December 10:15
Any 29er wheels will do, I've built up some Pacenti CL25 rims on Novatec 771/772 hubs, light and strong, and I've built up some Stans on the same hubs for our youth's bike.
Main thing I'd suggest is make sure that you have brass nipples, alloy nipples and stainless spokes are not a good combination.
Main thing I'd suggest is make sure that you have brass nipples, alloy nipples and stainless spokes are not a good combination.
Being quite heavy for a rider (105kg), my last set for the commuter/holiday/whatever bike (Croix de Fer) I had a set made up with Velocity Chukker in 36h, butted spokes, with sealed bearing hubs. Not the lightest, but certainly bomb proof - it’s the go to rim for bike polo!
I done over 3,000 miles on them, true as the day they were built. I’m assuming I’ll just swap the bearings around 10k miles. Bike always has at least 1 pannier on, there’s a mixture of track, road, woodland, kerb jumping etc in any given week.
If you’re lighter, velocity fusion or deep v would be other options.
I done over 3,000 miles on them, true as the day they were built. I’m assuming I’ll just swap the bearings around 10k miles. Bike always has at least 1 pannier on, there’s a mixture of track, road, woodland, kerb jumping etc in any given week.
If you’re lighter, velocity fusion or deep v would be other options.
bigdom said:
Being quite heavy for a rider (105kg), my last set for the commuter/holiday/whatever bike (Croix de Fer) I had a set made up with Velocity Chukker in 36h, butted spokes, with sealed bearing hubs. Not the lightest, but certainly bomb proof - it’s the go to rim for bike polo!
I done over 3,000 miles on them, true as the day they were built. I’m assuming I’ll just swap the bearings around 10k miles. Bike always has at least 1 pannier on, there’s a mixture of track, road, woodland, kerb jumping etc in any given week.
If you’re lighter, velocity fusion or deep v would be other options.
Thanks for this - will have a look for those rims. I am lighter, but only by a handful of pies...I done over 3,000 miles on them, true as the day they were built. I’m assuming I’ll just swap the bearings around 10k miles. Bike always has at least 1 pannier on, there’s a mixture of track, road, woodland, kerb jumping etc in any given week.
If you’re lighter, velocity fusion or deep v would be other options.
moonigan said:
The problem with most 29er tubeless rims is they wont take the tyre pressures you might want. Stans for example say don't put more than 45psi onto their rims or the tyre might pop off.
How much pressure would you be putting in a tubeless 40c gravel tyre? Somewhere around 40psi seems to be the preferred choice.gazza285 said:
How much pressure would you be putting in a tubeless 40c gravel tyre? Somewhere around 40psi seems to be the preferred choice.
Depends on what you are riding and how heavy you are. 40psi might feel perfect for off road but if your are riding tarmac it might feel too low.moonigan said:
gazza285 said:
How much pressure would you be putting in a tubeless 40c gravel tyre? Somewhere around 40psi seems to be the preferred choice.
Depends on what you are riding and how heavy you are. 40psi might feel perfect for off road but if your are riding tarmac it might feel too low.Will check out some Stans rims too
subsea99 said:
Other than being massively heavy, not tubeless ready and they won't fit the OP's bike, perfect!subsea99 said:
I'm wondering about those, as my current rims are a bit posh for offroading, but the weight is putting me off: there are Alexrim CX28 builds on Merlin for a bit more cash that are half a kilo lighter.Take a look at these: https://www.huntbikewheels.com/collections/wheels/...
One thing I'm finding with Stans is finding tyres to fit them. I have a set of 650b wheels with Stans crest rims which I want to use on my gravel bike when its built. The bike has clearance for 47mm tyres, maybe 50mm at a push. MTB tyres in these sizes don't exist (tubeless) so you then look at dedicated gravel tyres. WTB offer a really good range but WTB tubeless tyres and Stans MTB rims don't work together.
Ultimately I may end up flogging the Stans wheels and buy something that offers more tyre compatibility.
P
One thing I'm finding with Stans is finding tyres to fit them. I have a set of 650b wheels with Stans crest rims which I want to use on my gravel bike when its built. The bike has clearance for 47mm tyres, maybe 50mm at a push. MTB tyres in these sizes don't exist (tubeless) so you then look at dedicated gravel tyres. WTB offer a really good range but WTB tubeless tyres and Stans MTB rims don't work together.
Ultimately I may end up flogging the Stans wheels and buy something that offers more tyre compatibility.
P
IroningMan said:
subsea99 said:
I'm wondering about those, as my current rims are a bit posh for offroading, but the weight is putting me off: there are Alexrim CX28 builds on Merlin for a bit more cash that are half a kilo lighter.Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff



